Re: Verse reading–John 20:10-31 (day seven)
“Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!”–v 18. Years ago, there was a character on Sesame Street named Mr. Hooper. Remember? He was on the show for 13 years before He died of an heart attack in 1982. When it happened, the producers had a problem. How to explain death to 10 million children who watched the show? They decided not to dodge the subject. One day, Big Bird asked where Mr. Hooper was and was told that he had died. “Oh yeah, I forgot. Well, I will just see him when he comes back” said Big Bird. With a sympathetic hug the cast member said, “Big Bird, when people die, they don’t come back.” Really? This morning, I pray for volunteers and parents and Pastors to tell a different, better story. I pray for energy and joy to tell children of Christ and the vast power and purposes of God.
Author: Don Guthrie
Don Guthrie is the Senior Pastor at FBCSA.
Holding on
Re: Verse reading–John 20:10-31 (day six)
Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father ‘ “–v 17. May I ask you a question? Are you holding onto Christ? Matthew 28:9 describes it as an act of worship. Even so, it was not what Jesus wanted from Mary. Maybe she was determined to “never let Him go”, to return things back to a former chapter by force of will. Maybe she was reluctant and unaware of the new chapter that was beginning. Maybe she didn’t realize that by holding on to Him she was ignoring and delaying His immediate order to “go tell”. Later that night, the Lord would tell all the disciples, “As the Father sent me, so send I you”–v 21. Are you holding onto the Lord or venturing out into the new life He has for you?
Angel question
Re: Verse reading–John 20:10-31 (day one)
“As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot”–v 12.
It was a shock to them. Not at all what they expected. Angels, sitting majestically in the empty tomb at the foot and head where the body of Jesus had been just hours before, watching with amazement as Mary wept. Tears??? The first disciples had come and gone, still very discouraged. “They did not understand the Scripture”, says John 20:9. Mary was equally blind to the work of God. She wept. Grief? Confusion? Exhaustion? Whatever it was, it was a puzzle to the angels. “Why are you crying?” they say in v 13. Why aren’t you excited? Why aren’t you filled with hope? Good question, for her and for us. Why are WE crying? Not even angels have an answer for that question.
Finish!
Re: Verse reading–John 19:28-42 (day seven)
“It is finished”–v 28. Jesus is the full revelation of God. He is also the full revelation of man. If we see who God is by looking at Christ, we also see who we will be. See 1 John 3:2. The new Adam. The first-fruits of a restored race! “I gave you an example”, said Jesus in John 13. Our task is to imitate His pattern, follow Him, do what He did. By doing so, we discover our true selves! One category of Christ’s character is to finish God’s assigned task. Do you know people who once committed themselves to follow Christ, but who now are far away, cold, distracted and disinterested? Sadly, so do I. Who among us doesn’t feel this soul danger? “They had no firm root in themselves, but were only temporary” reports the Bible of some who joyfully received Christ early–Mark 4:16. No argument, Christ finished His work. Those who follow Him do the same.
Asking for help
Re: Verse reading–John 19:28-42 (day six)
“Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty’ “–v 28. No words describe the humility of Jesus. After hours of abuse and ridicule, His pride does not prevent Him from asking for help from the guards standing nearby. I am certain that I would not reacted the same way. I would have been furious and stoic. I would have refused to make myself vulnerable, to risk further rejection. But Jesus needed a drink in order for his testimony to be heard. He wanted to shout “It is finished” with a loud voice. To do so, He needed to ask for help. Are we too proud to do the same? Do we sometimes pretend to “have it all together” at great cost to the task that God has given us to do? “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient, even to death on the cross”– Philippians 2:8. The most amazing evidence of His humility? He was willing to ask for help.
Unfinished Business
Re: Verse reading–John 19:28-42 (day one)
“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ ” It is one of my favorite Bible stories. No words adequately describe this holy moment. John remembers the last word coming from the Savior’s lips. Finished! (It is actually just one word in Greek) His assignment from God was completely accomplished. Jesus’ heart knew a deep satisfaction. Were these words spoken/shouted with a smile through parched and bloody lips? Likely. All of us can hope the same words will be ours at the end. Even so, we must be careful lest the case be overstated. The Lord is still VERY ACTIVE in our world! Who intercedes for the saints? The Lord! (see Hebrews 7:25) Who opens hearts to hear the word? (see Acts 16:14) Who adds to the church those who are being saved? (see Acts 2:47) Until His glorious return, the Lord will be actively involved with the world! He has unfinished business with us.
His sharp knife
Re: Verse reading—John 15:1-17 (day seven)
” You have already been cleansed (pruned) by the word I have spoken to you”–v 3. Truth hurts! Sometimes. Maybe this is why the Bible describes the Glorious Christ as having a “sharp two-edged sword coming out of his mouth”–Revelation 1:16. What He has to say is usually not pleasant to hear! In another place, the Bible describes itself with the same words. “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword”–Hebrews 4:12. None of us should be surprised, then, if hearing Christ is uncomfortable. The disciples had certainly experienced this discomfort. His words had pruned their attitudes and values, challenged their unbelief and self-centeredness. In the same way, His word convicts us and calls us to reach toward the eternal purposes of Holy God. Comfortable? No. Loving? Yes. He uses His sharp knife to cut away all that is inconsistent with His glory and our good. And all the people said, “Ouch”!
Addition and subtraction
Re: Verse reading—John 15:1-17 (day six)
“He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more”–v 2. “The Lord was ADDING to their number day by day those who were being saved”–Acts 2:47. It is a familiar face of God to us. Giver. Provider. He ADDS people to our congregation, friends to our lives, money to our bank account. Do we also recognize Him when He SUBTRACTS? When He removes things from our lives so that we do not grow self-sufficient or proud? (see 2 Corinthians 12.) When He prunes away parts of our lives, creates discomfort–all in the pursuit of greater fruitfulness? “The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord”, said Job in the midst of his heartbreak. (Job 1:21.) May we be as quick to recognize our Father’s hand in times of change and difficulty. He adds and subtracts. We trust Him, either way.
Loyalty like His
Re: Verse reading–John 15:1-17 (day one)
“Abide in me as I abide in you”–v 4. It is a two-sided loyalty. He abides in us. Never leaves. Never abandons out of frustration from our doubts and resistance. He stays. He abides. And He commands a similar loyalty from us. We are to abide, remain, stay in Him. In season and out. When it is fun and when it isn’t. The result will be fruit and glory (see v 8). When the people of God stay with step with God, in union with Him the “Vine and Branch team” proves unbeatable. Is it possible for fickle hearts such as ours to do so? Apparently Jesus thought so. Everything else is just a sinful excuse or a stubborn refusal to answer love with love, loyalty with loyalty. “Whenever the cloud was lifted from over the tent. . .the sons of Israel would then set out”–Numbers 9:17. If he promises to stay with you, what do you promise?
Heaven help us
Re: Verse reading–John 14:1-14 (day seven)
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me”–v 1. Truth is practical. Knowing it, holding it in your mind has a positive, powerful effect. In the midst of a crisis, Jesus is encouraging his disciples. His approach is to move their minds from anxiety to certainty. He asks them to think about Heaven, to count on it, to depend on His power to bring it about. What happens when we do what the Lord was asking them? Courage comes! Stress subsides! Fear flees! Are you willing to take instruction from the greatest leader that the world has ever known? Think Heaven! Say to yourself, “This world is not my home. Heaven is.” Remind yourself to not be disappointed when this world does not reward or recognize faith. Your reward will come later. Those who “think heaven” find that it has a powerful and positive effect on their lives now.