HOW CAN IT BE CALLED "GOOD FRIDAY"?
BECAUSE SUNDAY CAME!
NOW THE REST OF THE STORY...
pictures courtesy images.google.com
The Resurrection
1But very early on Sunday morning the women came to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2They found that the stone covering the entrance had been rolled aside. 3So they went in, but they couldn't find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4They were puzzled, trying to think what could have happened to it. Suddenly, two men appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. 5The women were terrified and bowed low before them. Then the men asked, "Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? 6He isn't here! He has risen from the dead! Don't you remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again the third day?" 8Then they remembered that he had said this. 9So they rushed back to tell his eleven disciples--and everyone else--what had happened. 10The women who went to the tomb were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several others. They told the apostles what had happened, 11but the story sounded like nonsense, so they didn't believe it. 12However, Peter ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.
HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THE STORY OF EASTER?
Can you picture this? Peter and most of Christ's followers had been hiding in fear since Christ's arrest and crucifixion. After some women discovered that Jesus had risen from the dead, Peter runs to the tomb, looks in, sees that it's empty and "then he went home again, wondering what had happened."
This weekend, millions of people will remember Christ's death and celebrate His resurrection at Good Friday and Easter services. How many will go home "wondering what happened?"
ARE YOU SOMEONE WHO IS SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND SPIRITUAL THINGS? The answer is found in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN WHO NEEDS THIS EASTER WEEKEND TO GET BACK TO FOLLOWING JESUS IN A GENUINE WAY? That path starts at the foot of the Cross, goes through the empty tomb, and into the future.
ARE YOU A FOLLOWER OF JESUS WHO IS DESIRING TO HELP OTHERS UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED THAT FIRST EASTER WEEKEND? God's Spirit will guide you to love others and listen to their story with Christ's compassion.
Make sure that God's story is at the core of your life story and help someone else get connected to God's story. It's the greatest ever!
Thank God for the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus. Ask His Holy Spirit to continue to show you how the truth of Christ's death and resurrection can and should impact your life story every day. Take a moment to reflect on His Story and worship Him....
- When you see something that's empty this weekend, ask Jesus to teach you about the implications of His empty tomb on your life story.
- Listen to worship CDs this weekend to spend some time in personal worship of Christ.
- Participate in weekend services at your church and invite someone who doesn't normally go to church. If you don't go to church, call up a Christian friend and find one to attend this weekend.
- Pray for the opportunity to talk about the Easter Story and your story with someone who needs to connect their story to God's story.
Daily Devos is published Monday through Friday. Archives can be found at YFC.ORG. Its purpose is to help you apply truths from God's Word every day.
Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been involved with Youth For Christ for 30 years. He's served as Campus Life Staff, as a writer, and in leadership for the DCLA Conferences. Byron is married to Linda and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.