John 14:2-3
There are many homes up there where my
Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When
everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can
always be with me where I am. If this weren’t so, I would tell you
plainly.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
This morning, I substituted
for the teacher in the pre-K Sunday school class at our church. Eleven
three- and 4-year-olds arrived in their Easter finery to hear this
weeks’ Bible lesson. Our scripture verse was part of John 14:2…”I go to
prepare a home for you.”[paraphrased for the little ones] The
teacher’s guide instructed us to discuss the crucifixion and the
resurrection and burial of Jesus. Our art project was to color a
picture of a tomb/cave…and attach a “stone” with a little brass “brad”,
so that the stone could be “rolled away.”
The hole in the cave –
or “portal”, as one 4-year-old described it – contained the words, “He
is risen.” This was a fairly heavy lesson for this age group, but some
of the older children had a decent grasp of the story and helped to
guide the conversation. And as I talked with Timothy, Zola and Nathan
at lunch and thought about what they gleaned from their morning Sunday
school classes, I asked myself…”What is the “take-away” for ALL of us on
this Easter Sunday?”
The people who developed our church’s
Sunday school curriculum seemed to want us to remember two things:
1)“Jesus Christ is risen”; and 2) He has gone to prepare a home for us –
with Him – in Heaven. The children and I talked about how glorious
heaven with Jesus will be. During our lunch, Timothy expressed concern
about dying and going to heaven, and I assured him that it will be
wonderful – that we will have a mansion to live in with Jesus, and all
sorts of amazing things await us.
I told Timothy that we don’t
know what all will be in heaven, but we might even have swimming pools,
trampolines and skating rinks. He instantly replied, “Man, I bet those
dogs and Mam-ma are having a GOOD time!” He was referring to my mom and
sister’s dogs who both died within the last year…and my grandmother who
left this earth two years ago. In his five-year-old thinking, Timothy
instantly connected with the only breathing beings he knew who had
died. And he pictured them in heaven with Jesus…”having a GOOD time.”
He had trouble understanding why we cannot see Jesus if He is indeed
alive. I told him that Jesus lives in our hearts, and we can feel Him
with us each and every day…and he clutched his heart and said, “He’s
right here!”
So today, as we celebrate how Christ rose from the
grave…how He lives in our hearts and is preparing amazing rooms and
mansions for us where we will live with Him for all eternity…let us be
joyful. We should each picture Jesus and those loved ones who gave
their hearts to Him and have gone to heaven ahead of us “having a GOOD
time.” We must desire to live in such a way that we will be ready to
join them when our “room” is ready!
The tomb was empty…the “portal” was open and angels had rolled away a stone so heavy that even Superman or Iron Man could not have
moved it singlehandedly! Only Jesus – or one of God’s angels – could
do such a thing! He suffered and died because He loves us…He rose
because a mere grave for mortal men cannot hold Him…and He rose to
heaven to live with God and prepare a place for us. It’s a lot to take
in…almost too much to consider…but such an incredible message for each
of us.
I’ve heard other people say this, but the longer I live,
the sweeter the thoughts of heaven become…and the more I appreciate what
Jesus did so that I can live there someday. Easter Sunday is a time to
celebrate…and shout…and praise God for His amazing gift of Jesus. He
is risen! Jesus is preparing a permanent home for those who give their
hearts to Him and invite Him into their hearts. I am one of them…are
you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label Easter Sunday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easter Sunday. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for March 29, 2015
Luke 19:35-44
They brought the colt to Jesus. Then, throwing their coats on its back, they helped Jesus get on. As he rode, the people gave him a grand welcome, throwing their coats on the street.
Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed:
Blessed is he who comes,
the king in God’s name!
All’s well in heaven!
Glory in the high places!
Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, get your disciples under control!”
But he said, “If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise.”
When the city came into view, he wept over it. “If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it’s too late. In the days ahead your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They’ll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn’t recognize and welcome God’s personal visit.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
What a difference one week can make! In the course of seven days, Jesus was heralded as a hero, arrested, interrogated, beaten to a pulp, crucified…and He rose from the grave. Now that’s a week!
Our pastor likes to say that “you cannot travel from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday without considering the cross.” And he is correct! But you also cannot safely and successfully travel a single step of many of “life’s journeys” unless you “recognize and welcome God’s personal visit”. Trials, physical abuse and executions were common in Jesus’ day. Believe me…the mere mortals who were convicted and crucified did not rise from the dead! And many of those who were so eager and anxious to laud Jesus as the Messiah on one Sunday were nowhere to be found by “Good Friday”.
Ours is not a solitary journey. We cannot base our faith on one happy day…or one devastating experience. We must embrace life as a whole...and trust God in every minute of it. We must “recognize and welcome God’s personal visit” in each and every aspect of our life…”the good, the bad, and the ugly”…and believe that He will lead us “from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday” - and see us through what lies in between.
As difficult as life seems some days, it can never compare to what Jesus endured for us on the cross. How can we ignore the One who did so much for us - for even one minute? Isn’t it time we welcomed God to reign in our lives and dwell in our hearts…each and every minute of the day? Will this be the Palm Sunday that you herald His presence…and give Him a permanent “home”?
©2015 Debbie Robus
They brought the colt to Jesus. Then, throwing their coats on its back, they helped Jesus get on. As he rode, the people gave him a grand welcome, throwing their coats on the street.
Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed:
Blessed is he who comes,
the king in God’s name!
All’s well in heaven!
Glory in the high places!
Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, get your disciples under control!”
But he said, “If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise.”
When the city came into view, he wept over it. “If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it’s too late. In the days ahead your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They’ll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn’t recognize and welcome God’s personal visit.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
What a difference one week can make! In the course of seven days, Jesus was heralded as a hero, arrested, interrogated, beaten to a pulp, crucified…and He rose from the grave. Now that’s a week!
Our pastor likes to say that “you cannot travel from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday without considering the cross.” And he is correct! But you also cannot safely and successfully travel a single step of many of “life’s journeys” unless you “recognize and welcome God’s personal visit”. Trials, physical abuse and executions were common in Jesus’ day. Believe me…the mere mortals who were convicted and crucified did not rise from the dead! And many of those who were so eager and anxious to laud Jesus as the Messiah on one Sunday were nowhere to be found by “Good Friday”.
Ours is not a solitary journey. We cannot base our faith on one happy day…or one devastating experience. We must embrace life as a whole...and trust God in every minute of it. We must “recognize and welcome God’s personal visit” in each and every aspect of our life…”the good, the bad, and the ugly”…and believe that He will lead us “from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday” - and see us through what lies in between.
As difficult as life seems some days, it can never compare to what Jesus endured for us on the cross. How can we ignore the One who did so much for us - for even one minute? Isn’t it time we welcomed God to reign in our lives and dwell in our hearts…each and every minute of the day? Will this be the Palm Sunday that you herald His presence…and give Him a permanent “home”?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 20, 2014
Matthew 28:1-10
The Sabbath was over, and it was almost daybreak on Sunday when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. Suddenly a strong earthquake struck, and the Lord’s angel came down from heaven. He rolled away the stone and sat on it. The angel looked as bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards shook from fear and fell down, as though they were dead.
The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross. He isn’t here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would. Come, see the place where his body was lying. Now hurry! Tell his disciples that he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee. Go there, and you will see him. That is what I came to tell you.”
The women were frightened and yet very happy, as they hurried from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and greeted them. They went near him, held on to his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid! Tell my followers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
It almost never fails. When we go to see our nieces and nephews, Timothy and Zola run to us and cling to our legs. They are always delighted to see us…and they hold on as if to say, “I’m never going to let you go!” And honestly, there are several people who I would probably cling to if they came back from the dead…wouldn’t you?! So it’s no surprise that Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ Aunt Mary did this. They had suffered so much…they were so grief stricken…and all of a sudden, an angel had told them that He was alive – and then they SAW Him standing in the roadway. I would imagine that they were struck speechless…there was probably little else they could do but run to Him and fall on His feet! And I am quite certain they never, ever wanted to let go of Him again.
I honestly don’t think we fully grasp the concept of death…until someone is truly gone and does not come back. Even when we sit and hold vigil with a loved one who is critically ill…someone we have been told cannot possibly recover medically…we don’t fully comprehend the finality of death until the very moment they draw their last breath. In my own personal experiences, I have been so happy for the person who was ushered into heaven at that very moment…but the enormity of just how final death truly is has hit me like a ton of bricks.
So when someone says to you, “You’re never ready”…this is what they mean. No one can prepare for that moment when the angels of death come, Heaven’s gates open, and a person’s soul departs from his/her body. And here’s the thing…the only One who will ever return from this is Jesus, which makes His story all the more precious! Jesus is the only “human” the grave cannot hold. Jesus is the only One who is bigger and more powerful than death. And I am here to tell you, Jesus is ALIVE! He is walks among those of us who believe in Him each and every day!
The words of Jesus to Mary Magdalene and the “other Mary” are just as powerful for us now…”Don’t be afraid.” Because of Jesus, we have no need to fear. Because of His crucifixion and death on the cross, our sins are forgiven. All we have to do is ask Him to include us…just like the thief who hung beside him…and it will be so forever and ever. Because the tomb is empty, we are assured of our place in Heaven with Christ someday…when God sends His angels for us. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we are promised new life in Him…and an eternity in His presence.
It’s been quite a week…from the jubilation and triumph of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem…to the “Last Supper” and the arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane…to Christ’s mutilation, crucifixion, and death…and now His resurrection. And this truly IS the BEST day…we have received the GOOD NEWS that He is Risen!
We will celebrate Jesus today. We will dress up and attend worship services and sing His praises. And then many of us will go right back to our old lives on Monday…if not as soon as Sunday afternoon. Don’t let this happen to you. Don’t forget what happened on “Holy Week” so long ago. Remember every minute of it…savor every single thing Jesus did for you…and for me…and for all who will believe in Him. Thank Him each and every day for the incredible sacrifices He made…for loving us with such abandon. And never – NEVER – forget that He is RISEN…the devil could not tempt Him…the tomb could not hold Him…and we WILL see Him again.
There is an old hymn, written in 1875 by Philip P. Bliss, called “Hallelujah, What a Savior”…or sometimes it is referred to as “Man of Sorrows.” In the hymn, the story of Holy Week is outlined…but the last line of each verse is…”Hallelujah, What a Savior!” Please take time to read this hymn. Think about the words and what they mean to you. Christ is Risen! He will come again for you…and for me. Hallelujah! What a Savior we serve! What a glorious day this is! Have a blessed Easter!
The Sabbath was over, and it was almost daybreak on Sunday when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. Suddenly a strong earthquake struck, and the Lord’s angel came down from heaven. He rolled away the stone and sat on it. The angel looked as bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards shook from fear and fell down, as though they were dead.
The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross. He isn’t here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would. Come, see the place where his body was lying. Now hurry! Tell his disciples that he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee. Go there, and you will see him. That is what I came to tell you.”
The women were frightened and yet very happy, as they hurried from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and greeted them. They went near him, held on to his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid! Tell my followers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
It almost never fails. When we go to see our nieces and nephews, Timothy and Zola run to us and cling to our legs. They are always delighted to see us…and they hold on as if to say, “I’m never going to let you go!” And honestly, there are several people who I would probably cling to if they came back from the dead…wouldn’t you?! So it’s no surprise that Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ Aunt Mary did this. They had suffered so much…they were so grief stricken…and all of a sudden, an angel had told them that He was alive – and then they SAW Him standing in the roadway. I would imagine that they were struck speechless…there was probably little else they could do but run to Him and fall on His feet! And I am quite certain they never, ever wanted to let go of Him again.
I honestly don’t think we fully grasp the concept of death…until someone is truly gone and does not come back. Even when we sit and hold vigil with a loved one who is critically ill…someone we have been told cannot possibly recover medically…we don’t fully comprehend the finality of death until the very moment they draw their last breath. In my own personal experiences, I have been so happy for the person who was ushered into heaven at that very moment…but the enormity of just how final death truly is has hit me like a ton of bricks.
So when someone says to you, “You’re never ready”…this is what they mean. No one can prepare for that moment when the angels of death come, Heaven’s gates open, and a person’s soul departs from his/her body. And here’s the thing…the only One who will ever return from this is Jesus, which makes His story all the more precious! Jesus is the only “human” the grave cannot hold. Jesus is the only One who is bigger and more powerful than death. And I am here to tell you, Jesus is ALIVE! He is walks among those of us who believe in Him each and every day!
The words of Jesus to Mary Magdalene and the “other Mary” are just as powerful for us now…”Don’t be afraid.” Because of Jesus, we have no need to fear. Because of His crucifixion and death on the cross, our sins are forgiven. All we have to do is ask Him to include us…just like the thief who hung beside him…and it will be so forever and ever. Because the tomb is empty, we are assured of our place in Heaven with Christ someday…when God sends His angels for us. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we are promised new life in Him…and an eternity in His presence.
It’s been quite a week…from the jubilation and triumph of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem…to the “Last Supper” and the arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane…to Christ’s mutilation, crucifixion, and death…and now His resurrection. And this truly IS the BEST day…we have received the GOOD NEWS that He is Risen!
We will celebrate Jesus today. We will dress up and attend worship services and sing His praises. And then many of us will go right back to our old lives on Monday…if not as soon as Sunday afternoon. Don’t let this happen to you. Don’t forget what happened on “Holy Week” so long ago. Remember every minute of it…savor every single thing Jesus did for you…and for me…and for all who will believe in Him. Thank Him each and every day for the incredible sacrifices He made…for loving us with such abandon. And never – NEVER – forget that He is RISEN…the devil could not tempt Him…the tomb could not hold Him…and we WILL see Him again.
There is an old hymn, written in 1875 by Philip P. Bliss, called “Hallelujah, What a Savior”…or sometimes it is referred to as “Man of Sorrows.” In the hymn, the story of Holy Week is outlined…but the last line of each verse is…”Hallelujah, What a Savior!” Please take time to read this hymn. Think about the words and what they mean to you. Christ is Risen! He will come again for you…and for me. Hallelujah! What a Savior we serve! What a glorious day this is! Have a blessed Easter!
©2014 Debbie RobusHallelujah! What a Savior!
Man of Sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
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