Today’s Verse – Genesis 3:15
[The LORD God said to the serpent,] “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” —Genesis 3:15 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God’s words are his curse upon the serpent who tempted and lured Eve and Adam to sin. Satan is the personality behind the serpent. Even in this curse, even in recognition of a struggle between the woman’s offspring and Satan, even in the face of destruction and decay unleashed in God’s once perfect world, the LORD embeds the promise of his better future for us. That future comes to us in Jesus! Satan appeared to win the battle at the Cross, but after three days passed, the LORD’s resurrection changed everything. Jesus’ triumph over death left Satan powerless to make death the final word for Jesus or for us. The Evil One’s most strategic plan to bring damnation on us all left the old snake with a crushed head at the doorway of Jesus’ empty tomb! What follows is a video that was originally used on Sunday, March 15, 2020. This was the beginning of COVID social distancing practices and was part of our ministry to bless God’s people during this dark time when many could not assemble. We will keep the ToGather videos with our devotionals for your added blessing! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Thank you, dear Father, for taking the stinger out of death and establishing an assured hope for my future. I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and that you will raise me and bless me with life forever in your presence. For this enduring victory, I praise you in Jesus’ name. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Unbound
Note from Jesus Dear Precious One, Yesterday I talked to you about the importance of My grace leading you to forgive those who have wounded you. That is hard. Today I want to talk to you about one of My greatest enemies (1 Corinthians 15:24-26) and one of the primary reasons I came to earth and walked as God among you. I came to defeat the power of sin and death and the hold they have over you. Please know I hurt when grief rips apart your life and tears huge and gaping holes in your heart. My weeping at Martha’s and Mary’s pain, detailed in the verses below, is a reminder to you. While you shouldn’t “grieve like people who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13 NLT), death still can wound you even when your faith is rich and full. I knew that I was going to raise Lazarus from the dead, yet the grief of his two sisters tore at My heart. I know the great resurrection life I will share with everyone who dies and belongs to Me, yet the grief of each person’s family and friends still tears at My heart! There are many things about John’s account of My raising Lazarus to life that can bless you and challenge you: The fact that people die doesn’t mean I do not love them and those who love them. People’s death is not a sign that I don’t hear the prayers of their loved ones. People who die with faith in Me have not really died; just their bodies die. They are still connected intimately to Me and will be with Me throughout eternity. I hurt deeply with the death of those who love Me, and I hurt and I am intensely troubled for their families’ pain as well. There are even more messages for you to hear, but one clear message from Me to you today is this: death should not hold you hostage if you belong to Me! Listen to the last words in the verses below referring to Lazarus, who had been dead, and let them reverberate in your heart: Untie him, and let him go. Verses to Live Before you read the account about Lazarus, I want to remind you of two passages in your New Testament that speak to the truth that death should not hold you hostage. I want you to hear both of them so that you have their echo of My truth in your heart as you read John’s account that follows: Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:54-57 NLT) Since we, the children, are all creatures of flesh and blood, Jesus took on flesh and blood, so that by dying He could destroy the one who held power over death — the devil — and destroy the fear of death that has always held people captive. (Hebrews 2:14-15) I hurt when you hurt because of grief, but please know that all grief for those who belong to Me will ultimately be caught up in glory on the day when the Father will wipe every tear from your eyes (Revelation 7:17; Revelation 21:4): There was a certain man who was very ill. He was known as Lazarus from Bethany, which is the hometown of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary did a beautiful thing for Jesus. She anointed the Lord with a pleasant-smelling oil and wiped His feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus became deathly ill, so the sisters immediately sent a message to Jesus which said, “Lord, the one You love is very ill.” Jesus heard the message. Jesus: His sickness will not end in his death but will bring great glory to God. As these events unfold, the Son of God will be exalted. Jesus dearly loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. However, after receiving this news, He waited two more days where He was. Jesus (speaking to the disciples): It is time to return to Judea. Disciples: Teacher, the last time You were there, some Jews attempted to execute You by crushing You with stones. Why would You go back? Jesus: There are 12 hours of daylight, correct? If anyone walks in the day, that person does not stumble because he or she sees the light of the world. If anyone walks at night, he will trip and fall because he does not have the light within. (Jesus briefly pauses.) Our friend Lazarus has gone to sleep, so I will go to awaken him. Disciples: Lord, if he is sleeping, then he will be all right. Jesus used “sleep” as a metaphor for death, but the disciples took Him literally and did not understand. Then Jesus spoke plainly. Jesus: Lazarus is dead, and I am grateful for your sakes that I was not there when he died. Now you will see and believe. Gather yourselves, and let’s go to him. Thomas, the Twin (to the disciples): Let’s go so we can die with Him. As Jesus was approaching Bethany (which is about two miles east of Jerusalem), He heard that Lazarus had been in the tomb four days. Now many people had come to comfort Mary and Martha as they mourned the loss of their brother. Martha went to meet Jesus when word arrived that He was approaching Bethany, but Mary stayed behind at the house. Martha: Lord, if You had been with us, my brother would not have died. Even so I still believe that anything You ask of God will be done. Jesus: Your brother will rise to life. Martha: I know. He will rise again when everyone is resurrected