Luke 24 “Hope Restored”

“He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'" (Luke 24:6-7)

Luke 24 contains two themes throughout the chapter; 1) the fulfillment of Christ's teachings on His death, burial and resurrection and 2) the continued struggles His disciple had in seeing this truth as it was; predicted, unfolded, and completed before their every eyes.

After Jesus's death, His disciples were blinded by their grief, discouraged, lost, afraid, and did not see this event for what it was, the fulfillment of all that the prophets have spoken! They saw His death as the end of their Messiah and His kingdom here on earth, not reconciling it with what He had taught them. (Matthew 20:17-19)

It took the Lord Himself appearing to; Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, to Peter, then the twelve collectively showing them His hands and His feet, eating with them and finally opening their understanding to the scriptures, before their blindness turned to joy and their hope restored. (v.45)  

My prayer is the our unsaved loved ones will have their eyes opened and their blindness turned to joy. 

John 19 “Good Friday”

 So why is today called "Good Friday" instead of "Bad Friday" or something similar? Because the suffering and death of Jesus, as terrible as it was, marked the dramatic culmination of God's plan to save His people from their sin. 

The Law required a blood sacrifice for sin, so God poured out His wrath against sin on Jesus, the perfect sacrificial substitute, in order that forgiveness and salvation would be possible for all nations. Jesus endure the cross on "Good Friday" knowing it would lead to our salvation, His resurrection, and the fulfillment of God's plan of redemption. 

Good Friday marks the day when wrath and mercy met at the cross, but the best is yet to come, as Jesus would rise from the dead and conquer death for us all. 

The Truth: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Mark 3 "Stretch Out Your Hand"

And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him. (vv.1-6) 

What does a stubborn heart look like? A stubborn heart is like a stone, unresponsive to the needs and sufferings of others. It lacks tenderness and compassion. The Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 15:7-8 to not harden our hearts against a poor brother but to open our hands to him. Compassion isn't just for the poor; it also extends to the sick and disabled. In Mark 3, Jesus sees a man with a withered hand and challenges the crowd about doing good on the Sabbath. Their silence grieves Jesus, showing their hard hearts. A hard heart is unmoved by suffering and lacks empathy.

How does a hard heart hurt us? Jonathan Edwards, an 18th-century pastor and theologian, described a hardened heart as being unaffected and insensible. This unfeeling nature extends to our relationship with God. The Bible says a hard heart refuses to hear or respond to God. For example, Zedekiah's hardened heart led him to ignore God's call to repentance (2 Chronicles 36:13). Romans 2:4-5 warns that a hard heart stores up wrath because it is unresponsive to God's kindness, meant to lead us to repentance.

How do we avoid a hard heart in the first place? Avoiding a hard heart begins with being part of a healthy community of believers who encourage us daily. Hebrews 3:13 advises us to encourage one another every day to prevent being hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Sin lies, telling us that God's ways are not satisfying. These lies can harden our hearts if not countered by the truth. Being in a community that reminds us of God's worth and the deceitfulness of sin helps keep our hearts tender and responsive.

How can a hard heart be softened? Softening a hard heart is a miraculous work of God. Ezekiel 36:26-27 promises that God will give us a new heart and spirit, removing our heart of stone and replacing it with a tender heart of flesh. This transformation, akin to being born again, is a gift from God. Once we have a soft heart, staying in a supportive, godly community helps maintain it. Regular encouragement from fellow believers helps us recognize and resist sin's lies, keeping our hearts open and responsive to God's love and guidance.

This is one of the few places in scripture where Jesus is described as having anger, and He was angry - at the hardness of men’s hearts. Jesus was angry because this was a perfect opportunity for these critics of His to change their minds about Him and their traditions. But they refused to change their minds and rejected Jesus instead. In this we can see that Jesus deliberately used this occasion to provoke a response. Jesus could have done this the next day. Jesus could have done it privately. But He chose to do it at this time and place. And what was the reaction of His critics? They went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him. 

Jesus did nothing but a wonderful miracle. In response, two parties of former enemies (the Pharisees and the Herodians) agreed together in one cause: to destroy Jesus. Their hatred for Him went much deeper than the Law, their distain for each other, and the violation of the Sabbath.  They would rather stir up contorversy than rejoice in this man's healing. Luke 6:11 says, that the critics of Jesus were filled with rage when Jesus healed this man. I ask you, which was more of sin against God and a violation of the Sabbath: When Jesus healed a man, or when these hate-filled men plotted the murder of a man who never sinned against anybody?

The Truth: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10)

Mark 2 "The Power of Jesus To Forgive and Heal"

"Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” (vv.3-5)

Jesus was in Capernaum, likely at Peter’s house, surrounded by crowds eager to see, hear, and touch him. Imagine the poor and sick, desperate to experience his healing touch. Suddenly, four men carried their paralyzed friend to Jesus. Unable to get through the door, they climbed onto the roof, removed part of the thatch, and lowered their friend down to Jesus. Their faith and determination were remarkable.

Jesus didn't ask what the paralyzed man wanted; he knew his deepest need. Seeing the faith of his friends, Jesus said, "Son, your sins are forgiven." This surprised everyone, as they expected a physical healing, but Jesus offered something far greater—spiritual healing. The religious leaders were shocked and accused Jesus of blasphemy since only God could forgive sins. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, challenged them and then healed the man physically, proving his divine authority.

This story isn’t just about a miracle; it’s about the transformative power of Jesus. He meets us where we are, in the middle of our daily lives, and offers us forgiveness and healing. Just as he did for the paralyzed man, Jesus addresses our deepest needs, often surprising us with his grace. He calls us to respond with faith, trusting in his power to transform our lives.

Jesus’ miracles reveal his identity as the Son of God and his message of salvation. They compel us to reflect on our response to Him. Are we like the religious leaders, skeptical and resistant, or like the paralyzed man and his friends, full of faith and open to his transformative power? I pray you find yourself open to His forgiveness and His power to transform your life.

The Truth: "If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanes us from all unrighteousness." 

Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice Your King Is Coming”

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zechariah 9:9)

Here the prophet Zechariah describes the 1st coming of Jesus over 500 years before it occurred. He correctly refers to Him as, "having salvation." Therefore, when Jesus did enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey, as prophesied, the people cried, "Hosanna!" or, literally, "Save now!" (Matthew 21:9). They were hoping Jesus had come to save them from the Roman government and establish His kingdom on earth now.

As Jesus drew near to the city Luke's gospel tells us "He wept," because the people did not know the scriptures well enough to understand the reason for His first coming (v.41-44), and those who did (scribes, chief priests Pharisees) were scheming to kill Him out of fear and jealousy. As news of His arrest and interrogation became public, and His expected kingship here on earth began to fade, many of those same people who cried "Hosanna" were now crying, "Crucify Hm."

While the Jews were looking for a savior to liberate them from Roman rule, the purpose for Jesus' first coming was to die for the sins of the world, to be the perfect sacrifice for you and for me. Though many are still looking for Messiah, may we not miss the fact and purpose of His first coming, because His second coming will be much different.

The Truth
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." (2 Peter 3:10)

Mark 1 “Jesus Baptized”

 “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.” Immediately the Spirit sent Him out into the wilderness. And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.” (vv.9-13)

Mark's gospel begins with a brief description of the ministry of John the Baptize. Mark indicates that John's ministry of preaching and baptism fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah (40:3). That he was sent to set the stage for the coming Messiah and announce His purpose. John's message promised that the one who came after him would indeed baptize with the Holy Spirit.

What I find significant in our text is, that the first action Jesus took after He was baptized (and once He began His public ministry), was to respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit (v.12). Even though it meant He would be without shelter, without food, exposed to the wild beasts, and buffeted by Satan for forty days, He responded anyway.

Jesus' actions exemplify the two most important dimensions of a life of purpose; 1) He knew what God the Father had called Him to do, and 2) He was responsive to the calling of the Holy Spirit in His life. We too have a purpose to fulfill. May we continually listen to the “still small voice” of the Spirit guiding us to His purposes in our lives, and be responsive to that leading.

The Truth: “For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

Matthew 28 “He Is Risen”

“He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” (Matthew 28:6)

Jesus had often predicted that He would rise from the dead, but the disciples did not understand it, and consequently did not expect it. But God would not leave His Son in a tomb, nor suffer Him to see corruption. He was not stolen away as the chief priests hired the soldiers to say He was; nor was He removed to another place, as Mary Magdalene first thought, when she found Him gone; but He had risen from the dead, by the power of His Father.

Therefore, when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary arrived at the tomb expecting to anoint the body of Jesus, they were met by an angel of the LORD instead saying, “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.” It took the Lord Himself appearing to; Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, to Peter, then the twelve collectively showing them His hands and His feet, eating with them and finally opening their understanding to the scriptures, before their blindness turned to joy and their hope restored.  

Just as it took the infallible truth of the scriptures to open the eyes of those who walked with Jesus then, so it may be with our loved ones today as well. With so much evil in our world, we need to keep praying that our Lord will bring His truth into their lives and open their understanding to His love and grace.

The Truth: Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And on the third day He will rise again.” (Matthew 20:17-19) 

Matthew 27 “Let Him Be Crucified”

Pilate said to them, "What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let him be crucified." To which the governor replied, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they cried out the more, saying, "Let him be crucified.” (Matthew 27:22-23)

Death by Roman crucifixion was a result of the whole body weight being supported by the outstretched arms of the victim. When nailed to the cross, there was a massive strain put on the wrists, arms and shoulders often resulting in a dislocation of the shoulder and elbow joints. The rib cage was constrained in a fixed position, which made it extremely difficult to exhale, and impossible to take a full breath.

The victim would continually try to push himself up by his feet to allow for inflation of the lungs enduring terrible pain in his feet and legs. Eventually, the pain in the feet and legs would become so unbearable, that the victim was forced to trade breathing for pain and die of suffocation. The length of time required to die from crucifixion could range from hours (if they broke your legs), to a number of days depending on an individual physical condition. Crucifixion was chiefly inflicted on slaves and the worst kind of criminals, and was considered a most shameful and disgraceful way to die. Condemned Roman citizens were usually exempt from it.

Jesus voluntarily died this death (refusing the medication v. 34) for you and for me, that we might have forgiveness of sin through His atonement. But, this greatest gift ever given was not His end, for the best was yet to come in chapter 28. Hope to see you there.

The Truth: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)