The Shining Island in the Storm

"Peace be with you!"  Hello everyone! Hope your day is going great! In our world, we are inundated by information and entertainment. Our minds are flooded constantly with "stuff." Can you, with me, just stop everything for a minute? No music, no talking, and simply close your eyes and listen to the silence. And now, in your head and heart, hear Jesus say, "Peace be with you!" Only with Jesus can  our souls be filled with that valuable comodity: "the peace that passes understanding." Read John 20: 19-23 and let it soak in. These words bring amazement to the followers of Jesus and John, the beloved apostle, remembers it clearly!

Peace? Is it possible to have peace in this world of worry, struggle, disappointment, loss and pain? Peace when all seems "down the drain" and hope is almost gone?  Peace when someone precious to me is no longer there?  Peace when I feel most people are against me and "out to get me?"  Peace when all I have worked for and hoped for seems to be lost forever? Really??? How is that possible? It seems like a pipe-dream, to say the least!


Tunnel of gloom. This passage in John that we are sharing today takes place after the darkest times in the lives of Jesus' disciples. They have lost everything! They followed Jesus with such high hopes for the future! They saw His power and believed Him to be invincible. And yet, the Jews and Romans together have taken Jesus and killed Him. Fear, despair, confusion and hopelessness fill the room where the disciples are gathered. Gloom and depression hang in the room like dark clouds. When Jesus was crucified, darkness fell over the land, and that darkness continuesto reign in their hearts -- permeating them to the core.

Our darkest path. This is Katrinka writing today and I have lived long enough to experience such times in life. I think everyone has shared in the bitterness of  "times that try men's souls." Sometimes we think we are singled out for trouble, but nothing could be further from the truth. The example of Job in the Old Testament brings things into focus. God singled him out as being an example of righteousness, and yet God allowed Satan to try him to the point that he was on the verge of death. He suffered the loss of everything he had! When his wife bitterly questioned why Job was holding onto hope and integrity in the face of such major calamity, he gave her a very wise answer: "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (Job 2:10).

It brings incredible peace into my soul to read The Bible. Try it. It is definitely the" Best Medicine" for any problem. Today this scripture from John brings blinding light into the room, and into our hearts. The Light chases the darkness away and lifts up our souls to praising our God! Jesus IS the Light of the World, and He suddenly appears in the dark, gloomy room! Jesus unexpectantly stands right there in front of  his distraught and pesimistic friends in all His Resurrected Glory!

Talk about "cleaning up the environment"? Jesus instantly cleared away all the rubbish of darkness and depression with His appearance and the words: "Peace be with you!" It seems logical that the followers were shocked. Who wouldn't be?  Luke 24:37 tells us more, stating that they thought they were seeing a ghost! Jesus showed them His wounds and reassured them that He really does live again! It is stunning to think that One who they saw dead and buried is now standing before them alive and well. More than that, Jesus is different in the most glorious ways, and the fact that He just appeared in the room shows that there were some big changes in His risen body.

Need a fill-up? Many times you and I need a spiritual refueling. If there was ever a need for refueling, this was the time for the followers of Jesus. They got an instant refill with His appearance, but He had even more for them. Jesus breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

The Godhead is composed of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Before His crucifixion, Jesus, the Son, was with them in human form. He told us that when we see Him we also see the Father. But now, after His resurrection, there is another Gift from above--the Holy Spirit. He is also called "the Comforter" in scripture. The name alone gives peace in the Christian heart. The Comfort of God is not something external, it is internal, nourishing and healing true followers of Jesus from within. The Spirit of God insures the Christian a comfort that is beyond any remedy the world can provide. He produces the "peace that passes understanding," no matter what the circumstances of life.

Jesus changes things! This particular occasion we read about today changed a lot of things in the life of the followers of Jesus. Jesus gave them, among other things,  the gifts of: (1) peace, (2) joy, (3) comfort and (4) direction: (1) In place of stress and worry, the disciples were given reassurance and peace of mind that Jesus was absolutely not overcome by opposition and physical death. (2) In place of depression and tears they received relief and an upbeat spirit! (3) In place of aching lonelinss and tears of loss, they received proof that He lives, the warmth of His reassurance, and the constant presence of the Holy Spirit within their hearts. (4) In place of the feeling, "Where do we go next?" they received clear instructions and focus for the future: Jesus said, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."

Our Job Description. As Christians, you and I have been given these same gifts and the same direction and instruction. Jesus says to us, as well:  "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:15-16). Now we are ready to face the day with Jesus, hearts up, positive thinking, peace in our hearts, and a mission to live by! Let's go do it, shall we?

No More Tears

God is interested in every detail of your life! He loves you, and he is wanting to speak into your life today. Quiet yourself for a moment and let him. Let's hear from his Word, John 20:11-18. It's Sunday morning early. The jeers and angry shouts have died away, along with the Man on the cross. An anxious day of silence and painful inactivity followed. Mary and some other women had gone to the tomb, found it open and empty, and returned with the news. Peter and John had raced there to check it out for themselves. Only Mary Magdalene returned behind them, at a slower pace. By the time she arrives, they've already left. Now she finds herself alone with the tomb. Or so she thinks. Give it a read.

Twice in this scene, Mary is asked the same question. Did you notice?

"Why are you crying?" (v. 13, 15)

It's kind of an interesting, if not ridiculous, question to ask a person visiting a grave. Don't you think? I've visited Cathy's grave many times, and I have never been asked by people who came close by why I was crying. Once, a lady gently approached me and asked me about the person I had lost. Others have paid no attention to me. After all, crying is normal in a cemetary.

So why does Mary get asked a question like that, twice? It seems almost insensitive. Perhaps those who questioned her expected her to have come to realize that she had nothing to cry about. She had heard Jesus predict his death and resurrection. She had already seen the empty tomb. Patch in the details from the other accounts, and you see that she and the other women had already been told by an angel that he was risen. Yet, somehow her heart just can't believe it. He has overcome death and the grave, but she is still mourning as if he's still dead.

So, she gets the question first from two angels inside the tomb, positioned like two Vanna White's highlighting the spot where he once lay: "Why are you crying?' Then comes the question again from Jesus himself as he walks up behind her: "Why are you crying?" It's his gentle way of saying, "Don't you realize that I've won? I have launched an offensive on the gates of death and Hell, and I've come away victorious! This isn't time for mourning. It's time for celebrating!"

It's important to know what time it is. And in my own times of loss and sorrow, or periods of discouragement and defeat, when I feel like all is lost and the weight of the world presses down on my shoulders, this question rings out of the text, out of this scene at the empty tomb, and speaks an important reminder to me. What, ultimately do I have to be down about? I need to turn and lift up my eyes and see the risen Savior there behind me, smiling, alive and victorious, stretching out his hand to me. The victory has already been won! Every battle I still have to fight, regardless of the outcome, will end in glory. And his power to overcome is in me, right now! Thank you, Jesus!

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It's Already Taken Care Of

Good evening and happy Tuesday! This is Michele with you tonight. We are moving into Chapter 20 of the book of John and we will begin with verses 1-10. There is much to be taken from this reading as it focuses on the resurrection of our Lord. Please read with me and listen for the voice of God to speak into your heart.

Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. (v. 1)

Why was Mary going to the tomb? Was she going to pay her respects? Did she just want to be as close as possible to her Lord and Savior? She had just watched the life-changing death of Jesus two short days ago. Maybe she wanted to spend some time at the place where his body was buried.......a time of reflection on what he had done for her. Whatever reason she had for going to the tomb, Mary was probably blown away by what she saw when she arrived!

Chris and I read this together and he had some great insight into this section of the text. This is what we discussed as we studied together:

Have you ever wondered how a certain task would ever get accomplished? Have you ever spent needless time contemplating how to approach a situation? Have you ever wanted to dismiss a much needed action because you can't wrap your head around what steps need to be taken first? Me too! Mary may have wondered all the way there how she would be able to get into the tomb because of the huge stone that covered the entrance. A stone that she knew she wouldn't be able to move on her own. But, the amazing part is, Jesus had already moved the stone that had previously kept her from his body. She didn't need to be concerned with that at all. There have been numerous times in my life when I've found that my worries were unwarranted because Jesus had already taken care of my issue without my having to do a thing! He's moved many stones out of my way to fulfill his plan. He does the same for all of his children.

Did Jesus roll away the stone so he could get out? No, he moved the stone so others could go in! Our Lord doesn't need a doorway but he's in the art of making doorways for others. He wants us to seek him out. He wants to show us his magnificence and invites us to enter into his presence.

What did Mary, Peter and John find when they looked in the tomb? Jesus' body was no longer there! They saw just what he wanted them to see when they entered the doorway he had provided. And because of what they saw....they believed.

Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed- for until then they still hadn't understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. (8-9)

Lord, give me the wisdom to see the doors that you're opening in my life. Help me to see just what you want me to see as I enter them. Keep my mind focused on you and your reign in my life. You are my King and my guide. Amen

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A Very Expensive Funeral Attended by Two

Hello everyone! Sorry to be a little late writing today. Our reading is taken from John 19:38-42. When I sit down and take the Bible, open it up and read, it seems as though a feeling of peace fills my heart! I hope you will read this short passage with me and thoughtfully let it speak to your heart. Today this is Katrinka writing, and always grateful for the opportunity to share this time with Chris, Michele, and especially you. May God bless us as we let more of His Word into our minds and souls.

In this section of John we have been reading about THE EVENT. Which event? The crucifixion of our Lord and Savior in detailed account, about the event that shook the earth and darkened the day, about the event that took our Lord Jesus into the realms of Death itself. At this point in the sequence of such momentous happeningss, the future looks quite uncertain. How is it possible that the life of Jesus come to this tragic end? His death on the cross was one of humiliation and shame! What does the future hold for his followers?

The funeral. In these few verses today we see the "funeral" that was held for Jesus. Surely the Son of God was buried in a showy, grand manner with loyal disciples all around him. Surely there were many flowers, and expressions of respect and honor for the departed Lord! That is how we would like to see it happen, but, sadly, that is definitely not the case.

Those who attended. Doesn't it seem strange to you that it was not Peter. or John. or James that came to Pilate and asked to have the body of Jesus? After all, they were his best friends, always-present followers, weren't they? But, as Jesus had already predicted, "the sheep would be scattered." Even John who was with Mary at the cross did not come and ask for the body so his mother could bury him! It all seems so tragic and disappointing to me. We cannot judge accurately, but it seems that they had all given up and were quickly moving our of range so that the authorities would not associate them more with Jesus, the crucified. No, instead of loyal friends around him to the end, it was only a couple of "secret believers" who stood up to bury him at the end of Jesus' earthly life.

 Joseph of Arimathea surely had no idea that his act of asking for the body and burying it in his own new tomb would go down in the Word of God for generations of people to read! I ask myself, why was he so brave now? Why didn't he stand up and say that he was a believer in Jesus before, when things were going great for Jesus? His courage failed him then, but now, all of a sudden he stands up to be counted as a follower. Why? Could it be that he was there, watching, listening as the crucifixion took place? Could it be that, as some of the soldiers who were on the job there, he said to himself in the end: " Surely this was the Son of God!" Whatever it was, Joseph was a changed man. He did not allow himself to go into depression and give up on his belief just because Jesus had been killed! Instead he performed a service for our Lord that no one else did -- he honored and took care of Jesus' body! He stepped up and sacrificially gave his new tomb, his love and his service to His Lord when others abandoned him.

Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night, was there too. We read that he was there with Joseph of Arimathea. He had been reluctant to visit with Jesus in the daytime, also out of fear of the Jewsish leaders. And yet at this time he also steps forward boldly, participating in the "funeral" of Jesus, in the special care of his earthly body. His contribution demonstrated great love and respect for Jesus. He brought a mixture of expensive myrrh and aloes, and not just a little bit but a lot -- about 75 pounds worth! This was used to rub all over Jesus'  dead body, to clean, scent and preserve it. He spared no expense and gave of himself to see that Jesus had a decent, Jewish burial.

Hands-on Service. These two men, apparently both quite wealthy, did not bring along their servants to do the work. They did it themselves! By this time Jesus had undergone so much! Beatings, scourgings, spit, thorns scraping his head -- all these along with the actual crucifixion and the spear in the side -- must have left the body of Jesus in quite a horrible state. I can't write this without tears filling my eyes! Still, these two men took the body of Jesus and personally did all that it took. They cleaned it, rubbed it all over with the spices and expensive perfumes. Then, with their own hands, they wrapped Jesus in strips of linen. They did it all according to Jewish burial customs. They placed his body in a clean, new tomb and left. They had done all they could do as mere men.

These two men fulfilled what was written above the cross: "King of the Jews." They took the body of Jesus and honored it in the Jewish way as it should have been done. They honored Jesus with their actions when others honored him with words. Joseph and Nicodemas performed the funeral for Jesus. And I feel sure that when he arose from the dead, they were rejoicing and being glad they had done what they had done! And I feel sure in my own heart that they will be given a place in heaven for their efforts and faith.

How about us? How do you and I honor Jesus? -- in words or in deeds? Actually, our Lord and Messiah deserves both! He deserves our everything and our all! We can honor Him best in real service to His church and to those around us. Thank you, Lord, for letting us know how Jesus was buried. It has some great lessons for us. And let us never forget that partaking of the Lord's Supper can be a continuation of honoring His death for us. Blessings on each of you!

Broken Heart

God is speaking to anyone who would listen. All we have to do is open the Bible and read. The final scene from the cross will frame our conversation today. Let's read John 19:31-37 together and then reflect back over it. What is he wanting us to hear?

...[T]hey came to Jesus and found that he was already dead.... [O]ne of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. (v. 33-34)

The notes in my NIV Study Bible explain that the phenomenon of water flowing along with the blood could be caused by the spear piercing the sac that surrounds the heart (pericardium) and the heart itself. That fact tells me three important things.

One, Jesus was really human. Yes, he is fully God, but he's also fully human. There were other times in Scripture where God or an angel took human form. They made themselves look human to interact with humans, but they didn't really become human. This was not one of those times. Jesus wasn't just God in human form. He was God in human flesh. And that means he experienced the human condition. He knows how it feels to be a man. He can relate to me. He understands me. And I can aspire to be like him. I can lay aside those thoughts that I can never be the kind of person that he was. I can't do it perfectly like he did. But by his grace and strength, I can be Christ-like.

Two, Jesus was really dead. Accepting the reality of Jesus' resurrection from the dead is no small thing. I need evidence. And this is one solid piece of it from an eyewitness who had nothing to gain and a lot to lose by lying about it. Could Jesus maybe have just been unconscious? in a coma? mostly dead but not all dead? And then he just woke up in the tomb and broke out? Not a chance. His heart was run through with a spear head.

Three, in bearing the brunt of my sins, Jesus' heart was broken. It cut him straight to the heart, literally. He was broken-hearted about my plight, my stubbornness, my brokenness and my hopelessness. And he cared so much for me that he took it all on himself, even though it killed him. He has literally changed my life, made me whole and given me hope and a brilliant future. I don't want to break his heart anymore. I want him to feel how much I love him, and I will show him everyday.

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Sweet Accomplishment

If you can't hear the voice of God speaking to you through the account of Jesus' crucifixion, you may just not be listening with your heart. Let's go back to the account in John 19. Michele had a great post yesterday on the fact of Jesus caring for his mother in his final moments. Now let's sit in on the end in verses 28 through 30. Read it two or three times. Can you hear him? Why are these sayings so important?

Jesus said, "I am thirsty." (v. 28)

Why did John include this detail? Maybe it was because he had made a point of emphasizing that Jesus was the cure for that gnawing thirst inside each one of us. Jesus had promised to provide "living water" freely to anyone who wants it, and that we would never go thirsty again (see chp. 4). How ironic that he now thirsts himself.

But this is how it had to be. Only in dying could Jesus give us Life. And only in enduring parching thirst could he become the thirst-quencher. Do you see the symbolic significance in the fact that when his side was run through with a spear, along with the blood flowed water (v. 34)?

Jesus said, "It is finished!" (v. 30)

That's no give-up! That's the exclamation of a man who completed what he came to do. It's in the same category as tossing your graduation cap in the air. It's the Cardinals storming the pitcher's mound as they put an exclamation point on the last inning of the World Series. (Well, multiplied by the power of 10.) Jesus had a life mission, and he wrapped it up in his death on the cross to take the punishment for the sins of all who would accept him as their substitute. He checked out of this life knowing that he had completed his life's purpose.

That's how I want to go out, too. Don't you? Because I was put here for a reason, and so were you. I'm still alive today for one reason--because I haven't finished what God has planned for me to accomplish. Hopefully, I won't be done today! But I want to eventually come to the end of my life with the same kind of satisfaction that Jesus had. I want to be able to say with my dying breath, "I have finished what God put me here to do." I haven't left anything undone. I didn't shirk my responsibilities. I didn't close a deaf ear to my mission. I didn't sit around passively observing other people serving God. I accepted my mission. I let God lead me step by step as I did what he put before me to do. I served his cause.

And when that day comes and I face the reality of death and eternity before me, I will have the deep satisfaction and peace of knowing I did what God put me here to do. Those may be the best last words a person could have: "It is finished!"

It would be great to know how this speaks to your heart and life. Share it with me in the Comments section below. And invite your Facebook friends to join this conversation with God. Share this post by clicking the Facebook button ("f") below. Be blessed!

Jesus' Never-ending Love for Us

Are you ready to hear what God has to say to you today? Good! I, Michele, am taking you to John 19:25-27. Read it through and ponder what God is trying to get across to you. This is a wonderful example of the way Jesus' loves for us. One that should be read with great attention.

Standing near the cross were Jesus' mother, and his mother's sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, "Dear woman, here is your son." And he said to this disciple, "Here is your mother." And from then on this disciple took her into his home. (v. 25-27)

Do you think Mary understood what was going on? Did she understand the complete truth of who her son was? I don't know if she truly understood but I do imagine she felt Jesus' love for her when he made sure that she would be cared for after his final breath. In the midst of his suffering, Jesus was concerned for his mother. He knew how hard this was for her and he loved her so much. Although the text does not make it clear, we can assume that Joseph was already deceased by this time. Jesus wanted his mother to know that she would always be cared for, even after he was gone. Doesn't he care for us as well?

Have you ever felt his love for you so powerfully? Have you ever had to fall prostrate on the ground because you are overwhelmed with Jesus' love for you? Has there ever been a time when you felt Jesus' arms wrap around you with a feeling of pure peace and comfort? I have! This has happened to me on several different occasions, both in times of turmoil and times of pure bliss. I've felt Jesus' arms around me in times of complete an utter loneliness, when I've felt weighed down by the demands of this life, or when I've felt like a failure as a parent. Jesus has also wrapped me in his love in good times when I've accomplished something that has seemed impossible to me or when he brought into my life the wonderful man who will soon be my husband!! No matter what the situation may be, Jesus can surround us with a feeling of complete peace, protection and love.

His love is that far, that wide, that deep....it can and will reach into any situation to transform us. Feel his love for you, really take it in! Just as he made sure his mother would be continually cared for, he will make sure of the same for each one of us. He will never leave us to flounder on our own. It may feel that way at times, but he promises not to do that. He is always with us and no matter where we are or what our circumstances are he will never forsake us. He is never too busy for us. He was still caring for his people as he hung on the cross!

Thank you, dear God, for caring so much. Thank you for never leaving us to make it on our own. Your love for us never ends. You are King of my life! I will lay every burden and praise at the foot of the cross where they belong. Amen

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