Easter Daily Devotions for 2024
316Judith
Posts: 11,657 Member
Easter Brings Hope
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." —John 11:25
Easter is not about brightly colored eggs, wearing pastels, or enjoying a big meal, although it could include these.
Easter is about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
For some, Easter will be a great day, spent surrounded by family and friends. But for others, it will be a sad day, because Easter is a reminder of a loved one who has died and is now desperately missed.
Death seems so cruel, so harsh, and so final.
That is what the disciples were feeling when they saw their Lord, whom they had left everything to follow, hanging on the cross.
They were devastated. Death had crushed them.
But if they would have gone back in their memories, they would have recalled an important event and statement Jesus had made.
They would have remembered Jesus standing at the tomb of his close friend Lazarus. They would have remembered that Jesus did something completely unexpected: He wept (see John 11:35).
Jesus wept, because He knew that death was not part of God's original plan.
Humanity was not meant to grow old, to suffer with disease, or to die.
But because of the sin of Adam and Eve, sin entered the human race, and death followed with it. And death spread to all of us. Jesus wept, because it broke His heart.
But standing there at Lazarus' tomb, Jesus also delivered these hope-filled words: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25).
Death is not the end. And the resurrection of Jesus Christ proves it.
If you have put your faith in Christ, then Easter means that you will live forever in the presence of God.
Easter brings hope to the person who has been devastated by death.
Devotion by Greg Laurie
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." —John 11:25
Easter is not about brightly colored eggs, wearing pastels, or enjoying a big meal, although it could include these.
Easter is about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
For some, Easter will be a great day, spent surrounded by family and friends. But for others, it will be a sad day, because Easter is a reminder of a loved one who has died and is now desperately missed.
Death seems so cruel, so harsh, and so final.
That is what the disciples were feeling when they saw their Lord, whom they had left everything to follow, hanging on the cross.
They were devastated. Death had crushed them.
But if they would have gone back in their memories, they would have recalled an important event and statement Jesus had made.
They would have remembered Jesus standing at the tomb of his close friend Lazarus. They would have remembered that Jesus did something completely unexpected: He wept (see John 11:35).
Jesus wept, because He knew that death was not part of God's original plan.
Humanity was not meant to grow old, to suffer with disease, or to die.
But because of the sin of Adam and Eve, sin entered the human race, and death followed with it. And death spread to all of us. Jesus wept, because it broke His heart.
But standing there at Lazarus' tomb, Jesus also delivered these hope-filled words: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25).
Death is not the end. And the resurrection of Jesus Christ proves it.
If you have put your faith in Christ, then Easter means that you will live forever in the presence of God.
Easter brings hope to the person who has been devastated by death.
Devotion by Greg Laurie
2
Replies
-
February 19, 2024
Easter Is for Second Chances
But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” —Mark 16:6–7
Do you need a second chance today? On the first Easter morning, Peter needed one. There in the Upper Room, he had insisted that he would never deny Christ. But just as Jesus had predicted, Peter not only denied the Lord, but he denied Him three times.
The last glimpse Peter had of Jesus before His crucifixion was in the glow of the fire in the high priest’s courtyard, where he actually made eye contact with Jesus. And then he went out and wept bitterly.
What kind of look do you think Jesus gave Peter when their eyes met?
Do you think it was one of those I-told-you-so looks?
Do you think it was one of scorn, as if to say, “How could you betray Me?” I don’t think it was either one.
I think it was a look of love, a look of compassion that said, “I still love you, Peter.”
And I believe that is why Peter went out and wept bitterly. He had failed the Lord so miserably. He probably thought there was no hope for him.
But then a message went out from the empty tomb that Jesus had risen, followed by these instructions, “Go, tell His disciples—and Peter...”
It was not, “Go tell the disciples, including Peter, James, and John...” It was just Peter, because Peter needed a special word of encouragement.
Do you need encouragement today? Maybe you have fallen short. You didn’t plan on it, but it happened. And like Peter, maybe you ended up with the wrong people in the wrong place at the wrong time, ultimately doing the wrong thing.
God gave Peter a second chance. And He will give you one, too—because Easter is for the person who needs a second chance.
Devotion by Greg Laurie1 -
It was so compassionate for Jesus to include Peter specifically in these verses. Peter was very impulsive and spoke without thinking sometimes. He must have felt so ashamed and guilty but Jesus still loved him. This outspokeness could be refined and used for Jesus as it was on the Day of Pentacost where he preached with the help of the Holy Spirit and 3000 were baptized that day.2
-
February 21, 2024
God's Plan for the Resurrection
John 16:16-20
"A little while, and you will no longer see Me."
Jesus repeated these words to His disciples several times. But He could tell by the blank stares on their faces that they did not understand what He had said.
At one point, He even overheard them debating what He meant by "You will not see me" (John 16:19).
These men had been with the Lord for three years. They had laughed with Him, cried with Him, eaten with Him, and were willing to die with Him, or so they thought.
They had just entered the city of Jerusalem. And instead of being met by an angry legion of guards and protestors, they were met by palm-waving supporters shouting: "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord."
Yet as soon as they had settled into the upper room, Jesus broached the subject of His forthcoming death. Immediately, the mood of His followers went from one of celebration to shock and sorrow.
Often in difficult times, we cannot see beyond that moment. The resurrection was a few days away, but they could not fathom its wondrous coming.
God always provides the encouragement we need to stay the course, and Jesus did this for His disciples when He told them, "Your sorrow will be turned to joy" (v. 20).
This also is God's message of hope and love for us today. Blessed be the name of the Lord!1 -
February 22, 2024
Why Didn't Jesus Defend Himself?
“But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’” (Mark 14:61 NIV)
What’s so important about Easter? It’s important because it proved that Jesus was who he claimed to be. He was God in the flesh, and he came to Earth to save us.
Three events occurred in dramatic succession on that Easter weekend: the trial of Jesus, then the death of Jesus, and finally the Resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus actually went through six trials. In that one night, he was brought before Annas (the father-in-law of Caiaphas), Caiaphas (the high priest), the Sanhedrin (the religious Supreme Court), Pilate (the governor of Jerusalem), Herod (the governor of Galilee), and then Pilate again.
At the end of those six trials, what did they find to accuse him of? Nothing. He had done nothing wrong. They brought in people to make up phony charges, but those didn’t stick. Finally they convicted him on one count: claiming to be the Son of God. That’s the sole reason Jesus went to the cross.
Everyone who has ever been introduced to Jesus has already made some kind of decision about who he is. You either believe he’s a liar or you believe he’s a lunatic or you believe he’s the Lord. It can’t just be, “I believe he was a good teacher.” He couldn’t be just a good teacher, because a good teacher would not say, “I’m God, and I’m the only way to Heaven.” A good person would not say that unless it was the truth.
Jesus claimed to be the Savior of the world. In John 12:47, he is recorded as saying: “I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world” (NIV). He allowed himself to be put on trial so there would be no doubt about who he was. He could have stopped the trial at any moment; he knew he would be proven guilty and put on the cross. But he allowed it to happen. It was all part of the plan.
Talk It Over
* Why do you think God allowed Jesus to be put to death, even though he was innocent? What does it say about God’s character?
* What was your reaction when you were first introduced to Jesus?
* What do you believe about Jesus now?
Devotional by Rick Warren0 -
God knows our character and weaknesses. We could never be good enough to deserve heaven. He needed to send His sinless son to stand in our place in order to have forgiveness of our sins. God's love is high and wide and deep enough for all of our sins. It broke his heart to see it happen but his love for us was greater. I grew up in a Christian home so Jesus was never a new concept. I first knew that Jesus loves me and loves all the little children of the world. As I matured, I understood what that love emcompasses and came to love him more fully.0
-
Remembering His Sacrifice - Easter Devotional February 24, 2024
And they crucified Him. --Mark 15:24
A medical doctor once gave a detailed description of what happens when someone is crucified:
"The cross is placed on the ground and the exhausted man is quickly thrown backwards with his shoulders against the wood.
The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood.
Quickly he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flex and movement. The cross is then lifted into place.
"The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees flexed. The victim is now crucified. As he slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating, fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain--the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves.
As he pushes himself upward to avoid the stretching torment, he places the full weight on the nail through his feet. Again he feels the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the bones of his feet.
"As the arms fatigue, cramps sweep through the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain.
With these cramps comes the inability to push himself upward to breathe. Air can be drawn into the lungs but not exhaled. He fights to raise himself in order to get even one small breath.
Finally carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream. Spasmodically he is able to push himself upward to exhale and bring in life-giving oxygen.
"Hours of this...pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from his lacerated back as he moves up and down against the rough timber. Then another agony begins: a deep, crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart.
It is now almost over--the loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level--the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissues--the tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air.
He can feel the chill of death creeping through his tissues...finally he can allow his body to die."
The Bible records this process of death by crucifixion in just a few simple words. How often we take for granted the pain and suffering Jesus endured when He died on the cross for you and me. Let us remember this Easter the sacrifice He made.
PRAYER CHALLENGE:
Thank Jesus for the price He paid for your sins through His painful death on the cross.
Easter Devotion by Senior Living0 -
Unshakeable Easter Devotional, February 25, 2024
Did you ever wonder about that stone at the tomb of Jesus? Why was it moved? It wasn’t to let Jesus out; Jesus could get out of the tomb as easily as He entered the Upper Room later, without using the door. No, the reason the stone was rolled away was not to let Jesus out, but to let the disciples in so they could see!
And what did they see there? They saw that the body of Jesus was gone, but the grave clothes were still there, lying undisturbed.
In John 20:1-8 there are different Greek words used for "saw." When it says Mary and Peter saw, it means they noted. When it says that John saw, it means that he saw with understanding, with comprehension.
Peter entered the tomb. "Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed" (John 20:8).
When John saw the grave clothes, he thought, "I get it!" He believed that Jesus was alive, based on what he saw.
Then John adds something that seems puzzling at first. Verse 9 says, “For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.”
They saw an empty tomb and empty grave clothes, and they formed their beliefs based on that. They knew what they saw.
But by the time John wrote his gospel, they knew the theology of Christ’s resurrection.
Their faith, once based on physical evidence—the open tomb, the body gone, the clothes intact (as good as that was to convince John at that moment)—wasn’t enough to sustain a person through life. “
“This is what we saw, but we didn’t know the scripture yet” points to the fact that there’s something even better to base your belief and knowledge upon, and that’s the objective, inerrant prophecy in the Word of God.
Observation and personal experience aren’t enough! The Bible predicted that Christ would rise from the dead. What Peter called “a more sure word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1:19, KJV) is a more sure foundation.
So how do you know that you know? You could say, “I know because I saw or I heard.” But here’s something better: “What I saw and what I heard was predicted long ago in the prophets.” So now the subjective experience is bolstered by the objective prophecy of the Bible—and that’s unshakeable.
That’s what I want you to see here—the fundamental importance of the Word of God.
Jesus said in Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
The experience which we have with Christ is valid only as it is tied to something that is outside of our experience, something that is objective—the inerrant Word of God. With that, we can face anything.
If you just have the inerrant Word of Scripture but you don’t have an experience with God yourself, then it’s not personal. If you have your personal experience but it doesn’t match what the scripture says, then it’s not reasonable. Put them both together, it’s powerful. It’s unshakeable.
That’s my prayer for you at this Easter season, that you will have an unshakeable faith, based on the sure word of prophecy and a personal, vital relationship with Jesus Christ, the risen Redeemer!
Easter Devotion by Skip Heitzig0 -
It is so important that we have an experiental relationship with Jesus. We can know about him but does he really know us and do we really know him? This is really important to having a strong faith when times may be rough and our faith tried. Yes, I "know" Jesus and the strength of his love and power in my life.1
-
Easter Words of Forgiveness - Easter Devotional - February 26, 2024
Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." --Luke 23:34
As we all know, words are powerful… especially dying words.
It’s important that each of us remembers just exactly what Jesus had to say right before His earthly life ended.
One of the last things Jesus said while hanging from the cross were words of forgiveness.
Today I want to ask you, if Christ could pray a prayer of forgiveness for those who were putting Him to death, can you pray a prayer of forgiveness for those in your life who mistreat you?
Despite what you may be going through today, can you look past your own "junk" and extend forgiveness to others?
Jesus' dying words on the cross are a powerful example of how you and I ought to treat those who mistreat us. Are you willing to follow His perfect example in every area of your life today? Will you extend forgiveness to those who don't deserve it?
I challenge you to pick up your cross today… and live out the life of forgiveness Christ has given you!
CAN YOU FOLLOW CHRIST'S EXAMPLE AND FORGIVE THOSE WHO MISTREAT YOU?
Devotion by Dr Jack Graham1 -
February 28, 2024
An Easter Prayer of Celebration: He Is Risen!
“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said…” Matthew 28:6
Such incredible, miraculous, life-changing words. “He is not here, for he has risen…”
His power could not be contained in a grave. His love could not be conquered by death. His truth could never be buried and forgotten.
Jesus Christ rose again, He is Victorious!
And He makes all things new.
The very purpose of this Easter weekend reminds us, that no matter what we’ve been through in the past, what we might be facing today, or what uncertainties tomorrow may hold, Christ alone is our Hope. He conquered death, He rose from the grave, He is all Powerful.
He breathes new life, so that we can live…free.
We have so much to celebrate today, for He has risen!
He has risen indeed!
Dear God,
Thank you that you make all things new. Thank you for the Victory and Power in your Name.
Thank you that you hold the keys over death, and that by your might, Christ was raised from the grave, paving the way for us to live free. Thank you that you had plan, thank you that you made a way.
We praise you for your great strength, we praise you for your lavish love. We praise you for you are Conqueror, Victor, Redeemer, and Friend.
We praise you that you alone are our Deliverer, you are Worthy, you are our everlasting Father, our great and awesome God.
We confess our need for you. We ask that you would renew our hearts, minds, and lives, for the days ahead. We pray for your spirit of refreshing to fill us again.
Keep your words of truth planted firmly within us, help us to keep focused on what is pure and right, give us the power to be obedient to your word.
And when the enemy reminds us of where we have been, whispering his lies and hurling attacks our way, may he be reminded again of his future.
For we have a future and a hope in you. We’ve been set free, redeemed, the old has lost its grip, the new has come.
Shine your light in us, through us, over us.
May we make a difference in this world, for your glory and purposes. Set you way before us. May all your plans succeed. We may reflect your peace and hope to a world that so desperately needs your presence and healing.
Thanks be to you God, for your indescribable gift!
To you be glory and honor, on this Resurrection Day, and forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Devotion By Debbie McDaniel1 -
Easter Devotional, February 29, 2024
What Children Need to Know
Mark 10:13,14:
And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them."
Children and Easter.
New life and new beginnings. What better time to share the gospel with your children?
But what does a child, or any person, need to know to become a Christian? The following are the basics:
First, children need to be taught who God is and how He loves them. They need to know what sets Him apart from humans.
God is holy; He is perfect. People, however, are not perfect.
God is just; He is always fair. We are not just in all our decisions.
God is love; He desires a relationship with us.
That's why He sent His Son. We are not always motivated out of our love for another.
Second, children need to be taught that their sins must be forgiven (see Rom. 6:23).
Many parents in this culture of tolerance feel uncomfortable talking about hell. God is patient, but He is not tolerant. His justice calls for an atonement (a payment, a penalty) for people's sins. Our children must have some understanding that their sins can keep them out of heaven. Their sins must be paid for. And that is what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross.
Finally, children need to know that they receive God's forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ (see Eph. 2:8,9).
Faith involves repenting of our sins, turning to God in faith and trusting Jesus Christ to be our Savior and Lord. When we repent, we acknowledge our sins before God and express our sorrow about our sins to Him.
Those are the basics of what children need to know.
Prayer: That God would work in your children's hearts to bring them to Him.
Discuss: How have you done as a couple in explaining the gospel to your children? How can you arrange your Easter activities to take time to explain the gospel to your children?
Devotion by Family Life0 -
March 1, 2024
The Life-Changing Power of the Cross and the Resurrection
“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
The cross is empty and so is the tomb.
You can try to bury Power, but it won't stay there.
You can try to bury Truth, but it is not dead.
You can try to bury Love, but it cannot be contained.
Jesus is alive, He won the victory of sin and death. And He’s still the same, even in all the days after the Easter weekend. He never changes.
He made a way for us to live free.
No other truth in history has the ability to change our lives and affect our future like this.
Yet so many still choose to reject Christ’s sacrifice and love. He offers us a choice today, and it’s the best decision you could ever make.
What Christ’s Death on the Cross and the Power of His Resurrection Offers:
It provides a bridge, a way, to God. It gives us an opportunity to have a personal relationship with the very God who made us and loves us more than we could imagine. Without the cross, there is no way to cross over to the other side of relationship with him. Any attempt will fail. He is the Only Way.
It provides opportunity for forgiveness of sin.
Through the price that Jesus paid on Calvary, we have the chance to be forgiven of our own sin.
He took our sin and shame upon his very shoulders.
He took the blows on our behalf so we wouldn’t have to suffer.
Such incredible love. Such amazing sacrifice.
It provides freedom to all those who believe.
Freedom from the shackles of sin. Freedom from shame. Freedom from fear. Freedom from worry. Freedom from hopelessness. Freedom from despair. Freedom from addiction. Freedom from guilt. Freedom from darkness and eternal separation from God.
It provides new life. We are not only forgiven and set free, but we have a whole new life and destiny through Christ. We are changed, from the inside. He renews our minds. He changes our hearts and desires. He gives us fresh purpose for every day set before us.
It provides power for us to live today. When Jesus died on the cross, and was buried, it didn’t stop there. The final picture of all that the cross provides lies in the powerful Resurrection of our Lord. He won. He didn’t stay dead. His power broke through, and that same power is alive within us today. As believers, God gives us the power of the Holy Spirit, living and moving through us each day.
It provides the way to have victory over the enemy. We don’t have to fear him or his attacks. As we live aware of his traps, the power of Christ over our lives gives us a covering and protection from his evil schemes.
We’re not left to fend for ourselves. We don’t fight in our own strength. We can stand strong in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ.
It provides for us an eternal heavenly home. We never need to fear about what will happen when we die. In Christ we have been given the gift of eternal life. This earth is only our temporary home. God is preparing a place for us, with him, to live forever. And you can be assured it will be far greater than we could ever imagine.
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Dear God, thank you for your great gift of love
and sacrifice, so that we can live free. Thank you
for the power of the cross and the Resurrection. We ask that the truth of it all sinks deeply into our hearts and changes us forever. Fill us fresh with your Spirit today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Further Reading:
2 Corinthians 5:17
John 8:36
Ephesians 1:7
Acts 1:8
Devotion By Debbie McDaniel1 -
March 2, 2024
Easter Devotional
Hope beyond This Life
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. —1 Corinthians 15:13-14
Not only does the Bible tell us we will live beyond the grave, but it also tells us there is hope beyond this life. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead proves there is life beyond the grave for the believer.
The Bible says, "He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31).
No doubt this is why the devil has tried to discredit the Resurrection over the years. This is why, ever since the first century, he has been spreading his rumors about what happened to the body of Christ. And one of the oldest rumors of all was that His body was stolen by the disciples.
But claiming that the body of Jesus was stolen actually proves the resurrection of the Lord. His friends could not have taken it, because they left the scene and were convinced He was dead. The apostles had no reason to counterfeit a Resurrection they did not even believe in themselves.
And as we look at church history, we know that with the exception of John (who survived an execution attempt and was banished to the island of Patmos), all the apostles were martyred for what they believed.
Don't you think at least one of them would have suddenly exposed such a lie if it were a lie? But they didn't, because none of them could deny what was true:
Christ was risen, Christ is risen, and He is alive.
Devotion by Greg Laurie0 -
Easter Devotion March 3, 2024
The Death of Death
Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:26)
When Jesus died on the cross, He conquered sin. But when He rose again from the dead, He defeated death.
Death is not a subject we usually want to discuss. But when you get down to it, that is what Easter is all about. Easter is about the death of death, because Jesus came to conquer death.
We don’t like to discuss this subject of dying. It is a hard subject for us to talk about. Many don’t even want to use the word death. They will use other words, like passed away or expired. We will refer to someone who has died as “the dearly departed.”
Some, in an attempt to avoid its seriousness, will make light of it with expressions like “kicked the bucket” or “cashed in their chips.”
We don’t want to deal with death. It is a hard subject to grapple with.
Easter is a day that marks the death of death.
Death died when Christ rose. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25–26).
You may be thinking, “Greg, are you crazy?
What are you talking about—death died?
People still die. Don’t you watch the news?
Haven’t you heard about all of the horrible things that are happening in our world right now and the deaths of so many people? How can you say that death died?”
I understand that we die. I understand that our bodies go into a grave. But here is what I am saying to you: death is not the end. Sure our bodies go into the ground, but the soul lives on forever. The Bible says that one day our bodies will be resurrected as well.
This is the hope of Easter. Death is not the end of the road; it is only a bend in the road. When Jesus died and rose, He rendered death powerless.
Devotion by Greg Laurie1 -
I have not seen the phrase death of death. I really like that concept1
-
I am glad that "Death has been swallowed up in victory" as I Corinthians 15:54 says. Death is certain but not forever. I will wake up in a new dimension to live eternally with no pain, sickness, tears, etc.1
-
Easter Devotion
March 4, 2024
New Life for Us All
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. - 1 Peter 1:3
A couple from Chicago was planning a vacation to a warmer climate, but the wife couldn't join her husband until the next day, because she was on a business trip.
Her husband scribbled down her e-mail address on a little scrap of paper, but upon his arrival, he discovered that he had lost it. He wanted to send off a quick e-mail to let her know he had arrived safely. So trying his best to remember her e-mail address, he composed a brief message and sent it off.
Unfortunately, his e-mail did not reach his wife. Instead, it went to a grieving widow who had just lost her husband, a preacher, the day before. She had gone to her computer and was checking her e-mail when she let out a loud shriek and fainted on the spot. Her family came rushing in to see what was on the screen: "Dearest wife, I just checked in. Everything is prepared for your arrival tomorrow. P. S.: It sure is hot down here!"
The good news is that because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we don't have to be afraid of that real place that is hot down there. In fact, we don't even have to fear death. Because Christ died and rose again from the dead, we know that for us as believers, there is life beyond the grave.
If that were all the resurrection did for us, it would be worth the price of the ticket. Of course, we didn't buy the ticket. Christ did. But if all that Christianity offered was the hope of life beyond the grave, it still would be worth it to be a Christian.
But there is a whole lot more that the resurrection has for us. Our risen Lord will give us a new heart and put a new spirit within us (see Ezekiel 36:26). He will give us new knowledge, new comfort, new peace, and a new life in Him.
Devotion by Greg Laurie0 -
March 5, 2024
Easter Devotion
Your Dead Will Live
“Your dead will live; their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy” (Isaiah 26:19).
In Luke’s account of Christ’s resurrection, angels proclaimed to the women: "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (24:5-6).
This joyous news must have taken them off guard. After all, they came to Jesus’ tomb bearing burial spices with which to anoint the lifeless body of their Lord. Instead, they find dazzling angels standing watch next to an empty tomb, and hear news that they will never find Christ in a place of death and darkness.
As Easter draws closer, have you considered which aspects of your life God wants to breathe life into?
Family
Many of us have strained familial relationships that seem only to worsen when we get together for meals and services around the holidays.
Do you pray for the members of your family regularly?
Are you willing to open up your heart to start loving them the way God loves each and every one of them?
Remember,
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things”
1 Corinthians 13:7).
Friendships
If Christ’s work on the cross teaches us anything about friendships, it’s that forgiveness and grace trumps all.
After all, mere hours before his gruesome death, Jesus was ignored, abandoned, denied, and betrayed by his closest friends. He could have equally been speaking of Peter, a man in his inner circle, when he begged on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
Yet, even after being left alone and misunderstood, Christ still made the ultimate act of love for his friends (and the world.
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10).
Work
Often our “good” side is saved for our friends and loved ones, while our places of work get the short (or grumpy) end of the stick. As you ponder the work Christ did on the cross, and the glory of his resurrection, remember that our work can be a beautiful echo of his perfect work, holy and pleasing to God.
“For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:10-12).
Intersecting Faith and Life:
What area of your life needs to come alive in honor of Easter? How can you seek Christ daily in your relationships and duties?
Further Reading
Book of Titus
Devotion by Debbie Holloway0 -
March 6, 2024
Easter Devotion
Our Ultimate Hooray
John 11
What gives a widow courage as she stands beside a fresh grave?
What is the ultimate hope of the handicapped, the abused, the burn victim?
What is the final answer to pain, mourning, senility, insanity, terminal diseases, sudden calamities, and fatal accidents?
The answer to each of these questions is the same: the hope of bodily resurrection.
We draw strength from this single truth almost every day of our lives—more than we realize. It becomes the mental glue that holds our otherwise shattered thoughts together.
Impossible though it may be for us to understand the details of how God is going to pull it off, we hang our hopes on fragile, threadlike thoughts that say, "Someday, He will make it right," and "Thank God, all this will change," and "When we're with Him, we shall be like Him."
More than a few times a year I look into red, swollen eyes and remind the despairing and the grieving that "there's a land that is fairer than day" where, as John promised in the Revelation, "He shall wipe away every tear... there shall no longer be any death... any mourning or crying or pain... there shall no longer be any curse... any night... because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever" (21:4; 22:3, 5). Hooray for such wondrous hope!
Just imagine... those who are physically disabled today will one day leap in ecstatic joy. Those who spend their lives absorbed in total darkness will see every color in the spectrum of light. In fact, the very first face they will see will be the One who gives them sight!
There's nothing like the hope of resurrection to lift the agonizing spirits of the heavyhearted. But how can we know for sure, some may ask.
What gives us such assurance, such unshakable confidence? Those questions have the same answer:the fact of Christ's resurrection.
Because He has been raised, we too shall rise!
No wonder we get so excited every Easter! No wonder we hold nothing back as we smile and sing and celebrate His miraculous resurrection from the grave!
Jesus Himself promised: "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies" (John 11:25).
Easter is a double-barreled celebration: His triumphant hurrah over agony and our ultimate hooray of ecstasy.
Devotion by by Charles R. Swindoll0 -
March 7, 2024
Good News! - Easter Devotional
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. --1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Doesn't it seem that bad news is all around us? It's always the top story on the news or the main headline in the paper.
But as believers, we know the best news we could ever hear… and we celebrate it this month.
Easter is the day we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the grave. This is the event that conquered sin… it conquered death… and it made it possible for you and me to have a personal relationship with God!
Perhaps, today, this is the first time you've ever heard or understood this Good News.
If so, I want to tell you something: Jesus died on the cross for you. He wore a crown of thorns and was nailed to a tree because He loves you… and He wants to have a personal relationship with you today.
Will you accept this Good News today?
Devotion by Jack Graham1 -
March 8, 2024
It Didn't End at the Cross - Easter Devotional -
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. --1 Peter 1:3-5
A little boy born with Down syndrome attended his third-grade Sunday School class faithfully each week. As you can expect, the other children did not readily accept the boy because he seemed different.
The Sunday after Easter, their teacher brought in small boxes--one for each child. The children were told to go outside, find some symbols of new life, and put them in their containers. So the children ran wildly throughout the property looking for something to fill their boxes.
Once they returned to the classroom, they began to share their discoveries with the class. One by one they opened their boxes to show flowers, butterflies, leaves, and more. Each time the class would "ooh" and "ahh."
Then the child with Down syndrome opened his box to reveal nothing inside. The children exclaimed, "That's stupid! It's not fair! He didn't do the assignment right!"
The little boy exclaimed, "I did so do it! It's empty...because the tomb where Jesus laid was found empty!"
If Jesus had not risen from the dead, our faith would be foolish and fake. But He did rise from death, confirming His life and message. The resurrection of Jesus is the basis for our hope of life eternal beyond the grave.
Don't ever forget to include the resurrection of Christ from the dead when speaking of His death on the cross. For because He conquered sin on the cross and death through His resurrection, we can have unmistakable hope in Him for eternity.
PRAYER CHALLENGE: Praise God that you serve a risen Savior! Thank Him for His sacrifice on the cross and for defeating death so that you and I may experience eternal life with Him one day.
Devotion by Senior Living1 -
Come as You Are This Easter - Easter Devotional - March 10, 2024
“He will send down help from heaven to save me because of his love” (Psalm 57:3a TLB).
There’s a myth that says you’ve got to clean up your act before you can come to God: “I’ve got to get it all together. There are a few things I’ve got to get right in my life first, and then I’ll come to God.”
It’s like brushing your teeth before going to the dentist to have your teeth cleaned or washing the dishes before you put them in the dishwasher or picking up the house before the maid gets there! Why do we do this?
The truth is, God doesn’t expect us to clean up our act before we approach him.
The death and Resurrection of Jesus is God’s statement on that.
Jesus spread out his arms and said, “I love you this much. Now, just come as you are.”
In Psalm 57:3, the Bible says, “He will send down help from heaven to save me because of his love” (TLB).
That’s what Jesus did on Easter.
And that’s why we can bring our messes and failures to God.
There are people you know who think God will never love them because they’ve made such a mess of their lives.
But you know God wants them to come as they are.
Help them hear the Good News from Jesus.
Invite them to come to church with you this Easter.
It’s such a simple thing to do, but it can make a difference that will last for eternity.
Talk It Over
* What messes from your past do you have a hard time believing that God can forgive?
* Who do you need to invite to Easter service so that he or she can hear the Good News of God’s love and grace?
* Why do you think people feel like they have to clean up their lives or their appearance before they even walk through the doors of a church?
Devotion by Rick Warren
0 -
Easter Devotional March 11, 2024
Why Did an Angel Roll Away the Stone? Matthew Henry
The angels frequently attended our Lord Jesus: at His birth, in His temptation, in His agony.
But upon the cross we find no angel attending him. When His Father forsook Him, the angels withdrew from Him, but now that He is resuming the glory he had before the foundation of the world, the angels of God worship him.
The angel came, rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Our Lord Jesus could have rolled back the stone Himself by His own power, but He chose to have it done by an angel to signify that having undertaken to make satisfaction for our sin, He did not break prison, but had a fair and legal discharge, obtained from heaven.
He did not break prison, but an officer was sent on purpose to roll away the stone and open the prison door, which would never have been done if He had not made a full satisfaction.
But being delivered for our offences, He was raised again for our justification. He died to pay our debt, and rose again to gain our acquittal.
The stone of our sins was rolled to the door of the grave of our Lord Jesus (and we find the rolling of a great stone to signify the contracting of guilt - 1 Samuel 14:33), but to demonstrate that divine justice was satisfied, an angel was commissioned to roll back the stone.
The angel did not raise Him from the dead, any more than those that took away the stone from Lazarus’s grave raised him, but by this he intimated the consent of Heaven to Christ's release, and the joy of Heaven in it.
The enemies of Christ had sealed the stone, since this was their hour, but all the powers of death and darkness are under the control of the God of light and life. An angel from heaven has power to break the seal and roll away the stone, though ever so great. Thus, the captives of the mighty are taken away.
The angel’s sitting upon the stone, after he had rolled it away, is very observable and shows a secure triumph over all the obstructions of Christ’s resurrection.
There he sat, defying all the powers of hell to roll the stone to the grave again. The angel sat as a guard to the grave, having frightened away the enemies’ guard; he sat, expecting the women, and ready to give them an account of Jesus's resurrection.
Adapted from Matthew 1:1 Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (Luke 28).0 -
March 12, 2024 Easter Devotional
Easter Brings Hope
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the
life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." John 11:25
Easter is not about brightly colored eggs, wearing pastels, or enjoying a big meal, although it could include these.
Easter is about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
For some, Easter will be a great day, spent surrounded by family and friends. But for others, it will be a sad day, because Easter is a reminder of a loved one who has died and is now desperately missed.
Death seems so cruel, so harsh, and so final.
That is what the disciples were feeling when they saw their Lord, whom they had left everything to follow, hanging on the cross.
They were devastated. Death had crushed them. But if they would have gone back in their memories, they would have recalled an important event and statement Jesus had made.
They would have remembered Jesus standing at the tomb of his close friend Lazarus. They would have remembered that Jesus did something completely unexpected: He wept (see John 11:35).
Jesus wept, because He knew that death was not part of God's original plan. Humanity was not meant to grow old, to suffer with disease, or to die. But because of the sin of Adam and Eve, sin entered the human race, and death followed with it. And death spread to all of us.
Jesus wept, because it broke His heart.
But standing there at Lazarus' tomb, Jesus also delivered these hope-filled words: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25).
Death is not the end. And the resurrection of Jesus Christ proves it.
If you have put your faith in Christ, then Easter means that you will live forever in the presence of God. Easter brings hope to the person who has been devastated by death.
Devotion by Greg Laurie1 -
Easter Devotion, Wednesday March 13, 2024
Your Dead Will Live
“Your dead will live; their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy” (Isaiah 26:19).
In Luke’s account of Christ’s resurrection, angels proclaimed to the women: "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (24:5-6).
This joyous news must have taken them off guard. After all, they came to Jesus’ tomb bearing burial spices with which to anoint the lifeless body of their Lord.
Instead, they find dazzling angels standing watch next to an empty tomb, and hear news that they will never find Christ in a place of death and darkness.
As Easter draws closer, have you considered which aspects of your life God wants to breathe life into?
Family
Many of us have strained familial relationships that seem only to worsen when we get together for meals and services around the holidays.
Do you pray for the members of your family regularly?
Are you willing to open up your heart to start loving them the way God loves each and every one of them?
Remember,
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7).
Friendships
If Christ’s work on the cross teaches us anything about friendships, it’s that forgiveness and grace trumps all.
After all, mere hours before his gruesome death, Jesus was ignored, abandoned, denied, and betrayed by his closest friends.
He could have equally been speaking of Peter, a man in his inner circle, when he begged on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
Yet, even after being left alone and misunderstood, Christ still made the ultimate act of love for his friends (and the world).
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10).
Work
Often our “good” side is saved for our friends and loved ones, while our places of work get the short (or grumpy) end of the stick.
As you ponder the work Christ did on the cross, and the glory of his resurrection, remember that our work can be a beautiful echo of his perfect work, holy and pleasing to God.
“For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:10-12).
Intersecting Faith and Life:
What area of your life needs to come alive in honor of Easter?
How can you seek Christ daily in your relationships and duties?
Further Reading
Book of Titus
Devotional by Debbie Holloway0 -
Easter Devotion March 14, 2024
The Satisfaction of the Cross
"When he sees all that is accomplished by his
anguish, he will be satisfied."Isaiah 53:11 (NLT)
Devotion:
Approximately 600 years before Jesus was condemned to the cross, the prophet Isaiah foretold of the event. Open up and invite those words to penetrate your soul today: “See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted.
Many were amazed when they saw him beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person. And he will again startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence.
For they will see what they had not previously been told about; they will understand what they had not heard about.
Who has believed our message?
To whom will the Lord reveal his saving power?
My servant grew up in the Lord's presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.
He was despised and rejected a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care.
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins!
But he was wounded and crushed for our sins.
He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed!
All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.
He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.
From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins that he was suffering their punishment?
He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man's grave.
But it was the Lord's good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord's plan will prosper in his hands.
When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because he exposed himself to death.
He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners." Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12 (NLT)
Approximately 2,000 years after Jesus hung on the cross, the passion of our Christ is still the power of God unto salvation. His suffering accomplished righteousness for us, and through it, both He and we are satisfied.
Dear Lord, may I realize afresh today what Your
death and resurrection mean for me. Forgiveness … Freedom … and the ability to walk with You through this fallen world into eternity. May I always find my satisfaction in You and Your
willingness to offer Yourself to me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Devotion by Rachel Olsen
Proverbs 31 Ministries1 -
Easter Devotion March 15, 2024
The Ultimate Lifesaver
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. —John 15:13
An article in Reader’s Digest described the actions of Dave Shoemaker, captain of the 180-foot fishing vessel, “Galaxy,” somewhere off Alaska’s St. Paul Island.
The article read, “When a disastrous engine fire wreaked havoc for the Galaxy and its crew, Captain Shoemaker bravely walked through the smoke and flames with no protection but a bandanna around his mouth to radio for help.
Shoemaker continued to put the lives of his crew first and worked to help them to safety despite incurring three broken ribs, extensive burns to his skin and the increasing chance of going down with the ship.
Like a true captain, he made certain he was the last of the crew to be rescued by the Coast Guard, who arrived thanks to his initial Mayday call.
The Galaxy was completely lost, but thanks in great part to Shoemaker's courage under fire, 21 of the 25 crew members survived.” Captain Shoemaker, a modern day hero, put his own life on the line in order to save the life of his crewmembers.
Let’s reflect on our ultimate lifesaver, the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Remember that he willingly suffered, bled and died—taking our own sin and shame on Himself as He hung on a cross— that we might be saved from an eternity of separation from God.
In his resurrection from the grave, Jesus broke the power of sin and death—and guaranteed rescue—to anyone who believes in Him. He is our most shining example of heroism in action.
Yet, the story doesn’t end here. We, in fact, are destined to become part of the story.
For Jesus calls all of us who have experienced His rescue to become part of his rescue team—to act heroically, willingly putting our lives on the line—in order to help rescue others.
“Snatch others from the fire and save them,” is how the New Testament book of Jude puts it.
It’s a simple act of gratitude for we who have been given a lifeline, to share a lifeline with someone else.
Today, offer a prayer of thanks to Jesus, our ultimate lifesaver and consider someone around you with whom you can share your own Easter story of rescue. You never know. In doing so, you just might “snatch someone from the fire.”
GOING DEEPER:
1. Who had the courage to share the news of Jesus' resurrection with you? Pray and thank God for using this person in your life. If possible, thank them personally for being willing to be used by God in your life.
2. In your circle of relationships, who might benefit from hearing your story of God’s rescue in your life?
Will you commit to sharing your story with this person in the coming week?
FURTHER READING:
John 10:11-18; Luke 9:23-26; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Devotion by Jim Liebelt0 -
Good News! - Easter Devotional - March 16, 2024
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. --1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Doesn't it seem that bad news is all around us? It's always the top story on the news or the main headline in the paper.
But as believers, we know the best news we could ever hear… and we celebrate it this month.
Easter is the day we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the grave.
This is the event that conquered sin… it conquered death… and it made it possible for you and me to have a personal relationship with God!
Perhaps, today, this is the first time you've ever heard or understood this Good News.
If so, I want to tell you something: Jesus died on the cross for you. He wore a crown of thorns and was nailed to a tree because He loves you… and He wants to have a personal relationship with you today.
Will you accept this Good News today?
THIS EASTER SEASON, SHARE THE GOOD NEWS WITH SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO HEAR IT!
Devotion by Jack Graham1 -
Easter Devotion, March 17, 2024
The Lenten Journey
As they went out, they came upon a man of Cyre'ne, Simon by name; this man they compelled to carry his cross. Matthew 27:32
I have to confess, Lent is my least favorite liturgical season. Many have written beautiful reflections on this season and the many opportunities for spiritual growth it holds.
I couldn't agree more. But the reason this season is often so fruitful can be attributed to one overarching theme: sacrifice.
Lent is filled to the brim with sacrifice. The point, of course, is to reflect on Christ's sacrifice, to feel just a little bit of the pain he felt, and to draw closer to God as we clear out the clutter of our comfortable lives. Naturally, this isn't easy.
Sacrifice requires toleration for pain.
Sacrifice requires thinking beyond yourself and your wants.
Sacrifice demands discipline.
Sacrifice isn't fun.
Can't it just be Christmas year round?
Still, part of me is relieved that Lent has arrived. Deep down, far below my selfish nature, exists a yearning to cast off the suffocating materialism and shallowness that so often characterizes modern, American life.
Deep down, my spirit desires reconciliation with the living God.
Deep down, my soul is sick from spiritual fluff and wants something deeper, meatier.
Left to my own devices, those yearnings would probably go ignored, at least for long stretches of time.
I wouldn't have the strength to give up the comforts of my life to hear God's voice a little more clearly.
Thanks to the Lenten journey, when we travel the road of sacrifice with fellow believers, my weak nature is compelled to take action, to dig deeper, and to follow through with commitments.
Cardinal Newman once said, "We all suffer for each other, and gain by each other's suffering; for man never stands alone here, though he will stand alone hereafter; but here he is a social being, and goes forward to his long home as one of a large company."
So often I treat faith in God as a private matter, as a path I can walk by myself. In doing this, I confuse individuality with isolation. I ignore the scriptural truth that God created us for Him -- and one another.
Year after year, Lent pulls the curtain back on this illusion as I draw unusual strength from the universal Church - from the community fasting, the special Friday prayer gatherings, and even the long lines to the confessional.
What a merciful God; he does not ask us to journey alone. Even the simple, friendly question, "What are you giving up for Lent?" jolts me out of my usual routine, forcing me to ponder where I'm at spiritually and what kind of fast would be appropriate this year.
And when I feel like giving up and returning to the easy life, images of fellow believers enduring hardships (voluntary or involuntary) readily float to the surface of my thoughts during the Lenten season.
I can't lie - when Easter arrives, I am always relieved. Finally, a little rejoicing! But the rejoicing wouldn't be as sweet if I hadn't been compelled to walk the way of the Cross first. And the jubilation is even more poignant given that the very people I sit next to on Easter morning are the same ones that walked with me through the darker days of Lent.
Intersecting Faith & Life: "Nothing, how little so ever it be, that is suffered for God's sake, can pass without merit in the sight of God." ~ Thomas a Kempis.
What area of your spiritual walk would benefit from a little sacrifice?
If you haven't already, connect with a community of believers where you can draw the strength needed to grow in your faith.
Further Reading
Luke 4:1-13
Devotion by Sarah Phillips0 -
Waiting for Resurrection - Easter Devotional - March 18, 2024
And there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre (Matthew 27:61).
How strangely stupid is grief. It neither learns nor knows nor wishes to learn or know.
When the sorrowing sisters sat over against the door of God's sepulchre, did they see the two thousand years that have passed triumphing away?
Did they see any thing but this: "Our Christ is gone!"
Your Christ and my Christ came from their loss; Myriad mourning hearts have had resurrection in the midst of their grief; and yet the sorrowing watchers looked at the seed-form of this result, and saw nothing.
What they regarded as the end of life was the very preparation for coronation; for Christ was silent that He might live again in tenfold power.
They saw it not. They mourned, they wept, and went away, and came again, driven by their hearts to the sepulchre. Still it was a sepulchre, unprophetic, voiceless, lusterless.
So with us. Every man sits over against the sepulchre in his garden, in the first instance, and says, "This woe is irremediable. I see no benefit in it. I will take no comfort in it." And yet, right in our deepest and worst mishaps, often, our Christ is lying, waiting for resurrection.
Where our death seems to be, there our Saviour is.
Where the end of hope is, there is the brightest beginning of fruition.
Where the darkness is thickest, there the bright beaming light that never is set is about to emerge.
When the whole experience is consummated, then we find that a garden is not disfigured by a sepulchre.
Our joys are made better if there be sorrow in the midst of them. And our sorrows are made bright by the joys that God has planted around about them.
The flowers may not be pleasing to us, they may not be such as we are fond of plucking, but they are heart-flowers, love, hope, faith, joy, peace--these are flowers which are planted around about every grave that is sunk in the Christian heart.
Twas by a path of sorrows drear Christ entered into rest; And shall I look for roses here, Or think that earth is blessed? Heaven's whitest lilies blow From earth's sharp crown of woe. Who here his cross can meekly bear, Shall wear the kingly purple there.
Devotion by Streams in the Desert0
