Category: All

Today’s devotion is based on the Easter Message: Hope Revealed (Watch Here)

---

Do you have the tradition of hiding and looking for Easter baskets?

Our family has hidden Easter baskets as far back as I can remember.  Somehow Dad always got them hidden before he had to go off to Easter sunrise service.  As a dad, over the years, I have found the big hard baskets harder to hide.  When we lived in Minnesota, we had soft small baskets which had many more opportunities to hide.

The trick to hiding an Easter basket is to hide it in such a way that the normal looking of things is not disturbed.  The greatest compliment to the hider is that a person looking for their basket looks right past it because they think there is no way it can be hidden in…

If you know the size and flexibility of your basket, you may be able to find it easier because you can look in places where one might expect it to be hidden.

Finding an Easter basket is a fun tradition of our culture.

The women of the first Easter weren’t looking for Easter eggs, a basket, or an Easter bunny.  They were looking for a body.

Of course there was only one logical place in that time to look for a dead body…in a tomb.  Why would one look anywhere else?  Especially since they had seen Jesus’ body laid in that very tomb before the Sabbath day began.

They were looking for Jesus, expecting to find his remains in the tomb.

Their perception and the reality of Easter morning were very different.

One can’t fault the women.  I probably would have done the same thing.

A dead body placed in the tomb tends to stay in the tomb.

But the challenge for the ladies (and the rest of Jesus’ followers) is that Jesus whom they were looking for was not dead!  He was alive!

Luke 24:5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! 

That morning they had the logical picture of Jesus as a dead person, but they forgot he had said he would rise again.  A living Jesus is very much different than a dead Jesus.

Can we do the same thing?

We aren’t looking to put spices and perfume on a body, but sometimes in our faith journey, we are looking for Jesus to show up in a certain way or at a certain time.  We craft the way he is to show up in our life based on the outcome we want.  We want healing…he should heal us.  We want relationship conflict to end…we want him to fix it now.  We want financial blessings…we want him to give it to us.

While these and many other situations invite us to seek the Lord Jesus for answers, we maybe have to allow him to show up as HE determines, not always how we dictate.

In our troubles, he may not choose to show up with the end to our trouble, but our strength, peace and comfort amidst the trouble.

In our lack, he may not show up to give us abundance, but he may show up with his faithfulness to provide each day what we need.

In our spiritual journey, he may not show up with great miracles and evidence of his presence, but in the still small voice of his Word settled in our heart.

The ladies weren’t wrong in going to the tomb, they just didn’t have the right picture of the Jesus they were looking for.  The angels reminded them of Jesus’ words and then they remembered (see yesterday’s devotion).  

Here’s what they realized.  When the living Jesus showed up in their lives it was far better and more glorious than the dead body they thought they were looking for!

 

Apply: What areas of your life have you been seeking God to show up in a certain way or at a certain time?  Is it possible he is showing up in a different and better way that you are missing?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for showing up in the glory of your promises and presence.  Help me to always be much more aware of how you choose to show up in my life instead of dictating how I want you to show up.  AMEN.

 

Today’s devotion is provided by an email from a friend of mine, Mike Westendorf (https://mikewestendorf.com/).  He is a great musician and leads worship at “The Bridge” in Milwaukee, WI (https://stpaulmuskego.org/thebridgemke/).  Enjoy his thoughts on the impact of the resurrection! (Here’s a sample of one of his songs – LISTEN HERE)

---

T H E N . . .

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Then they remembered his words.” I will bet you’ve heard this one when you were a kid from a parent. “I’ve told you this a hundred times!” As a kid we were quite confident that they never said such a thing. If God blesses you with, or has blessed you with little kids under your care, you will absolutely attest to the fact that you HAVE said it at LEAST a hundred times. So we ask in exasperation, “what will it take for them to remember??” As I’ve gotten older it has become evident to me that what I focus on, is what I pursue and remember. The other things happening around me… I tend to forget. When I’m building my resume, my house, my family, I tend to forget anything that isn’t important to those outcomes I’m pursuing. How about you? What we focus on, we remember. It’s interesting to read this resurrection account as the women come to the tomb. Their focus is on honoring Jesus by perfuming his dead body. They went out early Sunday to buy spices, went to the tomb and realized they likely couldn’t get in. Their wondering and focus was on how to make their plans come to fruition. Get to the tomb. Move the stone. Add spices to his body. Close the tomb. Go back home and mourn. That was their focus and so they forgot what Jesus said. It was the angels that jabbed at them to shake them out of their all consuming plans to anoint his body with the sarcastic jibe “Do you look for the living among the dead?” The angels straightforward follow up was direct and to the point “He is not here. He is risen!” In an instant, the angel changed their focus and then connected the dots for them. “REMEMBER how he told you…” and THEN they remembered Jesus words. THEN their plans to embalm the dead, changed to going and telling. THEN their sorrow turned to wonder and joy. THEN their vision aligned with God’s vision as they remembered the words of Jesus and lived like they were true! So what about you and me? When we long for peace… when we are afraid of being alone… when the relationship isn’t working out… when everything is going GREAT… for now… What will it take to remember Jesus? May we learn the discipline of reading the Bible. May we commit to making time for Christian community and worship. May we trade in our little kingdoms for building God’s kingdom, by sharing this hope of life from the dead, forgiveness for sins, no fear or shame for those who find their identity in Jesus. When we focus on Jesus, THEN… we will find the peace we long for. He’s only been telling us a hundred times 😉 Happy Easter friend! Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Mike [Westendorf]

Today’s devotion is based on the Easter Message: Hope Revealed (Watch Here)

---

Sorry that this morning’s devotion is a little late.

I have to admit, I was tired yesterday and didn’t do much of anything after worship and cleaning up from Easter breakfast.

I wonder what the Monday after the resurrection of Jesus was like for his followers.

I bet they were physically and emotionally tired.

An early morning visit to the tomb, which may have taken a few hours to finish preparing Jesus’ body for burial, turned into an all day discussion and interaction about seeing the risen Jesus alive!

A race to the tomb by Peter and John, led to curiosity about the report of the women and whether it was true if Jesus was alive.

Two Emmaus disciples walking home after being in Jerusalem, encounter an Old Testament history lesson concerning the Messiah, only to realize it was Jesus himself.  A swift walk or run back to Jerusalem left them a bit out of breath as they reported to the others,

Luke 24:33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. “36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

At what point did they fall asleep of exhaustion?

We don’t know what they did the Monday after Easter, but my guess is they didn’t move on to normal “Monday” activities.  The events of the crucifixion and resurrection were still very much real and raw in their minds. 

If it were me, I would be tired. Afraid, yet filled with joy.  In belief and disbelief at the same time.  Wanting to see Jesus today, just to confirm that last night was not a hallucination or imagination.  Conversations would want to figure out the connections between what we remember Jesus saying and all the things that happened in Jerusalem that weekend.

What about the future?  Would we see Jesus again?  Was it safe to head home?  Where was home after following Jesus for three years.  He didn’t have a place to lay his head, we kind of gave that up too.

We are 2000 years or so from the event, but I pray that the Monday after Easter isn’t just a “return to normal” after a busy Easter weekend.  I pray that questions and thoughts percolate in your heart and mind today.  Perhaps even some of the questions that the followers of Jesus may have thought.

What’s next, if it is true that Jesus lives?

What questions have been answered?  What questions do I still have?

What impact does his resurrection have on my spiritual journey?

Does it change what I believe or how I live?

Does it give me hope amidst the challenges I face today?

The fact that we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus yesterday is credibility that his rising from the dead still has a profound impact in the hearts and minds of people.

I pray it does for you today…even if you are starting off a little tired.

 

Apply: Take time today to contemplate the significance of Christ’s resurrection in your life today and the impact it has and will have moving forward.

Prayer: Lord, Jesus into our fears, our questions, our doubts, our weariness you come to show yourself alive to quiet our fears, answer our questions, clear our doubts, and renew our spirits.  We ask that you would do that for us today as you did for your followers the days after your resurrection.  AMEN.

Devotions this week will touch on an event which took place on this day of Holy Week.

WATCH Full Sunday message

---

Forsaken.

Heartache strikes when a relationship breaks up and at least one, if not both of the individuals feel all alone.

Emptiness ensues when you think a friend has your back and they don’t show up when you need them most.

Frustration occurs when you feel you have been a follower of Christ for a very long time and when life throws you a curveball, you feel like he is nowhere to be found.

When we feel forsaken and abandoned it is a scary, helpless feeling.  We crave the companionship of someone who cares, someone who can help, someone we can count on.

When we are forsaken, we are all alone.

Jesus had a handful of followers at the foot of the cross.  Most of his followers had fled for fear they would be captured and put on the cross next.

Abandoned and betrayed by friends hurts, but to suffer abandonment from God himself is hell itself.

Matthew 27:45 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 

47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 

48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 

50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 

Darkness was indicative of the intensity of the suffering Jesus was undergoing.  The only reason one would be forsaken by God is because of sin.  While Jesus was perfect of himself, he willingly had the sins of the world laid on him.  Isaiah 53:6 reminds us, 

          We all, like sheep, have gone astray, 

         each of us has turned to his own way; 

         and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

Jesus hung on the cross with the conviction of the sin of all people and the punishment that all sin deserved: separation from God.

Jesus was being treated by his Father as we deserved to be treated.  He bore the sins of the world and the justice of God.  As a result, he was forsaken by God.  Left alone to bear the punishment for sin, suffering in darkness, suffering alone.  He pointed those who heard to Psalm 22:

         1      My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 

         Why are you so far from saving me, 

         so far from the words of my groaning? 

         2      O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, 

         by night, and am not silent.

The amazing reality is that he did this for you and me.  Nothing worse could happen to us than being abandoned by God forever in hell.  Yet, the heart of love Jesus had for each of us led him, on this Good Friday, to suffer hell, suffer being forsaken by God so we would never have to.

Apply: When have you felt abandoned?  What do you think it would feel like to be abandoned by God?  Take time to thank the Lord Jesus for suffering abandonment so you would not have to.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your suffering and death, a gift we can hardly fathom, but truly appreciate.  Today is Good because you made it so.  AMEN.

Devotions this week will touch on an event which took place on this day of Holy Week. (Reprinted from Holy Week 2021)

WATCH Full Sunday message

---

As hard as I tried, I couldn’t.

Evening service at church as a kid…long conversation after a long day…watching a movie…yep, even praying.

I’ve fallen asleep doing all of these…even as hard as I tried to stay awake.  Sometimes you just can’t.

I get why the disciples fell asleep.  It was a long day…let alone a long week and it was only Thursday.  Long days of teaching in the temple.  Seems like little on Wednesday, but then preparing the Passover meal.  Filled by conversations about betrayal and denial as well as Jesus speaking of a new covenant in his body and blood.  Stomachs full.  Stress high.  They just couldn’t keep their eyes open.

I get it.  I more than likely would have done the same thing…even when Jesus asked me to “Watch and pray” with him.

Matthew 26:36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Jesus knew the weight of what falling into temptation created.  He was carrying the sin of every individual who gave into temptation.   Jesus knew the power of temptation.  He too had been tempted in every way.  The difference?  He didn’t sin.  The writer to the Hebrews says,

Hebrews 4:15  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

Jesus knew how hard Satan works to pull a soul away from him.  He already had Judas, Jesus didn’t want to lose any more.  Not just the disciples, but you and me.  So he directs us to “Watch and pray.”

Watch out for the things that spiritually wear you out.

Watch out for the temptations Satan uses to lead us away from Jesus.

Watch out for the blind spots in your heart, in your mind, in your ego that Satan exploits.

Pray for God’s Spirit of strength to overcome temptation.

Pray for forgiveness Jesus gives as he gave his body and blood for you.

Pray for God to show you the way out of temptation.

The spirit IS willing, but our flesh is weak.

Apply: What specific temptations does Satan get you with?  Watch out to avoid situations that may make these temptations easier.  Pray for strength of God’s Spirit to find the way to say “No” to temptation.  Watch your Savior give himself for you to forgive you when you fall into temptation.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for your gift of forgiveness in your body and blood.  Empower me by your Spirit to be always vigilant to “Watch and pray” so I don’t fall into temptation.  AMEN.