The Everyday Prayer

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 28:1-10, 16-20 (day two)

“And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.” vs 2

There are so many action words in this narrative: earthquake, descended, rolled, fear, ran, and sat. I remember one Easter Sunday School class when we were studying this text a friend was amazed by the angel. With all that was happening and the confusion that an empty tomb surely caused, the angel was sitting as if to say, “I’m just waiting for you to catch up.” After all isn’t this what Jesus had been saying for some time? Surely a messenger of Heaven was aware of the plan, and must have been amused at observing the chaos from the comfort of sitting on the stone.

God can always be found in the midst of our chaos. Things not go as planned? Household falling apart? Job in jeopardy? Diagnosis grim? It doesn’t matter, Jesus is there patiently waiting for us to acknowledge his presence in the room. Before the chaos takes control of you, find him and rejoice that he lives.

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

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.’ “–v 18.

It is such familiar scripture that we tend to miss the obvious (and amazing) point.  Jesus, raised to life by the power of God, comes to the disciples and raises them to new life as well.  New purpose came with His  words.  New power came 10 days later at Pentecost.  They were never the same.  He did not intend them to be.

Paul taught us this hunger.  “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection.”—Philippians 2:10.  The Scripture teaches this truth.  “Buried with Him through baptism into death. . . raised. . .to walk in newness of life.”–Romans 6:4.

The Resurrection of Christ was an earthquake with moral and spiritual aftershocks felt, even today, in the life of every believer.  He is risen!  I am too!

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

“At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.”–v 51.

I still remember the conversation.  Young man.  Bright.  Youth camp. We were talking about how people dress for worship.  (His normal pattern was shorts and flip flops).

Me–“you wouldn’t dress that way to meet the President of the United States”.

Him —“I would if the President was my Daddy.”

The torn-in-two-temple-veil reflects a similar idea.  What formerly was formal and foreboding was transformed, by the death of Christ, into a warm welcome from God into His presence and help.

We still fear God.  See Proverbs 1:7.  But not in a way that causes us to avoid Him for fear of condemnation.

“He predestined us to adoption as sons.”–Ephesians 1:5. “Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”–Hebrews 4:16.

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

“And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” Matthew 27:51-53

Matthew paints for us a powerful picture of the cataclysmic effect the Cross had on all of human history, past, present and future. It was universe shaking. The great curtain secluding the Holy of Holies was rendered in two, the ground shook and rocks split, and the dead rose again! Nothing would ever be the same! Jesus had declared to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life!” And in the span of three days Jesus made that a reality, not only for himself, but for all who would believe. Sin and death was shaken to its core and witnessed the foreshadowing of its own death, while all the faithful, then up to now, experience righteous restoration and new life! What a beautiful destiny of seismic magnitude: the death of death and new life!

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

There are many people that share experiences and conversations with Jesus in the gospel narratives. Ever wonder what happened to them? Did they follow Christ? Did they influence others to become believers? Would they become leaders and teachers?

Remember Paul Harvey’s radio program- “The Rest of the Story”?

We get a little snippet about the “rest of the story” for Simon the Cyrene. We look to Mark 15:21 to find that not only is his name listed, but also the names of his sons. If he was just a member of the crowd that day, how did the gospel writers know his name and the names of his sons? Maybe Simon’s encounter was life changing, not only for him but for his family as well. It is possible they all became believers and joined the community of believers to the degree that their names were known?

Reflect back to your first experience/encounter with Jesus. Remember how life changing it was? Will you tell and influence others?

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

They were clueless…everyone surrounding Jesus as He went to the cross had a complete misunderstanding of what was going on. They were totally disoriented to God and His plan. Their eyes were blind and they could not see. Each one saw it differently than the next. There were so many stories…Simon of Cyrene; the Roman soldiers on cross duty; the two robbers crucified with Jesus; the unnamed crowd passing by; the Chief priests, scribes and elders; the bystanders at the cross; the Centurion; and the saints who rose from the dead…each one saw it differently. There is one more story though…it is our story. How do we see Jesus and His crucifixion? Do we see it as a tragedy that should never have happened or a grossly unfair event that trampled the rights of a human? Or, do we see it as a necessary payment for our own sin? It was our sin that put Jesus on the cross. Ask God to orient you to His understanding…see the cross for what it is!

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 27:32-54 (day two)

As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross. vs. 32

Simon of Cyrene – who was he? What was he doing there? Was he in town for the Passover, perhaps there to take part in a sacrifice or ritual? Was he a party to angry mob that had feverishly demanded the release of a convicted killer instead of the innocent Jesus? It is as if it was a passing thought to put this account in the passion narrative. This man named Simon from the town of Cyrene was forced to carry the cross of the Christ.

Like all of us Simon had an encounter with Jesus. He may not have been a part of anything that led up to his role, but that did not mean he didn’t need to meet the Savior. Jesus didn’t die to just save those who angrily forced this crucifixion. He didn’t endure the torture for so the scattered disciples could be absolved. Jesus followed this path so people like Simon could meet him face to face. We will all be called to some accountability for what we did with this Jesus. Will you carry his cross?

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

I am amazed and saddened by the behavior of the chief priests  on the day of the crucifixion. To come to  Golgotha was an extra trip.  For what?  To ridicule a dying man?  Give it a rest!

They had good information. “He saved others” they said in v 42.  “He trusts in God” they reported in v 43.  Accurate summary of Christ’s life and ministry.  But crucifixion was reserved for the worst criminals–designed to make death as painful and prolonged as possible.  Why couldn’t they see the injustice?

Common problem for religious people.  Right facts (about God).  Wrong heart (toward God).  Correct info.  Unsurrendered ego.  Like Jonah who knew about God, even obeyed Him, but his heart never changed, these lost and foolish men knew about Christ, but never come to faith and salvation.

“The word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard it.”–Hebrews 4:2