Author: Bryan Richardson

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20 (day three)

“Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.'” Before Jesus walked among us, the command not to fear invited us to trust God in the middle of the reality that the grave was never far away: The Lord would protect us from death. Now, after Jesus’s resurrection, the command not to fear invites us to trust God who has altered reality: The Lord has defeated death. The death of a perfect man was necessary to pay sin’s terrible price. And so, Jesus tells us, don’t fear. Don’t fear, because his death was the last death–the last necessary death. We could still die, but it would be the result of rejecting Christ. “I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” Don’t be afraid, because you don’t have to die.

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 27:32-54 (day three)

“They came out of the tombs…” This little section of the passage can seem outlandish: Jesus dies, an earthquake occurs, tombs get split open, and the bodies of previously dead holy people come alive, walk into the city, and appear to a significant number of residents. What? But consider: The death of Jesus was the last act of death’s mastery over the human race—or more precisely, it was death’s first failure. Death had always had the final say over families, communities, nations, the world. Humanity could never answer it—only accept it. But after Jesus’s final breath, death would no longer go unanswered. In this new reality, resurrection isn’t bizarre, it’s the way life goes. Tombs are no longer everlasting places of entry, but now permanent places of exit, for all who count on Christ.

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 26:47-50, 57-66; 27:11-26 (day three)

“Friend, do what you came for.” We can read this as if Jesus were telling Judas, as we might phrase it, “Just get this over with.” After all, here was a betrayal by a (publicly apparent) friend. But was Jesus biting the bullet here? Certainly our Lord possessed courage, toughness, and–as evidenced by the term “friend”, which he used without irony and with absolute sincerity–love. But the “let’s do this” frame of mind would necessitate his holding something in reserve in order to bring off the crowning feat of victory. That sounds satisfying, but we need a Savior, not an action hero. Jesus spoke to Judas of sacrifice, not grit. In Paul’s grand language, Jesus “emptied himself.” He didn’t bite the bullet. He took it. Do you know he did this for you?

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 20:1-16 (day three)

“Are you envious because I am generous?” If the universe is a meritocracy, it’s only sensible to make sure you gain an edge over others. But if in fact we live by way of mercy, wouldn’t you hope that God is generous to those without a leg up? We are dependent on God’s generosity, which flows from his mercy. Sometimes we might see someone and think, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” It’s a small step, though, from thinking you’re better off to thinking that you’re just better. Perhaps we would train our minds toward Christ if instead we think, “Because of the grace of God, I have no less of God’s attention than that person.”

Re: Verse reading—Matthew 18:21-35 (day three)

“Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” The ability to forgive does not come from mustering up the fortitude to forgive, or from trying really hard to forgive, or from reminding yourself that you need to forgive. The ability to forgive, Jesus reveals through the story he tells to Peter, comes from remembering how much you’ve been forgiven. Until you do that, forgiveness lies out of reach. Never forget how much you’ve been forgiven. If you will remember, you can forgive.

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 13:1-23 (day three)

“Blessed are your eyes because they see.” Some eyes see revelation, others see barriers. So it was when men looked at Christ. Some looked at him and saw a Savior. Others looked at him and saw a hindrance. Some saw him as the Son of God, others as useful revolutionary. Such observation continues in our day. Some see him as the Lord who will make us holy and acceptable to God, others see him as an inspirational teacher who will coach us to become our best selves. But what kind of sight did Jesus call blessed? He called blessed the sight that perceives Jesus as the one who will lead us into life under the reign of God. That means we forsake our plans, our ambitions, and our “best selves” for life as his apprentice. Do you see this?

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 7:1-27 (day three)

“Knock and the door will be opened to you.” We are not anonymous blips of static echoing in an indifferent, unresponsive expanse. To the contrary, the Bible teaches us that the universe will yield to our questions. The scriptures invite us to ask, seek, knock, question, inquire, wrestle, cry out, call, pursue, search. God will be found. How serious are you about looking?

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 6:19-34 (day three)

“The eye is the lamp of the body.” We think we know what we’re looking at. But do we? Jesus says maybe not. Do you know how to tell the difference between something that will last into the age to come and something that won’t? Jesus tells us clearly that there are such things that will last and such things that will crumble. Are you learning which is which? The words Jesus speaks in this passage–and his words and actions from other passages–will teach us how to see what lasts and what doesn’t. If we will believe it, the Bible will help us learn to see the world like Jesus sees the world.

Re:Verse reading–Matthew 5:17-48 (day three)

“Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” It’s common to think of “kingdom of heaven” as a synonym for the afterlife. But Jesus is talking about life under the reign of God, whether that life takes place now or after we die. Jesus lived in the kingdom of heaven even as he walked the earth. Therefore, to live in the kingdom of heaven is to live–right now, not merely later–the kind of life that Jesus lives. That is the only kind of life that will last forever, and only Jesus–no other “righteousness expert”–can teach us that life. Part of what it means to “accept Jesus” is to become his apprentices so that he can teach us how to live under God’s reign.