Easter
Monday— …the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?” Luke 24:5
-A junkie stares vacantly into space. His words are slurred but unmistakable: “This is livin’, man. Nobody tells me what to do.”
-A coed staggers from the frat house and the door slams shut. Her clothes are ripped and her body hurts in places it’s never hurt before. She straightens her torn skirt and slaps tears from her cheeks. “I only wanted to have fun,” she whispers.
-A man slumps at his desk and winces at the time. 2 am. Another 90-hour week. His wife is complaining and he barely sees his kids, but his stock has never looked so good. Money is the mistress he chose, so why does he feel so dead inside?
Our natural inclination is to look for the living among the dead. Jesus’ friends came to the graveyard looking for a dead body Instead, they discovered a living Savior, the Son of God, the Life-giver who could not be confined to a tomb. They ignored His words about rising from the dead, and sought Him in all the wrong places. We do that too. We’re so sure we know what we need that we ignore God’s warnings that we’re looking in the wrong places. Instead, we try to find life among the world’s corpses and end up with broken hearts, broken dreams, and broken lives. Addiction, immorality, and greed are indicators that we’re looking for the living among the dead. Easter promises hope and life for anyone willing to leave the graveyard.
Challenge: In what ways have you been looking for the living among the dead?
Prayer: Lord, this has been me. I’ve chased a thousand dead ends trying to find life. When your Son rose from the dead, He paid my ticket to life and freedom. Forgive me for thinking He’s not enough. I want your living hope. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Tuesday— “He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee.” Luke 24:6
You forgot! You should have remembered because it was important. Now you’re kicking yourself because it all makes sense, but it’s too late. You wouldn’t have suffered a million agonies if you’d only remembered. That’s the way Jesus’ friends felt when the angel gave them a look: “Remember what He told you…” Duh! Of course Jesus wasn’t in the tomb! He’d spelled it out in capital letters a half-dozen times. He’d done everything except draw them pictures. Why hadn’t they caught on? Why hadn’t they believed Him? Remembering Jesus’ words would have saved them days of unparalleled grief.
Remembering Jesus’ words would also save us a lot of grief. He wrote an entire Book so we wouldn’t forget, but we’re too busy to read it. We think we already know what’s in it. So motivational memes replace a thorough study of God’s word, and then we wonder why we’re having trouble living godly lives. We’re like those first disciples who dashed to the tomb, expecting to find the body of Jesus. We dash to the bar, the casino, or the TV expecting to find answers there, but all we get are Satan’s counterfeits. God has provided detailed written instructions for living fruitful, joy-filled lives. His promises are written down, His guidance never outdated. But if all you can manage are the Cliffs Notes, remember this: Jesus is alive. He loves you. He offers forgiveness, heaven, and purpose on earth if you will follow Him. He’s everything you need. Don’t forget.
Challenge: What do you need to remember that Jesus told you?
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for rising from the dead so I can follow a living Leader. Thank you for writing down what you want me to know. Help me to learn your word and obey it so that I will remember your promises when life gets tough. Amen.
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Wednesday— But the whole crowd shouted, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" Luke 23:1
How quickly things change. Weren’t these the same people who had been shouting “Hosanna!” a few verses back? Some of their cloaks still showed hoofprints from where Jesus’ donkey walked on them. But at some point, they exchanged palm branches for clubs, adoration for anger. He wasn’t the Messiah they expected. What kind of Messiah lets Himself be arrested and sentenced to die? Had He committed blasphemy? Caused riots? What a fraud! They’d hoped for a King but got a criminal. It would be better for that murdering Barabbas to be released than this Man who had dashed their hopes. Disillusionment is a powerful motivator. Those who once considered themselves His followers became His jury. Sounds kinda like us.
Maybe there was a time when you welcomed Jesus as your King. Your eyes were opened to Who He was and what He had done for you. But your worship came with expectations He did not meet, just like those first century Jews: “Give us Barabbas!” they cried. “Give us health, wealth, and happiness!” we cry and it doesn’t happen. Maybe you assumed the Christian life would be easier, but when it got worse, you got angry. “Forget it,” you thought. “I’ll make myself happy the way I want to.” Like that crowd, we choose our expectations over a God who disappointed us. So we slam the Bible, disconnect from God, and join the Jews in choosing Barabbas. Before we judge the traitorous mob too harshly, maybe we should take a long look in the mirror.
Challenge: Ask the Lord to show you in what ways you may have joined the crowd in choosing Barabbas.
Prayer: Lord, I’d like to think I’m different from the ones who betrayed you, but my choices of the past tell a different story. I’ve gotten angry at you and chosen the world instead. Please forgive me and restore my soul. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Thursday— …you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked... Ephesians 2:1-2
“Hey, can you help me a minute?” called Mr. Branch, the funeral director. “I’m trying to get Mrs. Watkins to volunteer with the Salvation Army this afternoon and she’s not cooperating. Being rather stiff about it.” His assistant raised a brow. “Uh, boss? Mrs. Watkins is…um, dead. She died two days ago. That’s why she’s here. Are you okay?” Mr. Branch frowned at his “client” and dropped the body back onto the table. “Hm. Guess that would explain her resistance. In fact, that explains all of them. Couldn’t get a one to sign the charity pledge or come to Volunteer Day. Yeah, maybe I should go back on my meds.”
As ridiculous as that sounds, we try to do what Mr. Branch did. The Bible says before we surrender to the lordship of Jesus, we are DEAD! It’s no use trying to get our sinful flesh to act “Christian.” As soon as we relax our efforts, our self-worshiping heart goes back to its old ways. We can drag it to church, teach it Bible verses, and fool a few people, but without the power of the Holy Spirit, we’re wasting our efforts. A dead body cannot kiss babies or rescue kittens. It’s dead. And our sinful flesh cannot please God, no matter how nicely we clean it up (Rom. 8:5-8). Only Jesus can make us right with God. He did not die on the cross to make bad people good, but to make dead people alive. When we die to our old selves, He makes us alive in Him.
Challenge: Are you dead or alive?
Prayer: Lord, I’ve learned how impossible it is to please you in myself. My selfish flesh wants what it wants and I pretend you’re okay with that. Please forgive me because of Jesus. I surrender. Make me alive in you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Friday— Such were some of you; but you were washed…sanctified…justified in the name of the Lord... 1 Corinthians 6:11
This verse contains the biggest BUT in the Bible. Paul has just taken our inventory, listing sins and identities that keep us out of the kingdom of God. Back up a couple of verses and read the list. The bad news is that we’ve all been on the list. How many titles still define you: “…sexually immoral, adulterers, homosexuals, drunkards, thieves…?” It’s a painfully thorough list that smears us with ugly stains. Cleaning up our acts, turning over a new leaf, doing religious activities, or trying to let the good outweigh the bad—-nothing gets our names off the list. And because God is outside of time, every sin we’ve ever committed clings to us like a noxious cloud, like dog doo-doo on the bottom of a shoe. God hates the stench.
Then comes the good news—there is a BUT! When Jesus rose from the dead, He put the BUT in that verse. He came to this earth, lived the life we should have lived, pleased God in every way, and then offered Himself as payment for the debt we owe God. On the cross, He became everything on the list (2 Cor. 5:21; Col. 2:14). As the Son of God hung suspended between heaven and earth, God poured out on Him all the righteous wrath He has against our sin. Now He offers to tear up the list for anyone who will surrender to His lordship. When we bow at the cross, Jesus’ blood erases the stains of our past. Once cleansed, God dresses us in Jesus’ righteousness and the stench is gone. We don’t have to stay on the bad list. There is a BUT.
Challenge: On which side of the list are you?
Prayer: Lord, I should be on the bad side of the list. Thank you for that BUT. Thank you that because of Jesus I can be forgiven. It’s more than believing it. I surrender myself to loving you and obeying you from now on. In His name, amen.
