Welcome to Son Rise
Note from Jesus Dear Follower and Friend, Let there be light. And light flashed into being. (Genesis 1:3) Yes, I was there the very first time light drove away the darkness at creation. In fact, I AM the living Word Who brought creation into existence (John 1:1-5; Colossians 1:16). You shouldn’t be surprised that I was there for the great rising of the sun on that Sunday after my crucifixion. Just as I, Jesus the Christ and Son of God, was slain as the Passover Lamb for the sins of the world, I triumphed over the grave to end death’s hold over you. I AM the Lord of creation and I am the Lord of Resurrection Sunday. You may call it Easter, yet for heaven’s angels, that resurrection morning was Son Rise. This event is the great day of victory for each of you who has placed your faith in Me. The power of sin and death was defeated. Broken hearts with shattered dreams were suddenly jubilant. With Son Rise, they were joyously stitched together with unconquerable hope realizing that I AM forever victorious over the power of sin, hell, and the grave. I know you will have hard days, dark days, that are too long and feel hopeless. So as you read the verses below, I want you to notice that Mary Magdalene twice calls Me her Lord even though she thinks that death still holds Me. So, on your days that are too long and feel hopeless, I want you to hang onto faith like Mary did. Call out to Me as your Lord. Trust Me as your Lord. Hang on to Me as Lord even when there appears to be no reason to keep holding onto faith in Me. Sooner or later, like for Mary, there will be Son Rise! That is the promise of Resurrection Sunday. That is the assurance that Mary Magdalene’s example of faith can give you. Rejoice today, but not just today. Every sunrise is a reminder that death cannot hold you when you are in My life-giving grip. Every cemetery sorrow is but a temporary parting for those touched by My grace. Remember this: the grave cannot hold those who have put their faith in Me as Lord. With Me, there is always the promise of Son Rise! Verses to Live Death is the horror that hell has used to enslave humanity. When you see the broken heart of My mother, Mary, as she watches Me die, please know I came to bring hope to such pain. When you see Peter devastated by his betrayal as I faced death, please know I came to remove such shame. When you see Mary Magdalene touched first by My powerful grace when I cast out the demons oppressing her and then confused and broken by My death, please know that I am Lord of life and of the assurance that hope triumphs over death. When you see the sunrise, remember Me and remember Son Rise. I bring light to darkness, hope to despair, healing to brokenness, and, most of all, life to death. Hear these words and remember, Son Rise! Near the place He [Jesus] was crucified, there was a garden with a newly prepared tomb. Because it was the day of preparation, they [Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus] arranged to lay Jesus in this tomb so they could rest on the Sabbath. Before the sun had risen on Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene made a trip to the tomb where His body was laid to rest. In the darkness, she discovered the covering had been rolled away. She darted out of the garden to find Simon Peter and the dearly loved disciple to deliver this startling news. Mary Magdalene: They have taken the body of our Lord, and we cannot find Him! Together, they all departed for the tomb to see for themselves. They began to run, and Peter could not keep up. The beloved disciple arrived first but did not go in. There was no corpse in the tomb, only the linens and cloths He was wrapped in. When Simon Peter finally arrived, he went into the tomb and observed the same: the cloth that covered His face appeared to have been folded carefully and placed, not with the linen cloths, but to the side. After Peter pointed this out, the other disciple (who had arrived long before Peter) also entered the tomb; and based on what he saw, faith began to well up inside him! Before this moment, none of them understood the Scriptures and why He must be raised from the dead. Then they all went to their homes. Mary, however, stood outside the tomb sobbing, crying, and kneeling at its entrance. As she cried, two heavenly messengers appeared before her sitting where Jesus’ head and feet had been laid. Heavenly Messengers: Dear woman, why are you weeping? Mary Magdalene: They have taken away my Lord, and I cannot find Him. After uttering these words, she turned around to see Jesus standing before her, but she did not recognize Him. Jesus: Dear woman, why are you sobbing? Who is it you are looking for? She still had no idea Who it was before her. Thinking He was the gardener, she muttered: Mary Magdalene: Sir, if you are the one who carried Him away, then tell me where He is and I will retrieve Him. Jesus: Mary! Mary Magdalene (turning to Jesus and speaking in Hebrew): Rabboni, my Teacher! Jesus: Mary, you cannot hold Me. I must rise above this world to be with My Father, Who is also your Father; My God, Who is also your God. Go tell this to all My brothers. Mary Magdalene obeyed and went directly to His disciples. Mary Magdalene (announcing to the disciples): I have seen the Lord… (John 19:41-42; John 20:1-18) Response in Prayer Almighty God — so high and exalted, yet so near — I praise You and thank You for Your power,
‘Better Off Just Leaving Him Alive’
Note from Jesus Dear Seeker, On the day after My death and while My body was still in the grave, Pilate received a request from the chief priests and the Pharisees: So please order someone to secure the tomb for at least three days. Otherwise His disciples might sneak in and steal his body away, and then claim that He has been raised from the dead. If the chief priests and Pharisees had just known the realities of the situation, they would have realized how unnecessary their request was. My disciples were scared they would be the next to die. They hid from the authorities behind locked doors (John 20:19). They weren’t going to steal My body. They were hoping to stay alive through Passover. If they survived, then they could begin trying to figure out what to do next! The concern about their stealing My body was ludicrous. Even more absurd was the posting of a guard at the tomb of someone who is dead. If the deceased can make himself alive again, you have a lot bigger problem than a few guards at the entrance of a tomb could ever handle! As My body lay still in the grave, those who crucified Me were about to provide part of the validation that their greatest fears would be realized. What were those fears? Matthew’s words capture them powerfully. If My disciples believed that I was raised from the dead, then these religious leaders “would have been better off just leaving Him [Me] alive.” A wonder-working Messiah was hard enough to oppose. How do you stop people who truly believe their Messiah had been unmercifully and brutally executed but then was raised from the dead by the power of God? As you now know nearly two thousand years later, you can’t stop such “resurrection-believing” people! All the schemes, plots, and machinations exerted to kill Me would very shortly prove to be futile. In fact, all those efforts would only strengthen the foundation of My disciples’ faith once they were convinced that I had been raised! After they had seen Me alive following My resurrection, their faith would push them out of their fear into a bold passion. Once they ate with Me, their resurrected Lord, their conviction that I lived would stir them to turn the world upside down with My message of grace. These religious leaders and their soldiers could no longer threaten them into silence once they had touched My wounds — wounds on My head, hands, feet, and side — where I had been pierced by the thorns, the nails, and a spear. These religious leaders would have their worst fears realized. Once My disciples believed in My resurrection and the empty tomb, they proved to be unstoppable! So when all seemed lost for My little band of followers, those who killed Me were still afraid of Me. You are reading this because you know what happens next: these religious leaders have their worst fears realized. Death could not stop Me or My influence or My triumph over the grave. All their politics, false religion, lying, deception, and even guards couldn’t keep My body locked in that tomb and held by the power of death. Soon, after a brief respite while My body would lie motionless and lifeless in the grave, the religious leaders would again have to deal with Me, the Lord of heaven and earth and conqueror of death. Verses to Live The Bible has many little glimpses of holy irony as humans try to oppose the plan and power of the Lord — Father, Son, and Spirit. The second Psalm is a powerful testimony about the futility of human scheming in opposition to the will of the Father (Psalm 2:1-12). I especially love the first verse: “Why are the people making plans to pursue their own vacant and empty greatness?” The frantic scheming by those who put Me to death proved futile as My resurrection demonstrated. So as you read the words below, recall how ridiculous this scheming proved to be. The next day, which is the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went together to Pilate. They reminded him that when Jesus was alive He had claimed that He would be raised from the dead after three days. Chief Priests and Pharisees: So please order someone to secure the tomb for at least three days. Otherwise His disciples might sneak in and steal His body away, and then claim that He has been raised from the dead. If that happens, then we would have been better off just leaving Him alive. Pilate: You have a guard. Go and secure the grave. So they went to the tomb, sealed the stone in its mouth, and left the guard to keep watch. (Matthew 27:62-66) Response in Prayer O Father, when death closes in on those whom I love and who are Jesus’ disciples, please help Me believe! Help Me believe, O Lord, that the power that was present to bring life to Jesus’ dead body will come with grace and power to raise those I love. The distance between burial and resurrection seems like a long wait from our perspective on earth. So during the long wait till reunion with those of us who live on this side of the grave, I ask for faith to believe that the resurrection is coming. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
‘Father, Forgive Them’
Note from Jesus Dear Child of God, Few things are more difficult for My beloved followers to read than the account of My crucifixion. In the verses below, this is what you will find: I was crucified as a criminal, among criminals. As I died, the soldiers at the foot of My naked and battered body gambled to see who could take home my clothes. The religious authorities who were supposed to support My faith and give Me comfort, mocked Me. Calloused soldiers joined in mocking Me and teasing Me with sour wine for My parched throat and My dehydrated body. Soldiers mocked My identity as King of the Jews and then challenged Me to free myself. The soldiers nailed an inscription at the top of My cross. The inscription said “This is the King of the Jews!” and was intended as derision and sarcasm. It was written in the three primary languages of the region. One dying criminal joined in the derision, mocking, and ridicule. Darkness descended and “the curtain of the temple was torn in two.” With all that was going on that was awful and sub-human, notice the touches of grace that redeem this story into a message of hope, mercy, love, forgiveness, and redemption: My prayer of forgiveness for those murdering Me: “Father, forgive them.” My promise to the believing criminal crucified with Me: “I promise you that this very day you will be with Me in paradise.” The Centurion’s words of faith after seeing everything that happened at the cross: “No doubt, this man must have been innocent.” Joseph of Arimathea, “a good and fair man,” who had objected to the plans and actions of the other religious leaders, asked Pilate for My body and gave Me a proper burial. The women, the only group that stayed with Me through the whole ordeal of My passion, made preparations to complete My proper burial after the Sabbath had passed. Some of you who read this are going through your own time of testing. You find yourself in what feels like deepest darkness. You could be facing this darkness because of your own mistakes. You could be facing this darkness because of what others have done to you. You could even be facing this darkness because you have to say goodbye to someone incredibly precious to you, and you wonder why your miracle never came. The Father put My cross in the middle of such deep darkness so that you could know with certainty this important truth: there is not a place I won’t go to reach you and share the Father’s love with you. The cross was a Roman tool of subjugation — to put fear into the hearts of people. It was designed to be a tool of public humiliation and, at this time, was reserved for only the worst of crimes and the lowest of criminals. Crucifixion was dehumanizing. Use of crucifixion was awful. My cross was awful — awful for Me and awful for the Father. My cross was Satan’s apparent moment of triumph and hell’s greatest moment of delight. Some of you feel that is where you live right now — at that intersection of Awful-to-God and Hell’s-Delight. You see no end, no answer, no hope, and no one to save you. That’s one reason My crucifixion is so important. It is a reminder that I chose to share that horrible address — the intersection of Awful-to-God and Hell’s-Delight — with you to redeem you out of that place with My grace. The cross reminds you that I know your sense of pain, isolation, rejection, and misery. I endured these things so that you could know that you are not alone when you find yourself in such awful and hellish circumstances. At the same time, the touches of grace in this awful scene provide you with a reminder that in the worst of places, where you meet inhumanity and hell’s fury, God’s grace steps in and redeems the worst of messes even in the deepest darkness. Forgiveness is given. Grace is extended. Faith is declared. Kindness is shown. Faithfulness is demonstrated. Such is the power of My cross — the cross I bore so you could know that there is never a place My love won’t go to find you and bring you safely back to the Father. Verses to Live The verses below show some of the horrors of My crucifixion but also reveal touches of grace that remind you why I endured this awful and humiliating death. Please don’t forget that what happened at the cross was more than just a bunch of angry people killing the Messiah from heaven. The events recounted here are the story of the greatest grace ever shown. I gave Myself as a sacrificial offering for the sin of the world — for your sin — so that you can be forgiven and reconciled back to the Father! Jesus wasn’t the only one being crucified that day. There were two others, criminals, who were also being led to their execution. When they came to the place known as “The Skull,” they crucified Jesus there, in the company of criminals, one to the right of Jesus and the other to His left. Jesus: Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing. Meanwhile, they were drawing lots to see who would win Jesus’ clothing. The crowd of people stood, watching. Authorities (mocking Jesus): So He was supposed to rescue others, was He? He was supposed to be God’s Anointed, the Liberating King? Let’s see Him start by liberating Himself! The soldiers joined in the mockery. First, they pretended to offer Him a soothing drink — but it was sour wine. Soldiers: Hey, if You’re the King of the Jews, why don’t You free Yourself! Even the inscription they placed over Him was intended to mock Him — “This is the King of the Jews!” This was written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. One of
Carrying My Cross
Note from Jesus Dear Friend, The verses below give you some of the details about the horrendous way I was treated during My journey to Golgotha. You see hatred in action. You see a mob that had been manipulated into a frenzy. You see the people in that mob lose their ability to think clearly and act fairly. You also see people in abject sorrow, “shrieking and wailing in grief.” In addition, pay attention to My ominous words of warning at the end of these events. I also want you to notice one small touch of grace in the horrific circumstances that I faced. This touch of grace shows up in the midst of an awful, violent, and out-of-control set of brutalities. These brutalities were fueled by the hate and fear of religious leaders determined to kill Me. What is that touch of grace? Simon of Cyrene is chosen to help Me carry My cross to Golgotha. This touch of grace came after a night of no sleep, unceasing ridicule, bitter mockery, being slapped, being spit upon, being beaten, being scourged, being paraded before leaders, being rejected by the mob, and being sentenced to death by Pilate. I had to carry My cross to the place of My execution, but I was exhausted and physically weak. So I was given someone to help Me by carrying My cross. I had been forsaken by My closest followers. Judas betrayed Me. Peter denied Me. The rest abandoned Me. In the end, I was given someone to help Me carry My cross the last part of the way to Golgotha. Out of this well of deep misery inflicted upon Me, I was given the grace of someone to help Me carry My burden. Over the years, My disciples in different parts of the world have seen Simon as a reminder of how important it is to lift the burden of those who are dying. Others have seen Simon as a great image of someone who picks up his cross and helps Me in My mission. Who is someone that needs you to help carry his or her burdens? Verses to Live You are about to read about the ridicule I faced and the scorn I bore on the way to the cross. This disrespect was part of the price I paid to communicate the Father’s love to you. I hope you will be moved to choose to honor Me and Simon, who helped Me by carrying My cross. I want you to commit to carrying My cross. You can do this by joining Me in My mission to reach the hearts of unbelievers. One possible way to do that is to help ease the burden of someone who is dying. In the horror of what happens in life, may you be Simon to someone who needs help with life’s burdens! So the whole council [the Sanhedrin] got up and took Jesus to Pilate. They brought accusations against Him. Sanhedrin: We have observed this man leading our nation astray. He even forbade us to pay our taxes to Caesar. He claims to be the Anointed One and a King Himself. Pilate: Are You the King of the Jews? Jesus: It’s as you say. Pilate (to the chief priest and crowd): I find this man guilty of no crime. Sanhedrin (growing more intense): He has been stirring up discontent among the people all over Judea. He started up in Galilee, and now He’s brought His brand of trouble all the way to Jerusalem! Pilate: Just a minute. Is this man a Galilean? When Pilate learned that Jesus was indeed Galilean — which meant He was officially under Herod’s jurisdiction — Pilate sent Him over to Herod, who was currently in Jerusalem. Herod was fascinated to meet Jesus for he had heard about Him for a long time. He was hoping he might be treated to a miracle or two. He interrogated Jesus for quite a while, but Jesus remained silent, refusing to answer his questions. Meanwhile, the chief priests and religious scholars had plenty to say — angrily hurling accusations at Jesus. Eventually, Herod and his soldiers began to insult Jesus, mocking and degrading Him. They put expensive clothing on Him and sent Him back to Pilate. This ended a long-standing rift between Herod and Pilate; they became friends from that day forward. Pilate assembled the chief priests and other Jewish authorities. Pilate: You presented this man to me as a rabble-rouser, but I examined Him in your presence and found Him not guilty of the charges you have leveled against Him. Herod also examined Him and released Him to my custody. So He hasn’t done anything deserving the death penalty. I’ll see to it that He is properly whipped and then let Him go. It was the custom for Pilate to set one prisoner free during the holiday festivities. Crowd (all shouting at once): Away with this man! Free Barabbas instead! Barabbas had been imprisoned after being convicted of an insurrection he had led in Jerusalem. He had also committed murder. Pilate argued with them, wishing he could release Jesus, but they wouldn’t be silenced. Crowd (shouting): Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Pilate (countering a third time): Why? What has He done that is so evil? I have found in Him no offense worthy of capital punishment. As I said, I will punish Him and then release Him. But they would not relent. They shouted louder and louder that He should be crucified, and eventually Pilate capitulated. So he pronounced the punishment they demanded. He released the rebel and murderer Barabbas — the insurrectionist they had pleaded for in His place — and he handed Jesus over to them to do with as they desired. On the way to the place of crucifixion, they pulled a man from the crowd — his name was Simon of Cyrene, a person from the countryside who happened to be entering the city at that moment. They put
Love before Nightfall
Note from Jesus Dear Beloved, Satan tries to mess up every act of genuine love. What you read in the verses below is one of My most precious moments with My closest disciples. They still did not understand what was about to happen to Me. They were clueless about what the next few days would mean to them some day and what price I would soon pay. They were teetering on the brink of striving for religious position and privilege just like the folks who were trying to kill Me — the very same folks whom I rebuked in yesterday’s verses. I had often spoken to My disciples about the greatest in My kingdom being servants (Mark 10:43). Rather than give a theological discourse on the nature of being a servant, I knew they needed a demonstration of serving that showed them My love as I faced My own death. I think you will find this time with My disciples to be quite precious. My actions, centered in sacrificial love, showed that in My kingdom, the greatest is a servant. Greatness is not found in the person of position and power at the head of the table and receiving all the attention while being waited upon hand and foot. Greatness is found in the one who is willing to do things like wash feet and who cares genuinely for others while facing difficult challenges himself or herself. Of course, Peter, as he so often did, got things a little confused. The others were mystified by what I was doing. Why would I, their Lord and Teacher, stoop down, pick up the towel, and wash their feet? Washing feet was the job of a house slave. These disciples I loved so dearly needed to know that serving is the nature of genuine leadership. As the minutes I was going to have with them were speeding quickly into the past, I wanted to leave them a memory that would stick in their hearts and transform their attitudes. Judas, in the moment of My demonstration of love, was biding time until he could turn Me over to those who wanted to kill Me. He was close to Me. He shared this meal with Me. We shared the same cup. We shared the same bread. He had spent three years with Me. No one else suspected what was in his heart — his heart that he had given to Satan to control fully. On your worst days, you may be shown disloyalty even in the face of your love, just as I was. You give all that you have to someone, then he or she lets you down like all those at the table with Me in the verses below let me down. Some overstate their commitment to you and then can’t live up to their promises. Some sell you out for what they think is a better offer. Others simply abandon you in your hour of need. No matter what people might do to you — even people whom you have loved with all that you have and all that you are, you know you can always come to Me and talk to Me about how you feel. I know the hurt. I know the gut-wrenching ache of abandonment. I know the disappointment of hours of love invested in someone who doesn’t fully appreciate your love for him or her. I know the loneliness of facing the ridicule of others while having no friend there for you. I know because this is what I experienced. When Judas left our table, John’s words hauntingly state the truth with brutal finality: “So Judas took his piece of bread and departed into the night.” I hope you never know the feeling of such heartbreaking nightfall. If you do, remember this: I know what it feels like, and I will help you through it if you will call out to Me! Verses to Live Love is demonstrated by what it does. So what do the following events say about Me? What do they say about those around Me? What does this love I demonstrated call you to do? Before the Passover festival began, Jesus was keenly aware that His hour had come to depart from this world and to return to the Father. From beginning to end, Jesus’ days were marked by His love for His people. Before Jesus and His disciples gathered for dinner, the adversary filled Judas Iscariot’s heart with plans of deceit and betrayal. Jesus, knowing that He had come from God and was going away to God, stood up from dinner and removed His outer garments. He then wrapped Himself in a towel, poured water in a basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with His towel. Simon Peter (as Jesus approaches): Lord, are You going to wash my feet? Jesus: Peter, you don’t realize what I am doing, but you will understand later. Peter: You will not wash my feet, now or ever! Jesus: If I don’t wash you, you will have nothing to do with Me. Peter: Then wash me but don’t stop with my feet. Cleanse my hands and head as well. Jesus: Listen, anyone who has bathed is clean all over except for the feet. But I tell you this, not all of you are clean. He knew the one with plans of betraying Him, which is why He said, “not all of you are clean.” After washing their feet and picking up His garments, He reclined at the table again. Jesus: Do you understand what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and truly, that is Who I am. So if your Lord and Teacher washes your feet, then you should wash one another’s feet. I am your example; keep doing what I do. I tell you the truth: a servant is not greater than the master. Those who are sent are not greater than the one who
‘The Last Straw’
Note from Jesus Dear Disciple, After My triumphal entry, Jerusalem was a tangle of tension and evil plotting. Look at a few excerpts from Luke’s descriptions of the situation as given in the verses below: The chief priests, the religious scholars, and the leading men of the city wanted to kill Him [Jesus], but because He was so popular among the people — who hung upon each word He spoke — they were unable to do anything. … “Tell us by what authority You march into the temple and disrupt our worship. Who gave you this authority?” … That [Jesus’ parable of the vineyard] was the last straw for the religious scholars and the chief priests; they were ready to attack Him [Jesus] right then and there. But they couldn’t for fear of public opinion, and they realized that Jesus, through this parable had exposed their violent intentions. They would send spies, pretending to ask sincere questions, listening for something they could seize upon that would justify His arrest and condemnation under the governor’s authority. The whole conflict in Jerusalem centered around the truth of My story — or parable — in today’s verses. Most of the religious leaders in Israel had decided they were entitled to special benefits for their “service” to the people. They felt entitled to their positions and their interpretations. They felt entitled to their respect among the people. They felt entitled to practice their religious leadership for their own advantage. And they were determined to keep their positions, their influence, and their control over the whole religious enterprise. This control was more important to them than honoring the Father. It was surely more important to them than lovingly leading the people they were entrusted to serve. My conflict with these religious leaders is the same conflict that I have with any religious leader who forgets that position and spiritual influence are given by the grace of the Father. Spiritual leadership must be used to honor the Father and bless His people. Any favor with the Father vanishes in a heartbeat when leaders use their position to manipulate or oppose the truth, preserve their power, or abuse the people. You live in a time when church leaders of various stripes and persuasions have embarrassed Me and the movement I gave My life to set in motion. The Bible has multiple warnings about leaders and teachers being judged with greater strictness (Ezekiel 34:1-24; James 3:1; Matthew 23:1-39; Galatians 1:6-9). The abuse of spiritual leadership has been a problem in almost every age and was a big part of My conflict with the spiritual leaders in Jerusalem. My words of criticism of the spiritual leadership of Israel lay behind the religious leaders’ rejecting and crucifying Me. So when you find yourself disillusioned by the failures of leaders in your day — moral failure, failure to offer compassion, failure to speak the truth, failure because they were co-opted by the political winds of the age — remember two things: I abhor the abuse and neglect perpetuated out of hypocrisy and misuse of religion for personal gain. Those who have abused their privilege and position of spiritual leadership will have to answer on judgment day to the Father. This, My beloved disciple, is how I characterized the Father’s position on the subject of selfish, abusive, and hypocritical religious leaders: He’ll come and wipe those tenants out, and he’ll give the vineyard to others. Verses to Live The following hard words were spoken, and hard actions were taken in the middle of a very difficult set of circumstances. The issues behind these hard words were a matter of utmost importance: Why do people serve God? Do they practice religion for themselves and for their own personal advantage? Do they serve as religious leaders to bless those in need and to reflect the character and compassion of God or to line their pockets and puff up their egos? He [Jesus] came back day after day to teach in the temple. The chief priests, the religious scholars, and the leading men of the city wanted to kill Him, but because He was so popular among the people — who hung upon each word He spoke — they were unable to do anything. One day when He was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests, religious scholars, and elders came up and questioned Him. Elders: Tell us by what authority You march into the temple and disrupt our worship. Who gave You this authority? Jesus: Let Me ask you a question first. Tell Me this: was the ritual cleansing of baptism John did from God, or was it merely a human thing? Chief Priests, Religious Scholars, and Elders (conferring together): If we say it was from God, then He’ll ask us why we didn’t believe John. If we say it was merely human, all the people will stone us because they are convinced that John was a true prophet. So they said they didn’t know where John’s ritual washing came from. Jesus: Well then, if you won’t answer My question, I won’t tell you by what authority I have acted. He told the people another parable: Jesus: A man planted a vineyard. He rented it to tenants and went for a long trip to another country. At the harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants so he could be paid his share of the vineyard’s fruit, but the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed. The man sent another servant, and they beat him and treated him disgracefully and sent him away empty-handed too. He sent a third servant who was injured and thrown out. Then the vineyard owner said, “Now what am I going to do? I’ll send my much-loved son. They should treat him with respect.” But when the tenants recognized the owner’s son, they said, “Here’s our chance to actually own this vineyard! Let’s kill the owner’s heir so
Compassion in the Middle of Conflict
Note from Jesus Dear Friend, I came to Jerusalem and was greeted with wild enthusiasm. I came as the Prince of Peace, humbly riding on the colt of a donkey as prophesied (Zechariah 9:9). I did not come as a conquering general riding on a white horse. The crowd was overjoyed at My coming to Jerusalem: [A] huge crowd of disciples began to celebrate and praise God with loud shouts, glorifying God for the mighty works they had witnessed. The religious leaders were incensed at My entrance into Jerusalem. They demanded that My followers stop their praises. What was My response to these leaders? I told them the truth! Listen — if they [the people in the crowd] were silent, the very rocks would start to shout! The time for diplomacy and subtlety was over. People had to decide what they believed about My identity. Fence-straddling was no longer possible. The issue of My identity could no longer be ignored. The people did not let Me slip quietly into Jerusalem. They wanted God’s promised deliverance. They were convinced that I could bring deliverance to them. But even with their grand expectations, they had no idea what was at stake as I entered Jerusalem! Jerusalem’s leaders rejected Me. They made the excuse that they were trying to preserve and protect Jerusalem. I knew better. They were trying to protect and preserve their own positions. When I saw the city of David, the holy city for the Israelites, My heart was broken. The leadership of My people refused the offer of peace I came to bring them. Only by accepting Me would Jerusalem have been spared impending destruction. However, Jerusalem’s leaders would not accept Me. They would kill Me for many reasons, but one of their stated reasons was to save their city, their temple, and their way of life (John 11:45-53). What these leaders didn’t realize was that they were rejecting their only chance for lasting and true peace by rejecting Me. O how I wish they had welcomed Me and the peace I longed to bring. But in the end, all I could say was really heart-breaking: How I wish you knew today what would bring peace! … Your enemies will smash you into rubble and not leave one stone standing on another, and they will cut your children down too, because you did not recognize the day when God’s Anointed visited you. How could My heart not break? How could My emotions not be aroused? How could I not keep coming back to the temple to reach out to any who would listen? How could I not confront the religious leaders with their hypocrisy, duplicity, and ignorance of the Scriptures they claimed to know? What followed My triumphal entry was a week of conflict. Please know, however, that I loved these very people I confronted. I loved the people who listened on the fringes of the crowd. I loved each person in the crowd. So I ministered to their needs. I confronted their wrong-headed notions about their faith. I did not hide to keep Myself safe. I did not play the game of couching things in politically correct speech. The strongest words of confrontation and accusation of My whole ministry came during this final week before My crucifixion. These words sealed My fate. Nevertheless, behind even these strong words, My heart was filled with compassion. I hurt for people held in bondage to their false notion of religion, to their pretentious show of religious knowledge, and to their pompous parade of the self-righteousness. My heart ached for those fueled by hate and determined to kill Me. They wanted to return things back to their religious and political status quo. I did not back down from the conflict. False religion and duplicitous hearts had to be confronted. However, I never let go of My compassion for those filled with hate and determined to kill Me! I mourned their blindness. I wept for their self-imposed destruction. I grieved their hardness of heart. I died so they could be forgiven for it all. Verses to Live This last week before My crucifixion was a week of conflict and compassion. So as you read about this last week, listen carefully. Examine the words of My story reported to you by the four gospel writers — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Notice the seeds I sowed in the hard hearts of those who would one day remember what happened during this week and come to faith (Acts 2:33-39). Today, please remember this truth: even if the crowd had not welcomed Me to Jerusalem in my triumphal entry, the rocks would have shouted out My praise. When He [Jesus] finished the parable, He pushed onward, climbing the steep hills toward Jerusalem. He approached the towns of Bethphage and Bethany, which are near Mount Olivet. He sent two of the disciples ahead. Jesus: Go to the next village. When you enter, you will find a colt tied — a colt that has never been ridden before. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you why you’re untying it, just say, “The Lord needs it.” So the two disciples found things just as He had told them. When its owners did indeed ask why they were untying the colt, the disciples answered as they had been instructed. Disciples: The Lord needs it. They brought the colt to Jesus, threw their coats on the colt’s back, and then sat Jesus on it. As Jesus rode along, some people began to spread their garments on the road as a carpet. When they passed the crest of Mount Olivet and began descending toward Jerusalem, a huge crowd of disciples began to celebrate and praise God with loud shouts, glorifying God for the mighty works they had witnessed. Crowd of Disciples: The King Who comes in the name of the Eternal One is blessed! Peace in heaven! Glory in the highest! Pharisees (who were in the crowd): Teacher,
Loving Extravagance
Note from Jesus Dear Beloved Disciple, What would it be worth to have someone precious to you raised from the dead? I don’t ask this question to be morbid or hurtful, but to help you grapple with the deep implications of Mary’s extravagant gift that My beloved disciple John shares with you in the verses below. Let Me explain a little bit to help you understand. Life is very complicated. It always has been since the fall of Adam and Eve. In these devotionals for the next week, we will be looking together at some of the events that happened in My life during the final few days leading up to My crucifixion. These events were part of that complicated life and were shaped by all sorts of forces: The will and plan of the Father. The scheming of political and religious leaders who considered Me to be their enemy. Satan’s evil work on the hearts of My closest disciples. The tidal wave of popularity I was receiving from the crowd. The forces of politics and religion as they coalesced against Me at the time of Passover in the city of Jerusalem. The raising of Lazarus from the dead and the attention it brought to Me. The conflict I had over the course of these final days with those in authority in Jerusalem. The duplicity and betrayal by Judas and the conflicts in his heart. On another level, however, the world is amazingly simple. Mary and Martha had a beloved brother named Lazarus who died. I had raised him from the dead. He lived, and this miracle had attracted a great deal of attention. I had given Mary and Martha the miracle of all miracles: their beloved brother, once dead, now lived. I had defeated death and given them life! For Mary, in this moment of great swirling emotions, political maneuvering, religious hatred, and evil intervention of Satan into the world of My disciples, there was really only one thing that mattered. I had given her back her brother from death. She demonstrated her loving appreciation with extravagance. Judas couldn’t appreciate Mary’s gift because his heart was on other things — treacherous and selfish things. His criticism was unwarranted and hypocritical. He knew, and all My disciples knew, that I cared deeply about the broken. I had spent much of My ministry caring for the outcast, the marginalized, and the poor. But when the power of sin, death, and Satan are defeated for you and for those you love, no extravagance is unwarranted. As you journey with Me this next week, please remember this truth and Mary’s extravagance. You see, what I did for Mary and her sister Martha, I will do for you. I will raise back to life every person precious to you who has fully trusted in Me. I emerged victorious from the tomb after having faced the worst of humanity. I defeated the worst that hell could throw at Me. I emerged from the tomb alive again and victorious for you and for all others who truly believe. I don’t ask you to respond with gifts of extravagant riches. However, I do want your heart. Then, whatever you offer Me will naturally follow from the overflow of your love. Pay close attention to the eight days that follow from the time of My triumphal entry into Jerusalem to My triumphant exit from the tomb. Realize these events are for you… for every grief you suffer… for every person who loves Me and is claimed by the grave… for every scrambled emotion and broken heart when the miracle you so desperately wanted didn’t seem to come. During this next week, I will walk the path you will one day walk. I will face the finality that you will one day face. I will pioneer a way through death so that you can one day follow Me home (Hebrews 2:10-11 NIV; Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV). Please understand; death cannot keep what I have claimed by My grace. And I have claimed you, dear disciple, and those like you who truly love Me! Verses to Live Paul talked about being “the pleasing aroma of Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14-16 NIV). I hope you, like Mary, choose to spread the beautiful sweet smell of My love and ultimate victory over sin, death, and Satan. Think of how Mary felt as she shared this gift that seemed so small compared to the gift I gave her! Six days before the Passover feast, Jesus journeyed to the village of Bethany, to the home of Lazarus who had recently been raised from the dead, where they hosted Him for dinner. Martha was busy serving as the hostess, Lazarus reclined at the table with Him, and Mary took a pound of fine ointment, pure nard (which is both rare and expensive), and anointed Jesus’ feet with it; and then she wiped them with her hair. As the pleasant fragrance of this extravagant ointment filled the entire house, Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples (who was plotting to betray Jesus), began to speak. Judas Iscariot: How could she pour out this vast amount of fine oil? Why didn’t she sell it? It is worth nearly a year’s wages; the money could have been given to the poor. This had nothing to do with Judas’s desire to help the poor. The truth is he served as the treasurer, and he helped himself to the money from the common pot at every opportunity. Jesus: Leave her alone. She has observed this custom in anticipation of the day of My burial. The poor are ever present, but I will be leaving. Word spread of Jesus’ presence, and a large crowd was gathering to see Jesus and the formerly deceased Lazarus, whom He had brought back from the dead. The chief priests were secretly plotting Lazarus’s murder since, because of him, many Jews were leaving their teachings and believing in Jesus. (John 12:1-11) Response in Prayer O Father, life is
**Are You Ready?
Note from Jesus Dear Beloved, Are you ready? That’s a question that could be asked about so many things that are a normal part of life — things like marriage, children, illness, moving, job change, or death. But what about even bigger things? Are you ready for those things? Some folks can’t think of anything bigger than the first list. However, there are bigger and more important things — things like following Me, recognizing the presence of the kingdom of God, and preparing for My return as the victorious Son of Man. I want you to be ready for the things in both lists. However, the verses we focus on today center on the more important second list. As I approached Jerusalem for My last visit before the cross, there was speculation about the kingdom of God coming. People were wondering if I was going to seize control politically and militarily. Some were hoping that I would use My power to restore the greatness of Israel as a nation. Notice how Luke describes it: The crowd was listening to everything Jesus said. And because he was nearing Jerusalem, he told them a story to correct the impression that the kingdom of God would begin right away. (Luke 19:11 NLT) The power and character of the kingdom of God were already present and visible in the lives of My disciples. They had yielded their hearts to My Lordship and had submitted to My reign as Lord over their lives. This reign was displayed in the spiritual family they formed after Pentecost and the character and compassion with which they lived (Acts 2:42-47). Read the verses below carefully. The coming of the kingdom of God is more than just My return as the glorious Son of Man from heaven (Daniel 7:13-14). Notice what I taught My disciples to pray: Your prayers, rather, should be simple, like this: Our Father in heaven, let Your name remain holy. Bring about Your kingdom. Manifest Your will here on earth, as it is manifest in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10) It is important for you to realize that the manner of writing and speaking at that time meant that “Manifest Your will…” was a restatement of “Bring about Your kingdom.” That kingdom has already arrived among you as you live for Me and as you live My lifestyle in the world. Yet there is still My coming with power and glory in the kingdom at the end of time. As long as you are on earth, there will always be glimpses of the Father’s kingdom breaking through, and yet the full dawning of that kingdom will be still ahead. Here are some basic things about My coming in power at the end of time: Before My great coming as the victorious Son of Man, I had to suffer and be crucified. There will be no doubt when I come as the victorious Son of Man and no doubt that I have come: My coming will be visible and recognizable to everyone! At My coming, people will be carrying on life normally as they always have done — marrying, eating and drinking, doing business, farming, building, etc. The day I come as the victorious Son of Man will come suddenly, and so you must always be ready for it. When I come as the glorious Son of Man, I will raise and bring eternal life to those who have died but belong to Me, also bring eternal life to those who are still alive and belong to Me, and take them all to share in My glory. My plea to you, today, contains two challenges: Yearn, pray, and live to see the reign of My kingdom take hold in your life. Be ready for My ultimate return — live as if it could occur at any moment because it could! Verses to Live Notice how carefully and firmly I move from the Pharisees’ question about the coming of My kingdom to talking about My coming again in glory as the Son of Man. Both are important, but the two shouldn’t be confused. The coming of My kingdom has arrived and should be present among you as you live with My character and compassion. My return to earth as the glorious and powerful Son of Man lies in the future, but you must always be ready for it to happen. Some Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come. Jesus: The kingdom of God comes — but not with signs that you can observe. People are not going to say, “Look! Here it is!” They’re not going to say, “Look! It’s over there!” You want to see the kingdom of God? The kingdom of God is already here among you. Jesus (to His disciples): Days are coming when you will wish you could see just one of the days of the Son of Man, but you won’t see it. People will say, “Look, it’s there!” or “Look! It’s here!” Don’t even bother looking. Don’t follow their lead. You know how lightning flashes across the sky, bringing light from one horizon to the other. That’s how the Son of Man will be when His time comes. But first, He must face many sufferings. He must be rejected by this generation. The days of the Son of Man will be like the days of Noah. People were eating, drinking, marrying, and being given in marriage. Everything seemed completely normal until the day Noah entered the ark. Then it started raining, and soon they were all destroyed by the flood. It was just the same in the days of Lot. People were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building, and carrying on business as usual. But then came the day when Lot left Sodom — a different kind of rain began to fall, and they were all destroyed by fire and sulfur falling from the sky. That’s how it will be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
Seekers, Sinners, and Savior
Note from Jesus Dear Friend, You are most likely seeking to be one of My disciples or you wouldn’t be reading this. Or you already are a part of My family. Then you are an insider — one of My followers and someone who is religious, in the best sense of that word. So I want to challenge you to listen to the two stories Luke gives you in the verses below. Realize that these stories are intended to speak to you, as My disciple. They are reminders of how you are to treat people who are seeking to get close to Me. Notice several things about these two events! At first glance, these situations are very different from one another. One man is blind and has to beg for just enough money to survive. The other man, Zaccheus, is a tax collector and is rich; he lacks nothing financially. However, when you look more closely at the two events, you find that these two men have a number of things in common. They both live on the margins of society — the first as a beggar and the second as someone considered by the people as a “notorious sinner”! Neither can see Me — one because of blindness and the other because he is too short to see over the crowd. Both are determined to get close to Me. The blind man shouts and begs for mercy. The tax collector climbs a tree to see over the crowd. Both show humility in My presence. The blind man begs for mercy. Zaccheus humbles himself by pointing out that he gives his money to help the poor and will pay restitution for whatever he has done wrong. Both receive what they need from Me. The blind man receives his sight and praises God. The tax collector receives salvation (“liberation”). Now notice one other disturbing parallel between these two people. Folks around Me try to get in the way of each of these men. They try to keep them from connecting with Me. The blind man is given a “reprimand” from the people in the crowd. I am criticized by the crowd around Me for going to be “the houseguest of this fellow [Zaccheus] who is a notorious sinner.” Have you ever thought about why many religious people act so differently to broken and sinful people than I did? Have you ever wondered why broken and sinful people longed to be around Me, but now they mostly avoid those in your world who claim to follow Me? Don’t you feel sad, even angry, when you see people who deeply need My help yet they are told to shut up — or made to feel that they are not good enough to be in My presence because of their lifestyle? But these people know they desperately need My love, My acceptance, and My grace! Don’t skip over the preceding questions too quickly. Go back and read them again. Think about the implication of what those questions mean for you and the religion you pursue. Be troubled by those questions! Also, contemplate the following questions: Why would Luke tell these stories? Why would he put them back-to-back? Now notice what I told My disciples that My mission was: I came “to seek and to liberate the lost.” If you are My disciple, and your goal is to become like Me, then what does that say about your mission and the people you must welcome and serve? The religious crowd didn’t understand Me. They criticized Me for the questionable people whom I helped and with whom I shared meals. What does that say about what some folks — even religious folks who claim to follow Me — will say about you as you emulate My interaction with others who do not seem so religious? Rather than hiding from the broken and lost sinners of the world, shouldn’t you be out there among them helping them find their way to Me? Verses to Live So how are you going to be like Me in your daily life? What will need to change? How will you have to connect to people differently? What criticism must you be willing to receive? Who are people around you that are wanting to draw near to Me and need your help in getting closer to Me? I hope you will think about these questions as you read these two very important and interconnected stories from My ministry! Picture this: Jesus is nearing the city of Jericho. A blind man is sitting there, begging by the roadside. He can hear the sounds of the crowd accompanying Jesus, and he asks what’s going on. Crowd: Jesus of Nazareth is passing this way. Then the man starts shouting. Blind Man: Jesus, Son of King David, show mercy to me! The people in the front of the crowd reprimand him and tell him to be quiet, but he just shouts louder. Blind Man: Son of King David, show mercy to me! Jesus stops and tells the people to bring the man over to Him. The man stands in front of Jesus. Jesus: What do you want Me to do for you? Blind Man: Lord, let me receive my sight. Jesus: Receive your sight; your faith has made you well. At that very instant, the man is able to see. He begins following Jesus, shouting praises to God; and everyone in the crowd, when they see what has happened, starts praising God too. Jesus enters Jericho and seems only to be passing through. Living in Jericho is a man named Zaccheus. He’s the head tax collector and is very rich. He is also very short. He wants to see Jesus as He passes through the center of town, but he can’t get a glimpse because the crowd blocks his view. So he runs ahead of the crowd and climbs up into a sycamore tree so he can see Jesus when He passes beneath him. Jesus