from the heart

21 Days to Easter, Day 21, March 22

Day 21

“He ROSE”

“Why do you seek the living among the dead?"

He is not here, but is risen!”

Luke 24:5-6a

The astounding thing about it all is this: This sort of thing just doesn’t happen! In spite of Jesus’ words to the disciples that He would rise from the dead, they just didn’t get it. Even when they looked at the empty tomb, they didn’t understand. It took the angels, asking a pointed question, to wake them up. “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

We’re slow to pick it all up because it transcends anything in our human experience. For the most part, dead people stay dead. Now, if these disciples had thought back just a bit, they would remember that Jesus raised their friend Lazarus from the dead. They would remember that Jesus raised a young girl from the dead. They would remember Jesus had healing power, power to restore sight and restore the strength to the limbs of the lame. They’d recall that He cast out demons from people who were hopelessly possessed by the devil.

But all they could remember at the moment was the disappointment of Jesus death – the crushing memory of His scourging, beating and crucifixion.

But now – and don’t miss this – Jesus HIMSELF has been raised from the dead after dying on the cross for our sins. Does this mean…can this possibly mean…is it likely – or even remotely possible that this means that Jesus has now conquered sin and death?!

Yes, that is exactly what it means! Paul said it well when he said, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22 (NKJV)

The resurrection changes everything!

1. It means that Christ has died in our place to make us pleasing to God.

2. It means that He conquered death, hell and sin by dying and rising again.

3. It means that He is alive today to walk with us and live in us.

4. It means that when we die to our old way of life, He swaps our life for His!

5. It means that we worship a God who is alive, not one who is dead.

6. It means we have eternal life when we have HIS life.

Today we celebrate that – and more! Let your worship of the resurrected and living Christ today be exuberant, joyful and passionate. Let unbridled praise come out of your mouth, because Jesus Christ is ALONE worthy to be praised.

And know this; when we lead people to know about Jesus Christ, we lead them to the One and Only God who can see them, love them, and give them eternal life.

Lord Jesus, because you are alive, I can live. I can have confidence of eternity! I can boldly tell others about you because you’ve proven that you alone are God. As I tell them, help me lovingly fulfill the purpose to seek and save that which was lost.

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21 Days to Easter, Day 20, March 21

Day 20

“He Descended”

“...He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth. He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.”

Ephesians 4:9b-10

I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “What is THAT about?” Why did Jesus descend into the lower parts of the earth? Is this what took place while He was buried? What does it all mean?

It means, in a word, “victory!” It means that Jesus, before His ascension into heaven, went down into the prison the Bible calls “hell” and proclaimed His victory over death, hell, the demons and everything else that would prevent Him (and us) from having life. After He descended, He ASCENDED to the heavens victoriously!

In 1 Peter 3, the apostle tells us, “…He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient…” 1 Peter 3:19

So what was He preaching? The word for “preached” in 1 Peter 3 is a not a word that means to preach the gospel, but rather describes the declaration of victory – to declare that something has been done. This would be the moment that Jesus served notice on satan and hell that Jesus’ kingdom (and His future followers) had been secured by the blood shed on the cross, and were to be led by a resurrected Christ. He was serving notice on them that all their attempts at evil and imprisonment were in vain from that moment on. He was letting them know that one day they, too, would bow in submission at His might and power. To me, this is kind of like going into the visitor’s locker room after the game and letting them know that even though they did their best, it wasn’t enough and that they were officially beaten. It is not a taunt, but a reminder that Jesus is the reigning champion. All this was unseen to Jesus’ followers at the moment. All they could see was Jesus’ body nailed dead to the tree. They could see Him being taken down and placed in a tomb. It was what they could not see that was significant! Isn’t that the way it is so often? It is when we do not see God working that He often works in the greatest ways. Because of what Jesus did that day – you and I are liberated from satan, sin and death!

He has, by His death, reconciled us to Himself. He has completed the task to “…seek and save that which was lost.” And this is very, very important information for people to hear.

As you’ve prayed these past few weeks for the people God has put in your life, and as you’ve invested in their lives, now is the time to make sure they hear the life-changing truths of the gospel. What do you need to do today in order to make a difference in their lives for eternity?

Lord, it is incredible to read about what You’ve gone through for us. I am both humbled and thankful that you descended into “the lower parts” to establish victory over satan. Help me to be bold and courageous in inviting those you’ve put in my life to hear this same truth. Today, let me be a soldier and a follower in your army.

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21 Days to Easter, Day 19, March 20

Day 19

"He Died"

"Jesus, when He had cried out again with a loud voice, yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many." Matthew 27:50-53

He was no ordinay man, and He died no ordinary death. Far from normal, His death was sensational! Who could have possibly arranged a more incredible death than God Himself - calling attention to the importance of this one Man on the cross? This was a Friday to remember. We call it "Good Friday."

This account in Matthew demonstrates that Jesus' death opened the doorway to God's very presence. "...the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." The Old Testament tells us that the veil was about 18' wide and 15' tall - higher than a man could possibly reach. Tradition tells us that this durable, woven veil was so strong that two horses, hitched to either side of the veil, could not have torn it apart. And it was torn in two!

Hebrews 10:19-20 reads, "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated us, through the veil, that is His flesh..." The explanation of the veil being torn is that we can now draw near to God because our sins were paid for on the cross! God is opening the door to His Presence and to heaven through the cross.

The miracle of the veil was followed by the miracle of the an earthquake, and the resurrecting of dead people, who later came out of their graves! What could explain such events apart from the undeniable stamp of approval by God upon the death of Jesus as the one, true way to forgiveness of sin, acceptance of the sinner, and new life that is eternal?

The cross, and the death Jesus died there, is far more significant than a brief devotional can describe. It is, in a phrase, "A death for life." He died, so that I can live. His life for mine. And God accepted that death as sufficient sacrifice.

Isaiah 53:10 says, "It pleased the Lord to bruise Him." The prophet also tells us, "He shall see the travail of His soul, and be satisfied." (v.11a) The incredible truth is, Jesus paid for my sin, all the things I have done that bring shame and embarrassment, all my evil intents and thoughts and failures, and God was satisfied with that payment - and accepted me!

To see the cross is to see the most significant act of sacrifice ever given. His life for ours. The innocent for the guilty. I'll be carving a cross in our Easter Sunday Services. As that cross is carved, know that His death was for your life.

What an important time to bring those you are praying for with you, in order that they may see why the cross is so important for life!

Dear Lord Jesus, how can I thank you enough? Not only did you seek me and save me, but you did all that was necessary in giving Yourself for me so that I might live justly before Holy God. I thank you today by serving you with this new life you've given.

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21 Days to Easter, Day 18, March 19

Day 18

"He Finished"

"So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, 'It is finished!'"

John 19:30

Since Jesus was on a mission, He had His eye on the finish line. Much like the ultimate marathoner who runs for dozens of miles and for hours at a time, eventually and after much endurance, the finish line comes into sight. At this point in the last week of Jesus earthly life, His eye was on that finish line. He was staring at death.

Did He know He was going to die? Oh, yes. He knew when, how, and for what purpose. He'd said that no one was going to take His life from Him, but that He was going to lay it down Himself. Jesus wasn't a martyr. He wasn't murdered. He voluntarily died in our place and for our sins. He finished. Paid for sin in full.

In fact, the word Jesus used here for "It is finished" is the word "tetelestai," which is actually a business term that means "paid in full." It carries the same idea that we have when we get a receipt for something we've paid for over many years and through much effort. It is like the "PAID" stamped on the title deed of you home the day you pay it off. Like the new title for your car, once you own it completely. It is like a zero balance on your credit card! But it is even better than that! It is eternal paid in full.

On the day Jesus died, and actually before His death, He knew the sacrifice for sin was being paid in full. For thousands of years, the blood sacrificial system of the Jewish people was a reminder that innocent blood had to be shed for the guilty to satisfy a Holy God. For those many years, it was the innocent blood of a lamb or a bull, but on this day it was the "once for all" sacrifice of the Lamb of God - Jesus Christ.

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21

Do you see what the finish line represented to Jesus? It represented the fact that He did all that was necessary to make us over into His righteousness, and did all that was necessary to wash away our deserved guilt, condemnation and separation. He, by His sacrifice on the cross, carried out the mission to "seek and save that which was lost."

His part is finished. Our part is simply to place our trust in what He has done. Who helped you do that? Who explained the remarkable "finish" to you? What friend or family member helped you understand that Jesus did this for us?

As you remember, remind yourself of who God has placed in your life - someone who is waiting and desperately needs to hear about how Jesus said, "It is finished."

Oh, God, thank you for providing all the sacrifice necessary for me to be brought to the place of being clean and forgiven before You. Thank you for all Jesus went through and thank you for the ones who were faithful to tell me about it. Now, help me to be a faithful follower to share with those whom You have given me to share with.

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21 Days to Easter, Day 17, March 18

Day 17

"He Laid Down"

"Therefore, My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself."

John 10:17-18a

As we approach the day of the cross, we should remember what it was. It was only and exclusively the most inhumane form of death known to man. It encompasses all suffering that could ever be given a man, and prolongs death as long as possible. When Jesus laid His body on that cross willingly, He underwent all the suffering you and I could ever imagine - and He did this to identify fully with our suffering and hardship in life.

The following account (by an unknown author) is an accurate depiction of what Jesus went through, in order to "seek and save that which was lost."

"The cross was the most painful torture ever invented by man. In fact by Roman law a Roman citizen could not be crucified. It was only for slaves and other horrible crimes by foreigners. The pain is so intense and unbearable that a new word was invented to describe it - 'excruciating' - which literally means 'out of the cross.'

Jesus would've been laid down and His hands would have been nailed in the outstretched position to the horizontal beam. Romans use spikes that were 5 to7 inches long and tapered to sharp points. They were driven through the wrist [considered part of the hand]. This was a solid position that would lock the hand; if the nails had been driven through the palms, his weight would've caused skin to tear and he would have fallen off the cross.

Another nail was driven through the feet of Jesus. The nerves in his feet would have been crushed, and again it's hard to imagine the pain. When they raised the cross it dropped into a receptable in the ground. The jarring thud would tear His flesh where the nails went in. His arms would have immediately been stretched, probably about six inches in length, and both shoulders would have become dislocated. This fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy in Psalms 22, which foretold the crucifixion hundreds of years before it was invented, saying 'my bones are out of joint.'

Once a person is hung in the vertical position, crucifixion is essentially an agonizing slow death by suffocation. The stresses on the muscle and diaphragm put the chest into the inhale position, and in order to breathe out, the individual must push up on his feet so the tension on the muscles would be eased for a moment. The nail would tear to the foot, eventually locking up against the tarsal bones. After managing to exhale, the person would then be able to relax down and take another breath in. Again he'd have to push himself up to exhale, scraping the bloody back against the coarse wood of the cross. This would go on and on until complete exhaustion would take over, and a person would not be able to push up and breathe anymore."

It is hard to believe that this bloody man on the cross was God Himself - the God-Man Jesus Christ - dying for us in order to save us. What kind of love is this, if it is not eternal and unconditional love. No one will ever love us like this, but God.

Lord, I know I deserve to die because of My sin, but you chose to go to the cross and lay Your life down for Me. I'll never know greater love, nor will I forget it. Help me show that same love to those you've placed in my lie, by Your power.

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21 Days to Easter, Day 16, March 17

Day 16

"He Suffered"

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit."

1 Peter 3:18

This week before Easter mirrors the last week of Jesus' earthly life. The Bible graphically details this final week leading up to the cross - a week of intense suffering that could only have been endured by One who had a dedicated purpose. Jesus came to "seek and save that which was lost" and the week of suffering was part of that mission.

To study this week of time is to discover that Jesus, after being arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, went through several intense trials where He was falsely accused by the religious leaders of that day. The trials were illegal and immoral, but they were being carried out by men who wer filled with hatred toward Jesus, not understanding what they were doing. He was then scourged and delivered up for crucifixion. Mark 15:15 describes in brief what is more fully described below. Prepare yourself to read this.

"The scourging was a whipping with leather strips that usually had pieces of bone and metal embedded in them. Some died from the loss of blood. They had a limit of how many could be administered and Jesus was given the limit. The soldier would use a whip of braided leather tongs with metal balls woven into them. When the whip would strike the flesh, these balls would cause deep bruises or contusions, which would break open with further blows. And the whip had pieces of sharp bone as well, which would cut the flesh severely.

The back would be so shredded that part of the spine was sometimes exposed by deep, deep cuts. The whip ends would have gone all the way from the shoulders down the back, the buttocks, and the back of the legs. It was just terrible..."

One physician who studied Roman beatings said, "as a flogging continued, the lacerations would tear into the underlying skeleton muscles and produced quiver and ribbons for bleeding flesh." A third century historian by the name of Eusbius describes the flogging by saying, "the sufferer's veins were laid bare, and the very muscles, sinews, and bowels of the victims were open to exposure."

Dare anyone question His motives in undergoing such suffering? Jesus did this for us, in order to save us from the deserved punishment of sin and separation from God.

This is why the prophet Isaiah said, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."
Isaiah 53:5

Dear Lord Jesus, I see that you suffered for me and were obedient to the point of death on  a cross. I declare to You today that I am your servant, and will follow You by obedience, no matter what the cost. Let me live my life for you in gratitude.

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21 Days to Easter, Day 15, March 16

Day 15

“He Prayed”

“He went a little further and fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Matthew 26:39

If there is any place that first shows us the intense struggle Jesus personally went through on His way to the Cross, it is this garden on this night. Imagine for a moment that in the days ahead, you were to go through the most intense suffering a human could go through and end up dying on a cross – even though innocent – for people who are guilty of the crimes you are dying for, and who did not care. Imagine that you would become everything you did not want to become – that you’d be accused and spat upon and mocked by those who did not realize you were dying for their sakes.

That’s what Jesus is facing in this garden. He’s facing something else – His humanity. Because Jesus was the infinite God – Man, -that is all God, and yet fully human – He experienced some of the same struggles we face. “Will it be my will, or God’s will?” That’s the question that prayer settled in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The disciples weren’t much help. They had fallen asleep. Jesus was completely and utterly alone in His anguish and struggle. Three times He prays the exact same prayer. Three times! Can you see what Jesus is doing here? He is surrendering Himself to the will of His Father.

Surrender. It means to give up, and in the Bible it means to give up on your will and give in to His. It is an extraordinary thought – but if Jesus had to pray in order to surrender Himself and His will to the Father’s will, what does that say about our need for prayer?

Notice how this passage ends. “Rise, let us be going. See, he who betrays Me is at hand.” Matthew 26:46  Do you think it is significant that Jesus prayed during this time of struggle, but then clearly set His face in the direction of the Cross, determined not to run from what it took to follow the will of His Father? Believe me, this is an important truth.

If we struggle, we can look to Him and gain help and hope. Jesus prayed. I can pray, and then by His power, get up and do the right thing, no matter what I am facing. Because Jesus determined to go to the cross, you and I can now surrender ourselves to Him and follow through. And following Him always results in seeing the greatest, most eternal impact on our lives and the lives of those around us.

Lord, I really do want to be surrendered to Your will, see how You surrendered to the will of the Father – and the result – my eternal life. Show me what areas of my life must be surrendered today, and my prayer will be for the ability to rise and get going in that direction!

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21 Days to Easter, Day 14, March 15

Day 14

“He Served”

“And He took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me. Likewise, He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”
Luke 22:19-20

Before Jesus was crucified, He served a Passover meal to the disciples. Passover was a time celebrating God’s deliverance of the Jewish people from Egypt and Pharoah – a time where the blood from a lamb was smeared over the doorway of each Jewish home – allowing the angel of death to “pass over” their homes while on the way to put to death the first-born of all of Egypt. It symbolized God’s deliverance.

Everything in this meal points to service. John’s account tell us that Jesus washed the feet of the disciples as an example of how they were to serve. Luke tells us that Jesus served the bread and wine to the disciples. In each account, Jesus points to His coming sacrifice and the “new covenant” in His blood.  Covenants were sealed by the death of an innocent animal, in this case, God’s Lamb. Luke also points out the argument by disciples as to who would be greatest among them.

Jesus ends the dispute by telling them, “..the one who is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.” (Luke 22:26)

What a powerful thing service is if Jesus Himself served us in order to save us. He said it this way in Mark 10:45. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Have you ever wondered how our lives would change if we are as dedicated to serving people as Jesus? If we are as attentive to their need, concerned about their future, and passionate enough to show that we care for them as Jesus, wouldn’t the world take notice?

As you pray for the people God has placed in your life, ask yourself, “What can I do to serve them and demonstrate God’s love? What need comes to mind when I think of them, and how can that need lead to a greater friendship?” It is through those kinds of friendships that God will use us in bringing people to know Him.

Lord Jesus, I want to serve people as You served us. Show me anything that I can do today to be the kind of servant that makes an eternal impact on the life of another. Thank you for loving me enough to meet my greatest need.

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21 Days to Easter - Day 13, March 14

Day 13

"He Sends"

"Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into His harvest.'"

Matthew 9:37-38

God's plan to reach people involves us. But before He involves us, He shows us His own priority. In the context of the above passage, we are told that "Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching...preaching...and healing..." I want to call to your attention the word, "all."

It does not say that Jesus went to some of the villages, or many of the villages, but to all of the cities and villages. The cities would have been the larger population centers, but the villages could have been as small as 10-20 people. And He went to ALL of them. Himself.

I heard one missionary in another country say, "After I read that, I decided to go to every village in my assigned territory. It took me three years to do it, but I did it."

Considering that, I wonder if it might be a biblical strategy for us to go to every house in our neighborhood, or every cubicle in our office, or every player on our ball team in order to tell them about Jesus Christ? I think we'd be safe in saying it is biblical. I'm not sure we'd have the conviction to do it. But Jesus did.

I'm coming to the conclusion that I just don't think that way. But Jesus did, and that's what bothers me. Next, Jesus says to pray for more workers, because there are many who are ready to be harvested, but few to do it!

Now it is becoming clearer. I am to go to "all" and if I cannot get to "all" I am to pray for others to help me reach my "all" territory. He is sending me into the harvest and He will send others if I am praying for that. I am convinced that if I pray this prayer, God will answer it and people will come to know Jesus.

As we pray for those God has put in our paths, pray also for more laborers to reach your neighborhood, workplace and family. Ask God to raise up more and more laborers, so that we don’t miss this field which is ready to be harvested.

Dear Lord, I'm becoming more and more aware of just how far from being a servant to you I truly am. If I look carefully, I know that You will reveal the faces and places that I am to go to, and share in some way with them how incredibly powerful a relationship with you is. I pray for laborers for this harvest field in the world you have placed me.

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21 Days to Easter - Day 12, March 13

Day 12

"He Felt"

"But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd."

Matthew 9:36

When Jesus sees people, He sees them in a different way than we do. We see crowds. He sees needs. We see faces, He sees hearts. We see clothing, He sees what hurts.

When He saw this crowd, He was "moved with compassion." The word for this is one of the most interesting in the entire Bible. It conveys the cultural expression, "to be moved in the bowels." Greeks believed the bowels were the innermost part of the human, and that when someone is affected to this degree, it provokes violent reactions of either deep hatred or overcoming love. While I don’t have the inclination to disagree, I'd like to add that this is an unforgettable word play.

It tells us that Jesus was moved emotionally, spiritually, and even physically over the spiritual need of these people. He felt for them, and felt deeply. And what He felt was love and compassion.

These people were lost people. They were weary. They were scattered everywhere. They looked to Jesus like a bunch of scattered sheep, just ripe for a hungry wolf. That is what He sees.

We see overworked executives in shiny automobiles, people holed up in their homes that rarely come out to visit with others. We see great clothes, the newest techno toy and the miracle of the internet.

But that doesn't change the fact that the people around us are really just weary, scattered sheep without a shepherd. Can you feel for them in that condition? Does the sight of someone who is lost move you to overcoming love – and passionate desire to see them meet Christ? And if you "feel" for them, do you feel enough to be "moved with compassion" – to action?

One Greek scholar told me that this word we've been talking about means "compassion in action." What does that look like in your world? What action does it move us to?

Taking action upon someone who is lost can mean taking them to dinner when they are sick or grieving. It can mean engaging them in conversation in the front yard. It can mean writing them a letter, telling them your story of Christ in your life. Compassion in action can mean laying down a well thought out strategy for bring them to the Shepherd.

That's a big part of why we're on earth, a huge part of what it means to follow Jesus! So, look! What do YOU see?

Lord, help me see what YOU see! Help me pick the individual out of the crowd, and help me focus on just one or two of my many acquaintances. Help me lead them to You.

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