Good Morning Friends,
Yesterday was the last day of Lent, a day Jesus rested in the tomb and it was a good day to reflect on the light and darkness of life. And since everyone dies, it was also a good day to think about what happens in the process of our death…through the eyes of Mary, the mother of God and the disciples too, but especially through the eyes of our love of Jesus and Jesus’ love of us. Yesterday was not the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, but we could, for we do not have to crucify and resurrect him every year. Once was enough, yet the memories linger. And so too the scriptures of the day, and its meaning is rather far reaching beyond any specific time including Easter. They hopefully prompt a question related to us being dead to sin and alive to God resurrected to new life even now. So, Are We Trusting The Love Of Jesus To Roll The Tomb Stone Away From Our Eyes?
Scripture: Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:3-11 (NRSV)
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.”
Mark 16:1-7 (NRSV)
Message: I do hope you realize that it is the power of God that moves the stone away for us at the same time it lays the foundation of our faith and opens heaven’s door for us to glimpse the hope of the resurrection in us. Here is the keystone of Christianity. And the stone has a story for stones in the Bible do share a message. For this is the stone that shouts out that Jesus is the Messiah who came so we might have life in abundance. The beauty is that we have been redeemed by God’s power not our own and as a result can live in a different way. We can live abundantly. The key to Christian living here is found in our union with Christ, both in His death and in His resurrection and the stone being rolled away opens the door. We are not to be shut in. We are to be set free. What we are, and whose we are, gives us a freedom in life and in death. And in this there is something about death and resurrection that cuts through all the externals. Thankfully, Jesus has discharged our debt and opened the gates of the grave so that nothing will shut us in. For this reminds us of what is important. Friends, the only things that matters when we die is whether we believe Jesus died on the cross for us and whether with all our hearts, we believe that Jesus was resurrected for us. Friends, we are to place our hope in Christ. Here death is vanquished, and Satan defeated. The power that rolled the stone away…the power by which Jesus overcame death, he lends to us in the Holy Spirit. Do not let sorrow dim your eyes. Awaken this power inside you. Let no fears trouble your spirit for we, in union with Christ, can conquer as Christ has conquered.
And So, here is the thing. This same Spirit that moved on the waters at creation and at Jesus’ baptism, the same Spirit of willingness that moved Mary at Jesus’ conception is the same Spirit that moved people to believe at Pentecost and the very same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. And friends, this Spirit dwells in each of us and can prompt us to act as a means of glorifying God if we are willing to share our experiences. At some point we figure out that events are not as random as we might believe. It is then, only as the events in our lives connect, do we discover the real pattern, the real purpose. Hopefully, the light comes on so our time here for glorifying God is not wasted. So, let the Spirit of light shine forth hope, love, and joy in your life. Share the love when the Spirit moves you in a way that witnesses the resurrection Spirit in us in a way that teaches us to be human in a better way as we live and love into a new life of abundance. Friends, we are to allow Jesus to roll the tomb stone away from our eyes.
Pray that Jesus’ resurrection is in us helping us to we take the long view, preserving joy even in an honest conversation about death. Pray
we realize that it is the nature of the Spirit of Jesus to bring things to life and healing especially when we share in meeting the needs of others. Pray therefor we are not afraid to pray for those who are anxious and in great need. Pray we call on the Spirit of resurrection to bring new meaning in their life out of the challenges of life. Pray we engage a path of participation by bearing witness to the needs of others. Pray we take steps to renew our own energy and hope in the Spirit of God. Pray we learn from Jesus and the Spirit, to trust God for our health, and as a sign of trust, to not fear the past nor dread the future, but to think clearly and with wisdom. Pray we see spiritual energies flowing in our healthy relationships that manifest themselves as indications of God’s continuing work in the world. Pray we believe in the power of the Spirit to transform people. Pray we realize that we have the same Spirit inside each of us that Jesus had inside of him when he was resurrected. Pray we realize that God is not so much concerned about our ability or our inability but mostly about our availability. Pray we realize that we have something to share that is of great value and the more we share it the more we have of it. Pray we share the joy of life in abundance. Pray we listen to the Holy Spirit. Pray we rest in God’s love. Pray we trust Jesus more. Pray we glorify God more. Pray we uphold the mysteries of a resurrection faith so more might share in the life abundant. Pray we share a love that never ends.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 