'resurrection' Tagged Posts (Page 2)
Daily Devotions
Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” vs. 24 Luke 24:13-24 It’s really hard for any of us to believe in things that we have not experienced. And if we are going to believe in them, we will need to have supporting evidence. According to Luke, that’s what disciples of Jesus were looking for when they were told by some women…
Daily Devotions
Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’” vs. 27 John 20:26-31 Thomas had told the other disciples that he would not be convinced of Jesus’ resurrection unless he could touch his wounds–he didn’t need another sign, the scars would be enough. He needed to know that the resurrected Christ was the crucified Jesus! And his wish was granted. Jesus…
Daily Devotions
So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’” vs. 25 John 20:19-25 Thomas did not become famous through his first century missionary journey to southern India, but because he was the only disciple to doubt the reality of Jesus’ resurrection. Even…
Daily Devotions
Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy…” vs. 8 1 Peter 1:3-9 This letter is addressed to believers living in five Roman provinces in what is now the country of Turkey. Some had suffered alienation from families and persecution by authorities because they had become followers of Jesus. Even though they had never seen him they had…
Daily Devotions
But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.” vs. 24 Acts 2:22-32 Luke tells us that from the very beginning, even from Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost, the central message of the Church was that the crucified Jesus had been raised from the dead. He says that it was impossible for death to hold Jesus in its power. Later on Paul extends that teaching…
Daily Devotions
Easter Day Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” vss. 5b-6 Matthew 28:1-10 As we come to the end of Holy Week, it is fascinating to see the shifting emphasis of the gospel message. It started with our Good Friday remembrance of Jesus’ death on the cross, a sign of God’s great love…
Daily Devotions
When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’” vs. 32 John 11:17-32 Mary reacted exactly as Martha had when she came out to greet Jesus. They had such great love and respect for him, and both believed that he could have laid hands on Lazarus and healed him. And both were deeply disappointed that he hadn’t come while…
Daily Devotions
Therefore prophesy, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel.’” vs. 12 Ezekiel 37:1-14 The people of Israel, captive in Babylon, had given up hope. In their own minds they had been abandoned by the Lord and were as good as dead. But Ezekiel, one of their prophets, was given…
Daily Devotions
And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.” vs. 2 Matthew 17:1-9 Many of us don’t quite know what to do with the story of the transfiguration as found in the gospels. It doesn’t fit with the rest of what we read about Jesus’ Galilean ministry, and seems more like a resurrection appearance than anything else. It’s like Peter, James, and John got a glimpse of the risen Jesus…
Daily Devotions
When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.” vs. 34 Psalm 104:30-34 The psalmist believed that all living creatures were a part of a constantly changing, always evolving circle of life. Creation wasn’t a once-for-all time event. Rather it occurred on a daily basis as the spirit of God breathed life into what had died and renewed the face of the earth. Death and the return to dust is never God’s…
Daily Devotions
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.” vs. 4 John 21:1-14 Sometimes even followers of Jesus have trouble with the resurrection because they have been taught by well-meaning preachers and teachers that when Jesus was resurrected he was reanimated, i.e. he got back the same body he had before he died. But that’s not the testimony of scripture. In every post-resurrection account of Jesus’ appearances, his closest followers at…
Daily Devotions
What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?” vs. 9 Psalm 30:6-12 At his lowest point the psalmist tries to convince God that his death will be pointless, that if he’s gone the dust will surely not sing praises or bear witness to God’s faithfulness. Obviously he’s right, and his point wins the day; he recovers and gives thanks for his life before…