“We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus.
TO PONDER
Even if you don’t follow Rugby, you would have heard of the “All Blacks”, New Zealand’s National Team. How they build the culture and ethos of the team is incredibly fascinating. When a player makes the All Blacks team, they’re given a small black book. On the first page there is a jersey from the 1905 Originals, the first tour. On the next page is another jersey of the “1924 Invincibles”. It continues on, telling the story to the present day, sharing the history, the ethos, the values that characterise those who pull on the jersey. The end of the book includes blank pages, waiting to be filled by the debutant. “This is your time…write your legacy…leave the jersey in a better place.”
Paul’s first recorded sermon here in Acts does a similar thing. He shares and passes on the story of God at work in the world that he has received. He connects Jews and Gentiles alike with his-story, culminating in the resurrection of Jesus. It’s a story that continues to shape, transform, influence, impact and give identity to each generation. It’s a story that includes you. How will you continue to pass on and leave the jersey of faith in a better place for others? This is your time.
What will you write on the blank pages of life that leave a legacy for others to know his story and discover their place in his story
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help me faithfully write the next chapter of your story in my life. Amen.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (verses 4-5)
TO PONDER:
There was a knock at the front door. It was a neighbour. “Would you mind looking at my mower. It won’t start.”
On first appearance it looked alright. A few dents and scratches but okay. I gave it a few pulls. There was nothing. I checked the spark plug to see if there was spark. Nothing. Changed the spark plug. Still nothing. No spark. No life. Dead.
Paul offers the same diagnosis about people in relationship to God. No spark. No life. Dead. That’s the result of disobedience, the consequence of sin. Like the mower, we might look okay. Not in perfect condition; a few dents and scratches, but basically we’re good people. The reality is, however, when something is dead, it’s dead. I can pull the motor over a thousand times, but if there is no spark, it won’t start. If there is no life in you, you can’t fix the problem.
But God can. He diagnosed the problem and fixed it, sending his Son to save us. Jesus gives us what we need; a new heart, a new spark, a new life. It’s nothing you did or earned. God gives it to you as a gift of his grace.
As for my neighbour’s mower – a new coil and it too, roared into life again.
How are you making the most of the new life you’ve been given?
PRAYER:
Merciful God, by your grace, help me roar into life again for you each day. Amen.
I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.
TO PONDER:
“What will it take?” It was the question of a husband to his wife, throwing his hands in the air as they sat opposite me. “What will it take to prove to you that I genuinely love you?”
In Isaiah 45, you can hear God asking, “What will it take?” “What will it take to prove that I love you; for you to confess that I am the Lord? The Creation of the world? Dividing the Red Sea so you can walk through and be free from slavery? Giving power to an evil king like Cyrus to enact my plans for your deliverance?”
From Genesis to Revelation, it’s clear there is no other God who acts for the sake of a world he loves and a people he will never abandon or forget. There is no other deliverer or way out of exile. Only God is able to orchestrate and weave a plan to rescue people so they can truly live with him now and forever. So what more will it take to convince the world that he is God alone? What more will it take for you to believe and live as one who is deeply loved? He’s given his own Son who died and has risen for you. Is that enough?
PRAYER
Lord God, you are God alone. Thank you for revealing the extent of your love for me. May my lips and life proclaim the truth of that love. Amen.
Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
TO PONDER:
All it takes is a word. One word to change the mood. One word which throbs in your head like the subwoofer at the party next door when you are trying to sleep. One single word to blanket your world with darkness. “Dead.”
For Mary Magdalene, the grief of losing Jesus was deep. She’s distraught. Her weeping is unrelenting and unrestrained. The Gospel-writer says Mary goes to the tomb while it is dark, not dawn like the other Gospels. Her grief is so intense, she can’t sleep. It’s dark outside. It’s dark inside. In the midst of that despair, in the darkest moment of life, the Risen One reveals himself. One word changes the mood. One word draws back the curtain of darkness and allows light to flood in. One single word transforms despair into hope, sorrow into joy, a cemetery of memories into a garden of new beginnings. "Mary."
"Mary." Jesus comes to her. Jesus knows her name. Jesus calls her name. That changes everything. Resurrection is personal.
Today is your day. The resurrected Lord calls your name. There is no sorrow he cannot transform. No sin he has not redeemed. No darkness he cannot lift. No life he will not restore. Today, the risen Jesus comes with a single word. “ _________” (Fill in your name). Because for Jesus, it’s personal.
PRAYER
Risen Lord Jesus, this is the day that you have made. I will rejoice and be glad in it, because you have come and called me personally by name. Amen.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” Matthew 28:10
TO PONDER:
Go home. Move on. There's nothing to see here. That's the message of the resurrection. Everything God promised, he has fulfilled. Everything God began. He has finished. Go home. There's nothing to see at the empty tomb. Stop hangoing around it.. Stop letting the obstacles of past hurt, past circumstances, past guilt, past shame slow you down or stall your life completely. Go home and live. Go home restored. Go home alive. Go home and in the everyday, ordinary routines of life, see Jesus. In the complexities of life, see Jesus, alive and at work in you. In complications, see Jesus making a way and leading to victory.
When life has stalled, when life has you caught in a jam, look to Jesus, for he will clear every blockage that allows your journey to flow again, move again quickly. Go home and see resurrection bring healing to hurt relationships through the power of love and a willingness to forgive. See Jesus and his resurrection life flourish, as you give your life away to others rather than living for yourself. See Jesus as you choose his way of grace and humility and service rather than demanding your own way. See Jesus as you gather around your table with family and friends and experience laughter, and friendship and acceptance. See Jesus as you carry the crosses of hardship and struggle and heartbreak, knowing that they will never have the ultimate word in your life, that every cross will flower with new life, that the road ahead will clear. Go home and see Jesus. Happy Easter
PRAYER
Risen Lord Jesus, give me courage to go home and live because you are alive and with us. Amen.
As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.
TO PONDER
An unexpected visitor appears on the scene after Jesus’ death and provides an honourable burial place for someone tried and killed as a criminal. I wonder if there’s a lesson there – that following Jesus, the unexpected will occur.
The body of Jesus is given an unused tomb, and then blocked. With a rock. It was a big rock. It weighed between 1-2 tonnes, and usually needed two people to roll it into place. The body of Jesus is locked away. This was to keep grave robbers away. It was to keep people out. To stop the disciples from grabbing the body. No trespassers. Or was it perhaps, to stop scripture being fulfilled, that on third day, that the grave would be empty? Was it to keep Jesus in?
Is there a rock in your life preventing Jesus from getting in? He’s knocking, you know. Or is your life a little closed currently? Is it similar to the lyrics of the classic Dave Edmunds rock song, ‘I hear you knocking, but you can’t come in’?
Rock or no rock, Jesus wants to be in relationship with you. He wants to connect with you and listen to whatever is troubling you. He wants to remind you that he is the rock, and your name is on the roll.
PRAYER
As we await the blessings of Easter Sunday, prepare our hearts Lord, for that amazing story and celebration. Give us a restful night, so that we can rejoice with the world in the morning. Thank you for wanting to know us. Help us let you! Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping.
From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
TO PONDER
It’s Good Friday. What’s so good about it? Well, (and thanks to a popular author from the 1990’s, Tony Campolo), the best was yet to come.
It’s Friday, and the world turned dark…but Sunday’s coming!
It’s Friday, and the disciples had disappeared…but Sunday’s coming!
It’s Friday, and the pharisees were smiling contentedly…but Sunday’s coming!
It’s Friday, and Pilate struts around doing a power-walk…but Sunday’s coming!
It’s Friday and the Jewish leaders were feeling smug…but Sunday’s coming!
It’s Friday, and Jesus is whipped with a leather scourge…but Sunday’s coming!
It’s Friday, and Jesus is nailed to the cross…but Sunday’s coming!
It’s Friday, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, is crying…but Sunday’s coming!
It’s Friday, and Satan is pleased because he’s in control…but Sunday’s coming!
Out of the bad, comes good. Jesus, feeling totally abandoned as our text tells us, begins his final act on earth – this side of the tomb.
It might feel awful – it certainly did for Jesus, but we await with anticipation the joy of Sunday.
PRAYER
What a sacrifice Lord – for us. What courage, what commitment, what love. Help us to have a bit of that courage and love Father. Help us, in our words and actions, to share and show grace to all. Thank you for the ultimate sacrifice and thank you that we won’t need to go through it. Touch our hearts to respond to that love. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
TO PONDER
Many churches refer to today as Maundy Thursday. Have you ever stopped to ask what Maundy means? It’s not a word I use in my vocabulary, except at this time of year, and even then, another denomination calls it ‘Holy Thursday’.
The day is named appropriately. Maundy is derived from the Latin word for ‘command,’ and refers to Jesus' commandment to the disciples to ‘Love one another as I have loved you’. ‘
In our verse today, we see a glimpse of that love, and that is to wash each other’s feet. Really?
But wait, there’s more. Washing can be a reminder of baptism, and in baptism, Jesus gives forgiveness of sins. Washing of the feet then, apart from being seen as serving, was a reminder of one’s baptism, and therefore a form of repentance. In our reading today, the example from Jesus is to forgive others. He knew what this week held. He knew what was going to occur soon. Yet, continues to instruct his disciples – that’s you and me - on living as children of God. How are you going with that living?
PRAYER
Lord, sometimes it’s hard to serve like you want us to, and to live a grace-filled life. So thank you that you allow us to keep trying. Walk alongside us as we strive for that unconditional love you’ve shown us. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
TO PONDER
These verses are from a passage beginning at Matthew 20:20, to which Human bible translators, attempting to assist the readers, have added the title; ‘A mother’s request’. Not unusual, but not necessary. And sometimes the heading given to scripture gets in the way. It was never meant to be there in the first place, and now and again it can be the wrong emphasis anyway (e.g. The Prodigal Son).
When I was in the classroom, mums of the student’s I taught would occasionally request things specifically for their child such as; ‘don’t let them sit next to so-and so, they are a bad influence’, or ‘please make sure they sit near an open window’, or ‘can you make sure they sit close to the front so they are not distracted by others’. We would listen to the request and answer the best way we can. And that’s ok because parents want the best for their children.
Jesus answers the question with a question, and then a reminder that his Father, has the final say, and we are to serve. That’s all. Follow Jesus example of listening to his Father, and in response, serve. Can you do that this week?
PRAYER
Servant of all, help us listen to you, even if we don’t always like what you say. Thank you for the example you give and help us be bold this week in our serving of others. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping