Daily Devotional

Matthew 28:1-10 NIV

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 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."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Romans 8:1 NIV

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

Point them to the cross... the resurrection

Freedom -- the resurrection of Jesus Christ represents freedom.

Those who have not accepted Christ cannot understand the freedom we gain, the life we gain, when we accept Jesus Christ. It is our job as a Christian to communicate that wonderful concept of freedom when we have an opportunity. When we are saved, we are accepted into God’s family and saved by grace -- not judged by every mistake you make.

We are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. This is one of the hardest things to communicate to a non-believer. This topic can be confusing and must be thoughtfully presented. What Jesus did on the cross is all that needed to be done for us. It is sometimes difficult to explain the completeness of this concept but with a little study, you can be very effective in doing so. Point them to the greatest commandment: Mathew 22:37-39: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.

• Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you understanding, guidance and insight when you search out scripture for the subject of grace, freedom and the significance of the cross.
• Do a concordance search on GRACE. For a week, read as much scripture as you can find, reflecting on the miracle of God’s grace.
• Write the scripture on note cards and make an effort to memorize them daily. This is something that you want on the inside so it will flow out of your mouth with ease when you share.

Matthew 28:1-10 NIV

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 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."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Transformation and Renewal.

It’s amazing we can actually be living sacrifices for God.

The scripture says to offer up our bodies -- God cares about every part of us. Although our physical bodies are temporary, He wants us to offer them to Him. We are to honor our bodies for Him and not be abusive to our bodies.

This is a spiritual act of worship. This spiritual act of worship can be greatly affected by the struggles and challenges we all face daily. When the world sees the Christian with addictions, it’s a reflection of God to them. They will have more criticism towards a Christian than a non-Christian. They will not see an addiction as the struggle the person is fighting, but will likely believe God must be weak because that Christian cannot fight their demons, so to speak.

That’s one reason it’s so important to be honest about our struggles so we can confront them. Struggles kept in darkness cannot be faced and overcome. We need to admit, face and overcome them – while maintaining a healthy balance of grace towards ourselves. Paul talks about struggles when he addresses the church. Jesus says in John 16:33 we will have trouble, but to take heart because He has overcome the world. Ephesians 6:12 tells us our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

• Read Romans and reflect on the story of Paul speaking to the church about his struggles. You will gain a wonderful understanding of the struggles that have been going on since creation.
• Pull out Old Testament scripture to look at some of the significant men and women of the bible and the struggles they faced. (Noah and Mary Magdalene). 

Matthew 28:1-10 NIV

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 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."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Death - Burial – Resurrection - Father - Son - Holy Spirit - God - Family – Church -

God’s Order

We need to put our priorities in God’s order, not our order. When a woman knows God is first in her husband’s life, she is second. When a child knows God is first in their parent’s life, they are second. That’s the way God designed things to work. We can’t develop our own rules: when that happens society and family are on a downward spiral. No one is exempt from God’s order -- single person, single parent, divorced person widowed person, married person.

If we devote too much time to ministry and neglect our family, we will soon need to refocus on the order God has for our lives. It’s easy to fall into this trap without even knowing it – because we’re doing something that is good. But it never works out, and it sends a bad message to the world when the people of the church are not taking care of their own families. We are held to a higher standard by the world and are viewed through microscopic lenses to see if what we have is truly authentic.

Jesus does have expectations for believers because we have the knowledge to live out the word as he intended. Not only does the word hold the Christian to a higher standard, we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard. We need to understand the responsibility that comes with being a Christ follower. When we openly choose an unacceptable lifestyle or are irresponsible with what we God has entrusted to us, we put God in a bad light. We are his representation here on earth -- so if our lives are out of order, then Jesus appears to be out of order.

• Make a list of areas of your life that need work because they are out of control.
• Make goals for yourself and ask the Holy Spirit to help you to be disciplined. Don’t ever try to do it on your own.
• Talk to other people in your life for input such as spouse, friends, parents, etc. It helps to let others know that you want to be accountable to them and they can help.

Matthew 28:5,10,17 NIV

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

...

Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

...

When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

Doubt and Fear: the evidence is right in front of us, but we doubt. We know not to be afraid, but yet we fear.

It was true in Jesus’ time, too. Each of us has probably said, at one time or another, “If I lived in the time period of Christ, then I would definitely have greater faith. Why did people in that day doubt? They saw miracles and a resurrection and still had doubt!”

Chances are we would have been the same way. Doubt is a subtle tactic of the enemy everyone struggles with at some point in their life, even believers. I recall as a teenager, sitting in my parents’ kitchen discussing the Bible with my older sister and doubt crept in my mind from a comment made during our conversation. I always assumed my sister felt the same as I did as far as the validity of the Bible until we had that discussion. At one point, we got off topic and my sister abruptly said, “You don’t believe all of that is true do you?” I remember that moment as vividly as if it were yesterday because of the feeling in my stomach when she made that comment.

I had never questioned whether the Bible was true – I took it for truth at face value. Since she was my older sister, I actually found myself questioning the Bible at that moment, my heart sinking. Within a couple of minutes, however, something rose up inside of me and I said, “Yes! I do believe it.” Although I felt strongly about what I said, I was not easily able to dismiss the discussion and her words of doubt. Matthew 28:17 tells us that even disciples had doubt when Jesus stood right in front of them.

• Read I John 4:18 – a scripture about trusting in God. Rebuke the spirit of fear because it can take a hold of you.
• Pray daily for the Holy Spirit to give you boldness and ask God to put situations in front of you to challenge you.
• Read Ephesians 6:10-18. Do not dismiss the fact that we are in the world, although not of it. We need to understand that spiritual warfare is continually at hand causing doubt to be prevalent. Pray against the spirits that are attacking the body of Christ.

Matthew 28:1-10 NIV

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 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."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Most of us, at one time or another, struggle with being the light of Christ and allowing the light to shine through us due to our timidity or insecurity of our knowledge of God’s word. But Jesus doesn’t tell us to first memorize scripture, get our lives perfect and then go make disciples of all nations. He simply instructs us to go make disciples.

It’s easy to sit back and think it’s someone else’s job – the preacher, Sunday school teacher or other Christian leaders. However, we are to feel the love God has for His children and the burden He has for the lost – not count on others to reach them for Christ.

And most times, memorizing a bunch of scripture isn’t what is needed anyway. When an opportunity arises to reach an unbeliever or possibly a Christian who has doubts and doesn’t have the full knowledge of the Holy Spirit, we do best by living out the example of Christ to others rather than trying to debate scripture with them. People are more influenced by what we do than our head knowledge. And we must always be mindful of people’s experiences and background, not to mention ethnicity. We’re all wired to receive differently and we should individualize our conversation with each person we try to reach. Focus on listening to what someone says before being expressing your views. Listen first, then speak: giving thought to what you say can have great impact on a lost person.

• Quantity is not always quality and sometimes the less you say, the more you say. Remember that when you have discussions with those who are not Christ followers. You don’t want to overwhelm them with scripture and discourage them.
• Using scripture cards, write down good solid points of the Bible with focus on teachings of Jesus on living life. Be as simple and to the point as you can.
• Read John 3:11 about loving one another to prepare your heart to speak to others effectively.

Isaiah 54:10 NIV

Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,"
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

It hasn’t been long since the horrible tragedy in Japan. A devastating 9.0 earthquake followed with a tsunami, initial reports are thousands are dead and millions of lives affected. If this is not troubling enough, four nuclear power plants received damage and there is tremendous fear and uncertainty about exposure to radiation and the impact on lives.

Lives lost. Families separated. What were they doing when the ground shook and the seas trembled? Were they ready for that day? Had they said their last goodbyes? What if... what if today was my last day? Would the people I love know how much they mean to me; how much I have loved them and needed them?

Following these events, the country was at a standstill. My heart aches. I think about the elderly, small children, families. Everything gone, lives changed forever. What was once taken for granted for basic survival now is so precious... loved ones, food, water, electricity.

In our world, we see so much despair, pain. People trapped whether from storm debris and earthquakes or personal debris that can trap us. There is good, there is hope, there is light.

Throughout scripture, he prepares us in his word for troubled times whether earthquakes, tsunamis, illness, death, loss of job, divorce. Our world shakes, our lives tremble, things happen, but one thing is for sure... He loves us, wants us, and will always be there for us during troubled times.

• My prayer today is that you call on him, that you fully seek him, trust him and “let your light shine before all men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I have gone through some hardships during the past four years. After running a business for six years, a customer who owed me a lot of money declared bankruptcy. Talk about a tough time -- it was, indeed. However (yes, there is a however) despite this difficult time, God was and is good. Throughout scripture, he talks of storms in our lives. We all have them. If you haven’t had one yet, just wait because it will come. I can write this now only four years later: It was tough, but I am a much stronger Christian than I was prior to this crisis. I was baptized at 11 years of age, have always had a relationship with my heavenly father and have always loved him. But, the tough times in our lives draw us near to him, so we can fully know and trust him. It is easy for us as Christians to say we trust him... but doing it and living by these words is much more difficult.

He has a plan. Not always our plan, but his plan is much better and I can say this with personal experience. He has placed people in my life on purpose – like my mother and my husband. Now, my mother loves me because I am her youngest, the baby and I love her. She doesn’t live with me now, and bless her heart time has helped her forget just how difficult her baby can be. On the other hand we have my husband, who has lived with me and endured me for over 26 years. He is really the only person on this earth who could really ever love me for me. God knows this and gives him the goggles to blind him from all my imperfections. You see, I am loud sometimes. Obnoxious, over bearing: these are words that could be used to describe me. As much as I try, these traits become all too familiar when times get tough or I just merely get tired. His grace is sufficient.

He only gives us what we can handle. My thoughts and prayers turn to a dear friend of mine. Her mother lost her brother and mother six months ago. Her brother died from lung cancer on the same day her mother was buried. Talk about a hard time. Fast forward six months, now her husband has been diagnosed with lung cancer. This is the same cancer that took the life of her dear brother six months earlier. Yes, his grace is sufficient. He is there, working, building, behind the scenes. He is there with us always and yes, he is always sufficient.

My thoughts then turn to my husband’s grandmother. Ruby, or “Big Granny” was such a devout loving Christian woman all of her life. She had six children. Two of her children died shortly after birth. In 1977, they found her husband dead in a boat on the Kentucky River; he died of a heart attack. In 1998 and 1999, three of her children died all within a year. This woman was amazing. She loved the lord and trusted him with all of her heart. Yes, she grieved, but she knew the lord. He had always provided for her, and she spoke of the day when they would see each other again. At the age of 86, she was walking in town, tripped on the edge of a sidewalk as she carried groceries, hit her head and she died. A perfect woman who loved the lord with all of her might. His grace was sufficient.

He is perfect. We have hard times. But remember, His grace is sufficient. No matter what the situation. We can choose to trust him, grow in him and take what he has given us to become better stronger Christians or we can become bitter and angry. Life is short, praise him, turn to him, and give him your troubles and worries.

• He is good. My prayer for you today is that you will trust him, accept His perfect grace and “Let your light shine.”  

1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Up to this point in my life, my parents and siblings are all relatively healthy. I have two brothers and two sisters who are twins. We are all close in age, so my sisters growing up were my best friends. Today, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for them -- I do love them so much. Is our relationship perfect? No. Throughout the years there have been disagreements over many things, husbands, children, education. Sometimes harsh words have been said. Despite our differences, oh I do cherish and love them.

Twelve years ago this March, I woke up in the middle of the night from a dream. I told my husband I had a dream that one of “us girls” was sick, but I did not know which one. About a month later, I received a phone call from Karen, the oldest one (now she is only 5 minutes older... but she has worn that title all her life as being my oldest sister!) As she began to speak, my mind went numb. There must be some mistake, you don’t understand what they have said... you just have fibrous cyst. “No, Kathy, I have breast cancer,” were her words.

I immediately left and went to Virginia where she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. How could this happen? We had no family history of breast cancer. She had four young children ages 14 months, 2 ½, 5, and a 7 year old. It was such a shock, she had always done everything right, she had been healthy, had exercised, breast fed all her children. How could this happen?

She immediately had a mastectomy, started chemotherapy and prepared for a bone marrow transplant. During all of this, she continued to care for her four young children. Her five year old son who has hemophilia fell and broke his arm. Talk about a tough time. Not only was Karen going through chemotherapy, but she had to give her five year old clotting factor intravenously two times a day for two months. The prognosis for Karen was an 85 percent chance of five year survival with a bone stem cell transplant, and a 25 percent chance of survival with only chemotherapy.

In July, she and her four children moved in with my family and spent the next months preparing for her stem cell transplant. Things were scary. I cried, she cried. The uncertainties of the future weighed upon us. God is good. He held us, he sent angels that brought food, babysat and prayed for us. Acts of kindness, notes, prayers, and kind words...meant so much to us during these difficult times.

I quit my job at the local health department because I knew my sister and her children needed me. God provided. I had applied for a teaching assistant position a year earlier, they called and wanted me to work. I could work from home during the evening making the same pay! Yes, he is so faithful, so good.

Karen spent two months on the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. After the stem cell transplant, she endured 6 months of radiation.

Today she is healthy. Her children are now teenagers and young adults and do not remember a whole lot about what their dear mother endured, however she is alive. God is good, he heard and answered our prayers, and he loves each of us so dearly.

• My prayers for you... know that life is precious, some are called home it seems much too early... but he knows, he has a plan for each of us. Live each day, “Let your light shine.”

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

I know my children know how much I love them. But I will not always be here. There will be a day I will die. We all die. God has told us we will die, therefore by the grace of God, I know I will be in heaven one day. My intentions are not to scare them, but prepare them. My husband is not always comfortable when I speak about my impending death, but it is fact. We all will die.

Every weekday morning, I have a routine of taking two of my three children to school. We have three older children born when we were younger. I will write about that experience later.

Many mornings, in the midst of the morning rush, angry words are said. One morning in particular, Jess was crying. As we headed to school, I turned to her and said, “If this is the last time you were to see me, are these words you would want to say to me? Would you have any regrets?” Her tears turn to a soft smile; she apologized and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek. She knows I love her.

“One more thing, you know where I will be don’t you?” She smiles and responds, “Yes, I know where you will be.” You see, I dance in my dreams like a ballerina. My family knows this, they only laugh. I praise God -- dancing around like a ballerina. Now to know and see me, you would think this is funny because I cannot dance; I have no rhythm... let alone the grace of a ballerina. Yet, I know where I will be and my children know where they will find me. Yes, she says, “I know, you will be with the dancers, in the dancer section.” She rolls her eyes and shuts the door.

I want my children to understand life is short; none of us knows when our final day will be. So live your life to the fullest. Live each day like it was your last day, speak words like they are your last and dance.

• What about you? It’s not too late to start.
• My prayer for you today, live each day with no regrets, do not be troubled for our father has it all under control. As we say goodbye...“let your light shine”. 

Matthew 5:17

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Every weekday morning, I have a routine of taking my children to school. The elementary and middle school have different start times, so I take my 5th grade daughter first while my middle school age son gets ready, and then I race frantically to pick him up and take him to school.

To put it mildly, mornings are hectic; however, I cherish these times as it gives me time to talk with each of them one on one about the upcoming day. It is our time, a final preparation for their day in this sometimes tough world around us. We talk about situations that may occur, what God has commanded of us, but most important, I want them to know how much I love them. Oh, how I want them to know, that not only do I love them, but they have a creator, our father, our God...that loves them much more than I do. As a mother, that is such a great feeling. I know and trust that my heavenly father, who loves me so much that he sent his son for me, will always be there to take care of my children.

One particular morning, on our way to school, I was talking to a friend who called to talk for a moment. I reluctantly took the phone call, knowing that I was about to say goodbye until that afternoon, such a precious time to me. The drive each morning is frantic and quick. Despite preparations, we are usually running late. As I was talking to my friend, my daughter quickly grabbed her backpack, threw her half eaten granola bar in the car seat, I yelled my usual “Love you, remember to let your light shine.”

My friend laughed and said, “What did you say?” I told her, “You know...let your light shine. I say it every morning. I have been saying those words for years.” Those are my final words to my children each day. I want them to know that in all circumstances, that we are called to shine, to radiate, to be the light in this world.”

• My prayer for you today, Shine... Shine. Live like today is your last day, says words and treat others like you may not other see them again. Let the light shine in you! 

Matthew 27:27-31 NIV

Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

John 15:19-21 NIV

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.'t If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.

I don't want to be here today. I don't want to see this. But maybe I need to. There are no accidental Scriptures. There was a reason we were brought in on the baptism of Christ...so that we would know to follow in obedience. There was a reason we were allowed to enter into Zacheus house...so that we would learn to love the unlovable as Jesus did. And even in these few verses, there is a reason we are placed inside this circle of soldiers, watching Jesus take every blow.

I remember taking a short cut through the thicket of trees behind our house when I was a little girl--the briars scratching at my legs and the thorns sticking me as they ripped my skin. Yet this is the makings of the crown for my Jesus? And Jesus' response? No defiance. No contempt. Jesus allowed himself to be humiliated. The beating was not just physical but mental. I watch in disbelief as all the soldiers seem to have bought into the verdict of the world and blindly beat an innocent man. Each soldier caught up in the smell of blood, like wolves ready to pounce on a deer...actually a lamb.

Why do I have to watch this? Jesus allowed himself to be captured and tortured for God's plan.

Honestly, for God's plan to be fulfilled and for our sins to be redeemed this little caveat of cruelty is not necessary for salvation.

Yet, it is necessary for living like Christ. The Christian has to see that Christ did not lash back when he was treated so horribly by the world. Living like Christ means being humiliated if necessary... it means taking the beating but continuing to walk the narrow road. It means living a life that may so infuriate people that they will rally all those in their grips to come against me. As our character becomes more like that of Christ, we will stand out more in this world. And yes, we will be persecuted. But just as John 15:19-21 is true so, too, is 2 Corinthians 1:5 "For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ." Now that's what I'm talking about—the abundant comfort of Christ! That's a promise I can count on.

• How is your walk today? Have you felt beat up for Christ? Did you thank Him for it?
• When was the last time you got tagged for being a "Jesus" freak? The beatings will continue...are you ready? 

Matthew 27:11-26 NIV

Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
"You have said so," Jesus replied.

When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

Now it was the governor's custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesust Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?" For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.

While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."

But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

"Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor.
"Barabbas," they answered.

"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" Pilate asked.
They all answered, "Crucify him!"

"Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"

When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"

All the people answered, "His blood is on us and on our children!"

Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

What a mess this has been! The Sanhedrin has had to backtrack a bit in Matthew 27. They had to retry in the morning because they knew they were in the wrong for the trial in the middle of the night. Now having legally convicted Jesus they are left with a big problem—they have no authority to kill him! As I step into this story once again, I am shaken as I see my Savior being paraded to another court. He has been beaten. His clothes are soiled. Lines of exhaustion are pronounced on his face. Yet, my Savior's eyes show obedience not to the courts of man, but to the Will of God the Father. I watch the crowd begin to follow this spectacle of hypocrites parading my Jesus to Pilate.

It is early in the morning. Life for Pilate has been interrupted. Pilate steps out to the porch to handle the Jews. A bit of irony: The reason the Jews won't go inside Pilate's home is because of the heathen's practice of burying aborted babies on site ; yet the Jewish leaders are trying to murder an innocent man. As I watch this in horror, Pilate questions Jesus and Jesus replies that's what you said. John 18:28-38 is what this verse is referring to. When Jesus says you have said so, he's referring to the fact that he's already been drug to Herod's court and back to Pilate's court—Pilate knows the answer to his own question. From that point on, Jesus remains silent. My heart is aching--my Savior is truly the Lamb of God being taken for slaughter. And, I am doing nothing as I watch this unfold. Pilate turns on the people to make the decision and he proposes the most preposterous thing—to release Barabbas, a notorious criminal, or to release Jesus, the innocent. The cries become deafening as the Jewish leaders insight the crowd to scream "Barabbas." And even before they yell "Crucify" you can see the story of redemption unfold for me and you.

Barabbas was substituted for my precious Lord. Barabbas heaped with sin is exchanged for Jesus the innocent. The lump grows in my throat as the crowds get louder and that big ugly sin-draped Barabbas begins to look a lot like me. I'm Barabbas. Jesus was substituted for me.

• He was your substitute too. The sin that is dominating your life has been shattered by Christ. Are you living worthy of your substitute?
• Am I basically yelling, "Crucify him!" every time I sin – knowing he died for my sins? Thank God today for the love and grace He has given in forgiving you every sin you have ever committed or will ever commit.

Matthew 27:1-10 NIV

Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.

"I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood."
"What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility."

So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

The chief priests picked up the coins and said, "It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money." So they decided to use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me."

Walking where Jesus walked those final days is beginning to take its toll on me. How about you? Did you survive Peter's denial? We have a great view in seeing these folks in three dimension because we have been given the power to skip ahead. We know how the story ends for Peter—he had an amazing ministry. But, then we come to the Scripture for today... Judas' denial.

As I read, I become a witness to despair and a man who never knew Jesus though he walked with him daily. Judas and Peter were alike. They both denied Jesus. Judas denied Christ with a kiss and Peter's denial was with apathy and words. Judas brought the bullies to Jesus. Peter watched them beat him up. Both men were repentant, too. And that is where the similarities stop. Peter wept bitterly and we assume connected with his Father in heaven. But Judas connected to something else—Judas ashamed at what he did, confessed himself before the law. He went to the very folks who had hired him—the priests. He confessed his sins to the priests and they offered no comfort or even responsibility for the life of Judas. They denied him forgiveness and so Judas punished himself.

Judas, I wish I could have known you. Judas, please don't take this into your own hands. Judas, you are so thick headed! You weep because you know you have done wrong but you won't let Jesus fix this! Yes, under the law the punishment for sin is death but don't you remember what Jesus said—he has come to bring you abundant life. He can forgive your sin. He is there to help you.

All of a sudden, being in the middle of this story, it's not about the hanging. It's about being hung up. There are folks in your family, your school, your work, your drugstore...that know they sin, yet they are hung up over what to do about it.

• Maybe you are hung up too? You keep running to different churches, throwing your dirty coins at the feet of anyone who will listen all the while the only one who can get you clean is Jesus. Don't be Judas. You can't church hop, preacher shop, or use a potion to make Satan stop—like fools we carryon but only Christ can make our sins gone! Untie the noose around your neck, and send Satan back where he belongs!
• Look over your routine today: does it reflect someone who is hung up or someone whose sins have been washed away?  

Matthew 26:69-74 NIV

Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said.

But he denied it before them all. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said.

Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth."

He denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the man!"

After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away."

Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!"
Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Living out Matthew 26 in 3D is physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. Putting yourself in the shoes of the followers of Christ, except for the catnap you took while Jesus was praying in the garden, you really haven't slept much. The Supper in the upper room has turned into a nightmare. Standing outside the courtyard with the guards and Peter, I hear the Sanhedrin getting louder with shouts of anger towards Jesus. The sound of him being beaten is deafening. Peter is visibly shaken. I keep waiting for him to run in with his sword and start cutting the priests like a Ginza chef, but he isn't moving. He is trying to become invisible.

Peter is approached by a girl. Honestly, I barely even noticed her. She is just a servant. I'm not sure if she's approaching Peter to beg him to help Jesus or just tell her more about him but when she asks him if he knows Jesus—Peter pleads ignorance about the entire thing. Peter heads for the gate where he is asked by another servant girl if he knows Jesus. Peter again runs away from answering. As Peter stands at the gateway of the courtyard, the crowd figures out that this strange fisherman must be a Galilean. Once again, Peter denies his connection to Jesus and actually curses himself for lying. On cue, the rooster crows... Peter runs out devastated at what he has done. I'm so mad at Peter. What a complete loser! He has no trouble jumping out and walking on water but when the rubber meets the road—he puddles!

I would NEVER do that to Jesus! Well actually, I don't have time to deny him out right because I'm so holy. You see, I have to downplay how big Jesus really is inside of me so folks will feel comfortable. I make Him small and insignificant. I deny Him control of me. I deny Him authority. I deny Him to use me as a testimony. I just deny him a little.

• So how do we respond when we deny Christ? Just like Peter. I failed to mention that Peter was overwhelmed with sorrow by what he had done. As you watch Peter, he does repent and actually becomes the man of Christ always saw in him. Peter does lead others to Christ.
• We can do the same. If you have denied Christ, go make it right—today. 

Matthew 26:57-67 NIV

Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.

But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally two came forward and declared, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'"

Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?"

But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God."

"You have said so," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.

What do you think?"
"He is worthy of death," they answered.

Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, "Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?"

Our time in 3D this week begins with Jesus standing before the Sanhedrin. Before today, I had always thought of this as a formal trial. But now, as I look around me, I see a bunch of bullies—caught a bit off guard at the sight of Jesus. They are totally unprepared for this make-shift trial. It appears to be completely illegal—held under cover of darkness-- not normal Jewish protocol. As Jesus is seated before the Sanhedrin – it's taking forever. They are trying to find something he's done wrong. Jesus is just sitting there quiet. Liars begin to state untruths about Jesus: such fabrications the priests themselves do not act until Jesus is charged of saying he is going to destroy and rebuild the temple. Jesus doesn't answer and the enraged high priest commands him to say he is the Messiah. Jesus then describes the true judgment scene—only this time He will be the one seated and they the ones condemned. He is at the right hand of God. And at that, Jesus seals His fate as the Sanhedrin hear Jesus say He is equal in authority and power to God!

Uncontrollable outrage! This illegal court becomes a den of wolves as they lash out at Jesus. I see this happening and wonder why isn't he clearing this place out? He is letting them spit on him. He is letting them beat him. His disciples especially Peter are cowering in the courtyard--trying to blend in. Why don't they come to His rescue? Doesn't anyone see what is happening to Jesus? How can they just let this go on? My ears are ringing as the tears roll down my cheeks. Nobody comes to help my Jesus. I don't get it.

This isn't the only time I've seen Jesus treated this way. I've seen His authority and sovereignty debated during election time as candidates use Him to get in to office or to keep someone out. His name has been spit upon by the networks, the movie industry, radio jockeys, and sports stars for years— People are still bullying Jesus.

• So where are we in this? Are we bullies, ourselves? Or are we apathetic...just sitting there while he is mocked with not even enough backbone to change the channel on our TVs?
• WE don't need 3D glasses to see Jesus spit upon and beat down everyday—really, what are you doing about it?