Passionate persuasion
Reckless running
Absolute astonishment
Painfully paused
Wholly wonderful
Living Lord
Cautious curiosity
I imagine the women mentioned in the Bible, as they went to the tomb. There must havebeen some level of cautious curiosity in their steps. They headed towards the tomb of their Lord, uncertain if guards would be there, uncertain if they'd be able to complete their task.
I imagine the women mentioned in the Bible, as they went to the tomb. There must havebeen some level of cautious curiosity in their steps. They headed towards the tomb of their Lord, uncertain if guards would be there, uncertain if they'd be able to complete their task.
Matthew 27 tells us that "Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb" when Jesus was put inside and the stone rolled in front. I wonder what loss they felt, or perhaps they still had faith thus they had cautious curiosity to see what would happen next?
Mark 16:1-3 tells us that "Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” They wondered at their own ability, still cautious at their work.
Passionate Persuasion & Reckless Running
Each of the Gospels tell the next part of the story from slightly different perspectives; but they all say this (they) "ran to tell his disciples". The women who came to wrap Jesus' body ran to the disciples. They had seen an empty tomb, had been told by angels Jesus was gone, and even saw Jesus themselves - you can imagine they passionately ran to the disciples in order to persuade them of the truth. Matthew's Gospel says, "they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples." They had just seen an angel of the Lord, most of the texts point out the shock and fear they experienced. Luke's Gospel paints a great picture of what happened in telling the disciples, "but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb" They women passionately believed, and ran to the disciples; who in turn did not believe but Peter recklessly ran back to see what had happened.
Absolute Astonishment
That same text in Luke goes on to say that "stooping and looking in, he (Peter) saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened." When they eventually see Jesus, Matthew says they "came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him." Their Lord, the friend, their Jesus had returned to them - but He was not the same Jesus. He had gone through the crucifixion He had become the once and for all sacrificial Lamb. Yet this difference didn't cause hesitation, rather it caused worship and exaltation As someone who is oft worried about change, this makes my heart happy. Jesus could have shown Himself as simply God, an unattainable being. Yet Luke reminds us of His fully God and fully Man state, "And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,43 and he took it and ate before them."
Painfully Paused
We all know this next text. The one disciple who was out when Jesus showed up, the one who questioned the validity of his brothers; sweet Thomas. His words were almost impulsive like Peter, but perhaps they were the desperately plea of a man who had been lost and at once was found in Jesus, who was no longer there. A longing to know, truly, holistically know, that Jesus was alive. So Thomas declares in John, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” There is much commentary on Thomas, but as an emotionally cautious, and yet impulsive soul I can understand the hesitation Why would we want to believe a truth from another, when in fact we too walked with the Lord. Thomas walked with the Lord just as the other disciples, and saw the death of his beloved Friend. I'd want proof too, I would expect Jesus to know I'd need that. So Jesus knew the longings of His friend's heart and answered it. "Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” I don't believe Jesus was angry at Thomas, but rather exhorting all of them for the next stage of their ministry. Many would come after that would never touch the hands and feet of Jesus, yet His promise would be enough and they'd believe.
Wholly Wonderful
Jesus didn't leave the disciples without help. He knew His followers would need more as He would no longer walk with Him as they had before. He gave them a promise, "And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you." The Gospel of Matthew also says, "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” The disciples were not left alone, Acts reminds us of that promise from Jesus, "wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Jesus had mentioned the Spirit throughout His ministry, John 16 Jesus says, "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you." The disciples, and in turn we, are not left alone. But rather are about to have a foretaste of the wholeness we will experience again with our Jesus. The Spirit, the Comforter, the speaker of Truth - will come and reside in us. Through the Spirit we have the strength to move forward from the Resurrection into the Great Commission. Without the Spirit we are left wondering, hesitating, and uncertain of our future. Yet the Spirit descends like a fire, filling our hearts giving us the empowerment and relationship necessary for the already-not yet Kingdom.
Living Lord
He is alive, Jesus has risen. He has ascended through the clouds, He proclaimed His purpose earlier in John 14, "In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also." He is not dead, nor is he absent. At this point I reflect on a teaching from a professor about the Lord's Supper. We discussed how the Lord's Supper is more than a recollection, but a partaking with our Lord - which means He is there with us. We are reliving the sacrifice, nailing our Savior to the cross, we are taking the bread and wine with/for/by Jesus. My favorite analogy we used was that of an engagement ring. So often in the Lord's Supper we look at it as mere remembrance, a longing to the past, like a bride-to-be does with her engagement ring when the bridegroom is absent. But the glorious and mysterious reality of communion is that in partaking we recall into the present what occurred in the past, participating with our Lord - He is not an absent bridegroom when we take communion! He is an active Love, encouraging us, strengthening us for the journey ahead. Oh such a joyous occasion! Should we not partake with our Lord always! It is through this lens that you can understand why in the early church they had to restrict how often they would take communion, same with the early Pentecostal movement. Through this we act, God acts, Jesus is, and the veil of time is ripped open as we fellowship with our Creator, Savior, Lord and Friend. We have a living Lord, not just far away in the sky, but present with us always. Just as the empowerment of the Holy Spirit gives us strength to move from the Resurrection, our Living Lord empowers us to keep participating in the Holy Trinity as a co-heir with Christ moving always towards Him and His glory.
________________________________________________________________________________
And so with this Lent is finish, the glory of Resurrection has been tasted and we walk again into the world. I was afraid of the loss of spiritual uplift after Lent and Easter. But I believe that through the Spirit, and ever active Lord, my Father will not forget me - nor will He forget anyone who calls upon Him. Thus we can move forward without fear and hesitation, looking ever longingly to His face, but working ever present in His world.
Absolute Astonishment
That same text in Luke goes on to say that "stooping and looking in, he (Peter) saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened." When they eventually see Jesus, Matthew says they "came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him." Their Lord, the friend, their Jesus had returned to them - but He was not the same Jesus. He had gone through the crucifixion He had become the once and for all sacrificial Lamb. Yet this difference didn't cause hesitation, rather it caused worship and exaltation As someone who is oft worried about change, this makes my heart happy. Jesus could have shown Himself as simply God, an unattainable being. Yet Luke reminds us of His fully God and fully Man state, "And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,43 and he took it and ate before them."
Painfully Paused
We all know this next text. The one disciple who was out when Jesus showed up, the one who questioned the validity of his brothers; sweet Thomas. His words were almost impulsive like Peter, but perhaps they were the desperately plea of a man who had been lost and at once was found in Jesus, who was no longer there. A longing to know, truly, holistically know, that Jesus was alive. So Thomas declares in John, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” There is much commentary on Thomas, but as an emotionally cautious, and yet impulsive soul I can understand the hesitation Why would we want to believe a truth from another, when in fact we too walked with the Lord. Thomas walked with the Lord just as the other disciples, and saw the death of his beloved Friend. I'd want proof too, I would expect Jesus to know I'd need that. So Jesus knew the longings of His friend's heart and answered it. "Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” I don't believe Jesus was angry at Thomas, but rather exhorting all of them for the next stage of their ministry. Many would come after that would never touch the hands and feet of Jesus, yet His promise would be enough and they'd believe.
Wholly Wonderful
Jesus didn't leave the disciples without help. He knew His followers would need more as He would no longer walk with Him as they had before. He gave them a promise, "And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you." The Gospel of Matthew also says, "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” The disciples were not left alone, Acts reminds us of that promise from Jesus, "wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Jesus had mentioned the Spirit throughout His ministry, John 16 Jesus says, "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you." The disciples, and in turn we, are not left alone. But rather are about to have a foretaste of the wholeness we will experience again with our Jesus. The Spirit, the Comforter, the speaker of Truth - will come and reside in us. Through the Spirit we have the strength to move forward from the Resurrection into the Great Commission. Without the Spirit we are left wondering, hesitating, and uncertain of our future. Yet the Spirit descends like a fire, filling our hearts giving us the empowerment and relationship necessary for the already-not yet Kingdom.
Living Lord
He is alive, Jesus has risen. He has ascended through the clouds, He proclaimed His purpose earlier in John 14, "In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also." He is not dead, nor is he absent. At this point I reflect on a teaching from a professor about the Lord's Supper. We discussed how the Lord's Supper is more than a recollection, but a partaking with our Lord - which means He is there with us. We are reliving the sacrifice, nailing our Savior to the cross, we are taking the bread and wine with/for/by Jesus. My favorite analogy we used was that of an engagement ring. So often in the Lord's Supper we look at it as mere remembrance, a longing to the past, like a bride-to-be does with her engagement ring when the bridegroom is absent. But the glorious and mysterious reality of communion is that in partaking we recall into the present what occurred in the past, participating with our Lord - He is not an absent bridegroom when we take communion! He is an active Love, encouraging us, strengthening us for the journey ahead. Oh such a joyous occasion! Should we not partake with our Lord always! It is through this lens that you can understand why in the early church they had to restrict how often they would take communion, same with the early Pentecostal movement. Through this we act, God acts, Jesus is, and the veil of time is ripped open as we fellowship with our Creator, Savior, Lord and Friend. We have a living Lord, not just far away in the sky, but present with us always. Just as the empowerment of the Holy Spirit gives us strength to move from the Resurrection, our Living Lord empowers us to keep participating in the Holy Trinity as a co-heir with Christ moving always towards Him and His glory.
________________________________________________________________________________
And so with this Lent is finish, the glory of Resurrection has been tasted and we walk again into the world. I was afraid of the loss of spiritual uplift after Lent and Easter. But I believe that through the Spirit, and ever active Lord, my Father will not forget me - nor will He forget anyone who calls upon Him. Thus we can move forward without fear and hesitation, looking ever longingly to His face, but working ever present in His world.
