April 21-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 28:1-4, After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
Observe what it is saying.
It had to be a sleepless night as Mary and Mary anticipated going to prepare Jesus’ body for burial. As the new day and week dawned, they were well on their way to perform a most difficult but loving act for their Lord. While they were on their way, an earthquake awakened the world to a new possibility. Heaven came to earth in the form of an angel and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. He was as bright as lightening, and his clothes were snow white. Understandably, the guards who saw this were so overcome with fear that they were shaken to near death. Heavenly power met earthly power which offered absolutely no resistance. More than a stone was rolled away that first resurrection morning. When we encounter this resurrection power, we will have our fears and anxieties rolled away.
Relate it to your life
If I really knew the power available from heaven, I would have no fear.
Do something.
Jesus, help me to trust in Your absolute power to overcome all things that cause me anxiety and fear in this world. Amen.
April 22-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 28:5-7, The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
Observe what it is saying.
Given the guards’ reaction to the angels, the angel quickly reassured the women they did not need to be afraid because he knew they were there to see the crucified Jesus. However, Jesus was not there! He had risen just as He had predicted He would several times throughout His ministry. One such time was in 16:21, “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” The offer to see the place where he lay offered empirical proof of the empty tomb. This was not some “spiritual” resurrection that left the body in its grave. Jesus had promised to go ahead of them into Galilee after He had risen. This is distinctive to Matthew’s gospel and may be further fulfillment of the quoted prophecy from Isaiah about Galilee of the Gentiles, 4:16, “the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Jesus’ resurrection was for the benefit of all people, Jew and Gentile alike.
Relate it to your life.
Because Jesus’ death and resurrection were not for just a single group of people, I am included today!
Do something.
Jesus, help me to remember that every face, every race, and every nationality I see has been included in Your offer of redemption. Amen.
April 23-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 28:8-10, So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Observe what it is saying.
How could you not have a sense of fear after what you had just seen and heard? Fear is a natural response to such events that overwhelm our senses. However, fear was not their only emotion. They were filled with joy as well. What a combination! Maybe, you’ve felt the same when you received a new job opportunity or made the team. However, the women listened to the angel and took off to tell the disciples. They ran. It was not common for men or women to run. As they did, they were surprised again when they met Jesus. The action of grasping feet is an act of true worship. By allowing this act, something that neither angels or apostles allowed, Jesus accepted this worship as clear and full acknowledgment that He is God. Scripture is clear that only God is to be worshiped. Earlier in His ministry, Jesus’ described His true disciples as His “brother, and sister, and mother” (12:49–50), indicating their relationship with Him but also their relationship with each other. They are now brothers and sisters of one family of faith. Galilee was the central location of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Galilee continued to be a central place of His earthly ministry until His ascension. As we said yesterday, there were prophetic overtones in going back there as well.
Relate it to your life.
It is appropriate for me to have both a holy reverence and exuberant joy in our resurrected Lord.
Do something.
“Jesus, I worship with you all that I am. You are God. You are Lord. You are King of kings. Amen.”
April 24-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 28:11-15, While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
Observe what it is saying.
What a story! This was made for Netflix or Prime or whatever your favorite streaming source is. The religious leaders plotted to have Jesus killed. Now, they plotted to create a fictious story that His body had been stolen. They had paid Judas to betray Jesus. Now, they were paying the guards to lie and tell their superiors they had failed at their job. Surely, they were paid a nice sum of money to implicate themselves in this coverup. The priests promised to protect them if Pilate found out. Evidently, they had tremendous influence and power in the government. This story was still being passed around as truth when this gospel was written 30-40 years after the resurrection and is still being passed around today! The priests knew if it were true that Jesus had bodily resurrected, it would change everything. It would undo Satan’s dominion of power on the world, which included the corrupted religious system of their day.
Relate it to your life.
The resurrection is a major threat to everything associated with the evil realm.
Do something.
Jesus, praise be for Your resurrection defeat of Satan, sin, darkness, and death! Amen.
April 25-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 2816-20a, Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
Observe what it is saying.
The women told the disciples what Jesus asked them to say. They obediently went to Galilee to the very mountain they were told to go. As the women did, they worshiped Him. But unlike the women, some of the disciples still had doubts. Being 2,000 years removed, it is easy to judge them for this reaction. However, for such an unprecedented event as it was, if I am honest with myself, it is rather believable to envision the disciples acclaiming Jesus’ deity and being perplexed as to what exactly had happened and wondering if it was real. As a result of Jesus’ faithfulness to His mission, Jesus once again returned to his exalted position as the divine Son of God with “all authority in heaven and on earth” being restored to Him. Christ’s well-known commissioning of all true disciples was for them (and us) to multiply themselves throughout the world. This involved three steps. Going. Baptizing. Teaching. As we continue to read the New Testament, we discover they overcame any doubts they had and became faithful proclaimers of the gospel taking it into the furthest reaches of the known world,
Relate it to your life.
Admitting we have doubts does not have to be a deterrent to developing a genuine passionate faith.
Do something.
Jesus, I believe. Help me where I struggle to wholeheartedly believe the full gospel message. Amen.
April 26-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 28:20b, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Observe what it is saying.
The last words Jesus spoke as He gave the great commission was the great promise found throughout Scripture. He is with us always to the very end. This promise is what holds us together when everything around us seems to be falling apart. Psalm 139:7-10, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” However, Jesus’ promise is also one of empowerment for the disciples to go in the power of His Spirit to be disciple-makers. We find this to be promised by Jesus in John 14:26, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” We find in Jesus’ post-resurrection appearance with the disciples, “Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:21-22) They were given the presence of Jesus, through the Spirit to be encouraged, empowered, and emboldened to be gospel proclaimers.
Relate it to your life.
I am never left alone but always have the presence, peace, and power of Christ’s Spirit with me.
Do something.
Jesus, please fill me again and again with Your Spirit so I am completely surrounded and inundated by Your presence at all times in all things. Amen.
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 28:1-4, After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
Observe what it is saying.
It had to be a sleepless night as Mary and Mary anticipated going to prepare Jesus’ body for burial. As the new day and week dawned, they were well on their way to perform a most difficult but loving act for their Lord. While they were on their way, an earthquake awakened the world to a new possibility. Heaven came to earth in the form of an angel and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. He was as bright as lightening, and his clothes were snow white. Understandably, the guards who saw this were so overcome with fear that they were shaken to near death. Heavenly power met earthly power which offered absolutely no resistance. More than a stone was rolled away that first resurrection morning. When we encounter this resurrection power, we will have our fears and anxieties rolled away.
Relate it to your life
If I really knew the power available from heaven, I would have no fear.
Do something.
Jesus, help me to trust in Your absolute power to overcome all things that cause me anxiety and fear in this world. Amen.
April 22-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 28:5-7, The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
Observe what it is saying.
Given the guards’ reaction to the angels, the angel quickly reassured the women they did not need to be afraid because he knew they were there to see the crucified Jesus. However, Jesus was not there! He had risen just as He had predicted He would several times throughout His ministry. One such time was in 16:21, “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” The offer to see the place where he lay offered empirical proof of the empty tomb. This was not some “spiritual” resurrection that left the body in its grave. Jesus had promised to go ahead of them into Galilee after He had risen. This is distinctive to Matthew’s gospel and may be further fulfillment of the quoted prophecy from Isaiah about Galilee of the Gentiles, 4:16, “the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Jesus’ resurrection was for the benefit of all people, Jew and Gentile alike.
Relate it to your life.
Because Jesus’ death and resurrection were not for just a single group of people, I am included today!
Do something.
Jesus, help me to remember that every face, every race, and every nationality I see has been included in Your offer of redemption. Amen.
April 23-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 28:8-10, So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Observe what it is saying.
How could you not have a sense of fear after what you had just seen and heard? Fear is a natural response to such events that overwhelm our senses. However, fear was not their only emotion. They were filled with joy as well. What a combination! Maybe, you’ve felt the same when you received a new job opportunity or made the team. However, the women listened to the angel and took off to tell the disciples. They ran. It was not common for men or women to run. As they did, they were surprised again when they met Jesus. The action of grasping feet is an act of true worship. By allowing this act, something that neither angels or apostles allowed, Jesus accepted this worship as clear and full acknowledgment that He is God. Scripture is clear that only God is to be worshiped. Earlier in His ministry, Jesus’ described His true disciples as His “brother, and sister, and mother” (12:49–50), indicating their relationship with Him but also their relationship with each other. They are now brothers and sisters of one family of faith. Galilee was the central location of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Galilee continued to be a central place of His earthly ministry until His ascension. As we said yesterday, there were prophetic overtones in going back there as well.
Relate it to your life.
It is appropriate for me to have both a holy reverence and exuberant joy in our resurrected Lord.
Do something.
“Jesus, I worship with you all that I am. You are God. You are Lord. You are King of kings. Amen.”
April 24-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 28:11-15, While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
Observe what it is saying.
What a story! This was made for Netflix or Prime or whatever your favorite streaming source is. The religious leaders plotted to have Jesus killed. Now, they plotted to create a fictious story that His body had been stolen. They had paid Judas to betray Jesus. Now, they were paying the guards to lie and tell their superiors they had failed at their job. Surely, they were paid a nice sum of money to implicate themselves in this coverup. The priests promised to protect them if Pilate found out. Evidently, they had tremendous influence and power in the government. This story was still being passed around as truth when this gospel was written 30-40 years after the resurrection and is still being passed around today! The priests knew if it were true that Jesus had bodily resurrected, it would change everything. It would undo Satan’s dominion of power on the world, which included the corrupted religious system of their day.
Relate it to your life.
The resurrection is a major threat to everything associated with the evil realm.
Do something.
Jesus, praise be for Your resurrection defeat of Satan, sin, darkness, and death! Amen.
April 25-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 2816-20a, Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
Observe what it is saying.
The women told the disciples what Jesus asked them to say. They obediently went to Galilee to the very mountain they were told to go. As the women did, they worshiped Him. But unlike the women, some of the disciples still had doubts. Being 2,000 years removed, it is easy to judge them for this reaction. However, for such an unprecedented event as it was, if I am honest with myself, it is rather believable to envision the disciples acclaiming Jesus’ deity and being perplexed as to what exactly had happened and wondering if it was real. As a result of Jesus’ faithfulness to His mission, Jesus once again returned to his exalted position as the divine Son of God with “all authority in heaven and on earth” being restored to Him. Christ’s well-known commissioning of all true disciples was for them (and us) to multiply themselves throughout the world. This involved three steps. Going. Baptizing. Teaching. As we continue to read the New Testament, we discover they overcame any doubts they had and became faithful proclaimers of the gospel taking it into the furthest reaches of the known world,
Relate it to your life.
Admitting we have doubts does not have to be a deterrent to developing a genuine passionate faith.
Do something.
Jesus, I believe. Help me where I struggle to wholeheartedly believe the full gospel message. Amen.
April 26-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 28:20b, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Observe what it is saying.
The last words Jesus spoke as He gave the great commission was the great promise found throughout Scripture. He is with us always to the very end. This promise is what holds us together when everything around us seems to be falling apart. Psalm 139:7-10, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” However, Jesus’ promise is also one of empowerment for the disciples to go in the power of His Spirit to be disciple-makers. We find this to be promised by Jesus in John 14:26, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” We find in Jesus’ post-resurrection appearance with the disciples, “Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:21-22) They were given the presence of Jesus, through the Spirit to be encouraged, empowered, and emboldened to be gospel proclaimers.
Relate it to your life.
I am never left alone but always have the presence, peace, and power of Christ’s Spirit with me.
Do something.
Jesus, please fill me again and again with Your Spirit so I am completely surrounded and inundated by Your presence at all times in all things. Amen.
Posted in Daily Devotionals