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“And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”

Luke 22:45–46

Church services in colonial America tended to be several hours long. Many churches had ushers who were equipped with long sticks that they could use to rouse sleepers during the sermons. A Puritan named Obadiah Turner recorded the story in his journal of one of these men named Allen Bridges who had placed a fox tail and a thorn on his stick. “On the last Lord’s day, as he strutted about the meetinghouse, he did spy Mr. Tomlins sleeping with much comfort, his head kept steady by being in the corner, and his hand grasping the rail. And so spying, Allen did quickly thrust his staff behind Dame Ballard and give him a grievous prick upon the hand.

“Whereupon Mr. Tomlins did spring up much above the floor and with terrible force strike his hand against the wall; and also to the great wonder of all, profanely exclaim in a loud voice, ‘Curse ye, woodchuck!’ He was dreaming so it seemed that a woodchuck had seized and bit his hand. But on coming to know where he was, and the great scandal he had committed, he seemed much abashed, but did not speak. And I think he will not soon again go to sleep in worship.”

We may laugh about people who fall asleep in church, especially if they wake up in such an amusing fashion. But there is nothing funny about Christians who are not alert to the threat of temptation and the needs of others. Too often we simply do not realize the nature and seriousness of the threats we are facing in spiritual warfare. Like the disciples sleeping in the Garden of Gethsemane, we are oblivious to the approaching enemy. It is time to wake up.

“And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?”

Luke 22:47–48

For two thousand years, the name Judas has been synonymous with betrayal and shame. We condemn the man who after three years as a disciple, walking everywhere with Jesus and hearing and seeing Him work, heal and pray, was willing to betray Him for just thirty pieces of silver. The outward Judas was a perfect disciple. In the Upper Room when Jesus announced that He was going to be betrayed by one of the men there, the other disciples did not question the loyalty of Judas.

Even when Judas left them to go to the Pharisees to lead them to Jesus, the others did not understand that he was a traitor. “For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor” (John 13:29). But despite his outward appearance as a faithful man, Judas was not. And eventually that became clear to everyone.

The effect of sin in our hearts is corrosive. It eats away at us from the inside, and even if we manage to conceal it from the world for a time, as Judas did, it is only hidden and not dealt with. Like an undiscovered cancer that grows and grows, sin destroys everything it touches. And yet too often we think we can manage our sin and keep it at an “acceptable” level. That never works. We need to regard sin with hatred and fear, realizing that any sin we allow in our lives is a monstrous betrayal of Jesus.

“Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

Luke 22:52–53

In the Garden of Gethsemane, the Light of the World was confronted under the cover of darkness. The contrast could not be greater. At the very beginning of creation God brought light into the world, and created a distinction between light and darkness: “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:3–4). The division was present at the beginning, and it became even more pronounced with the entry of sin into the world.

God wants His children to be separated from the darkness. It is an indication of the power of our sin nature that we find the darkness so attractive. It appeals to us to think that what we are doing can be concealed from others, yet we must remember that nothing is concealed from God. His eyes are not shaded by the dark, and He sees not only our actions but our intentions and motives as well. The knowledge that God sees all that we do is a powerful motivator for us to walk in obedience.

As new creatures in Christ we have nothing in common with the darkness any more. Paul asked this rhetorical question in his teaching on separation from the world: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14). If we are following Jesus, then we will have a desire for the things of the light instead of the things of the dark.

“And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.”

Luke 22:55–27

Jesse’s father, a Baptist preacher, died when Jesse was just three years old. Jesse grew up idolizing his older brother Frank, even following his brother into battle during the Civil War when Jesse was still just sixteen years old. They served in the notorious guerrilla force under William Quantrill, fighting more against civilians than soldiers on the other side. When the war ended, many of those who served together in the military formed a criminal gang and began robbing banks, trains, and stagecoaches. It was not long before Jesse, still in his twenties, became the leader of one of the most famous gangs in American history. His life of crime continued until he was killed by one of his own men who wanted the reward that had been placed on Jesse James.

The people with whom we spend most of our time have a powerful influence on us. If we are sitting by the enemy’s fire on a regular basis, it will not be long until we begin to seek their approval and acceptance more than God’s. We may have good motives and not want to be pulled down, but the power of influence cannot be overcome with good intentions. Paul warned, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Many good Christians have been led astray because they allowed the main influences in their lives to be those who were not friends of God. If Peter had not been warming himself at the fire of those who hated Jesus, he would not have been tempted to deny the Lord.

“And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.”

Luke 22:59–62

I have had the privilege of visiting Jerusalem on multiple occasions. Just outside the wall of the Old City, there is a small church known as the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu. Built over what is believed to have been the house of the high priest Caiaphas, where Jesus was taken to be tried, the ancient church has been rebuilt and destroyed numerous times through history. Underground, there are prison cells where the Lord may have spent the night before His crucifixion. The most striking feature you see when you approach the church is a golden rooster that rises from the dome—a reminder of the moment when Peter was convicted for denying that he knew Jesus, just as Jesus had told him would happen.

The brash Peter was completely self-confident. When Jesus told him that he would deny Christ three times, Peter confidently declared himself ready to die for the Lord: “Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples” (Matthew 26:35). Yet when the test came, Peter completely failed. We must not judge him too harshly, for each of us have failed to take the stand we should for Jesus. How deep the conviction that comes to us when we hear our “rooster” remind us that we have sinned. How sweet the restored fellowship when we confess and return to God.

“And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.”

Luke 22:63–65

We rightly recoil in horror when we read the account of created men striking the Creator, taking the very hands that He formed and using them to beat Him. It was a gruesome and blasphemous act, and those involved are worthy of the condemnation and judgment they face for doing so. Yet even as we sit in judgment of them, we ignore the consequences of the sin that we so readily and willingly tolerate in our hearts and lives. We think of our own sin as a small and meaningless thing, but to God it is a horrible insult to the precious Saviour who purchased us with His own blood.

There is a casualness about sin in the hearts of many Christians today that is very destructive. Rather than attacking sin and defeating it, we tolerate it and make compromises with it. Just as the Israelites did when they entered the Promised Land, we settle for something short of the victory that God has provided, and our lives are crippled as a result. Sin does not stay contained. It grows and spreads until it takes over everything. Only by confessing and forsaking sin can we have victory over it.

When you are tempted to sin, remember the suffering of Christ. Remember that He died to redeem you from bondage to sin. And remember that the pain He endured at the hands of the Roman soldiers was inflicted because of sin. When you and I sin today, we are disregarding the sacrifice Jesus made for us. But when we resist temptation through His power, we demonstrate our gratitude for the cross. May we not make light of sin when it cost Jesus so great a price.

“And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.”

Luke 22:68–71

Skeptics often claim that Jesus did not say He was the Son of God, but that is simply a deliberate misreading of the Scriptures. When Jesus repeatedly declared that He was sent from God, that God was His Father, and that He was one with God, the Jewish leaders who hated Him and wanted to put Him to death understood clearly that Jesus claimed He was the Messiah and the Son of God. And it is vital that we not forget His nature and character especially as the world around us lowers their view of Jesus.

Charles Spurgeon said, “If we err concerning the Deity of Christ, then we err everywhere. The gospel that does not preach a Divine Savior is no gospel at all; it is like a ship without a rudder, the first opposing wind that blows will drive it to destruction, and woe are the souls that are trusting to it! Only the shoulders of the almighty God can ever carry the enormous weight of human guilt and human need.”

Jesus was a man, but He was far more than that. He was at the same time completely God. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). Jesus is to be exalted, worshiped, praised, and adored. We can never hold Him too highly in hearts and minds. All of our best efforts to praise Him fall short of what He deserves. He alone is worthy of all glory and honor and praise.

“And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.”

Luke 23:2–4

Dr. W. A. Criswell began his ministry in a small town in Oklahoma. He would often preach on Saturdays to the crowds gathered at the farmer’s market or at the courthouse. One day as he preached, Criswell asked the people why they were not attending church. He later said, “That was a rhetorical, question, and then I added, ‘If you can give any good reason why you separate yourself from the people of God and why you don’t go to church, come up here and tell us why don’t you go.’” To his shock, person after person began to line up and pour out their complaints about what they had experienced in churches.

Criswell said that he went home weeping. He was filled with sorrow at what he had witnessed. Then He said that as he thought about it and prayed, he realized something important. “They had much to say against the preacher, much to say against the deacon, much to say against the church, much to say against the people, but I happened finally to realize not one, not one in all of that throng, not one ever said a word against the Lord Jesus Christ—I find in Him no fault at all.”

We have a perfect Saviour. Only a sinless, spotless Lamb could be the sacrifice for the sins of the world, for otherwise Jesus would have had to pay for His own sins rather than ours. No matter how He is examined, no one ever finds fault with Jesus.

“And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.”

Luke 23:5–7

The famously blunt and plain-spoken Harry Truman was a relatively obscure senator from Missouri when President Franklin Roosevelt tapped him to be his running mate for his fourth term. The men only met twice in the eighty-two days between Roosevelt taking the oath of office in January and his death in April. Suddenly Truman was thrust into a position of great responsibility. Meeting with reporters shortly after he had been sworn in, Truman said, “Boys, if you ever pray, pray for me now. I don’t know if you fellas ever had a load of hay fall on you, but when they told me what happened yesterday, I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me.”

The Second World War was winding down, but Truman was faced with leading the nation to final victory over Germany and Japan. Among the difficult decisions he made was the one to drop the atomic bombs—a program so secret he hadn’t been briefed on it even as Vice President—on Japan to hasten the end of the war. Truman quickly learned that while there were many to advise him, there had to be a place where decisions were made and responsibility taken. He put a sign on his desk that read “The Buck Stops Here.”

The temptation to pass the buck has been with us ever since the Garden of Eden. Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. Instead of looking for ways to avoid responsibility and accountability, we need to be diligent and faithful in our efforts.

“And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.”

Luke 23:8–10

There is an interesting contrast in the story of the response of Jesus to the two leaders who examined Him on the day of His crucifixion. Jesus interacted with Pilate, answering his questions and pointing out that it was His submission to God’s plan and not the soldiers of Rome that had brought Him to the cross. “Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin” (John 19:11).

Yet when He was sent to Herod, Jesus did not respond to the king at all. Herod wanted Jesus to put on a demonstration for him, like a magician entertaining an audience. But the evil king had already had an opportunity to receive the truth from John the Baptist. Instead of repenting however, he responded by cutting off the head of the prophet who had the courage to criticize him for his immoral behavior. Since Herod had already rejected the truth, He did not receive any further instruction.

God owes us nothing, but He does present us with the opportunity to respond to Him. He does not promise, however, to continually extend those opportunities if we refuse to respond. It is a matter of stewardship. There is no reason to expect more from God if we are not using what we already have. “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” (Luke 16:11).

“And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.”

Luke 23:13–15

In ancient times, there were many governments that imposed a death penalty for certain offenses. Under the Code of Hammurabi, there were twenty-five different capital crimes. The law given by God to Moses listed a number of offenses for which the guilty party, after examination and with evidence, was to be put to death. The people in Jesus’ day were familiar with the Roman practice of publicly executing those who had violated Roman law. The various legal codes had different standards for what constituted a capital crime and what was required for a conviction, but none of them called for the death penalty unless the crime was serious.

When God created man, He only issued one law to Adam and Eve in the Garden, but it was a serious one—it was a capital offense to break it: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:17). Ever since Adam ate the forbidden fruit, every person who has been born has been under a sentence of death. Because of the serious nature of sin, this is a punishment that fits the crime.

The only person who has ever lived who was not worthy of death was Jesus Christ. Under the most careful examination of those who hated Him, nothing could be found in Him that was a violation of the laws of God or man. Yet He gave His life in our place.

“And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.”

Luke 23:18-21

The life and ministry of Jesus gave ample demonstration of the truth of His claim to be the Messiah, and of His divinity. The miracles that He worked were impossible to explain apart from the power of God. Yet despite the truth of His teaching and the signs that were given, many of the Jewish people did not believe in Him. This was especially true for the religious leaders. Jesus did not fit into their model of what they wanted the Messiah to be, and so they rejected Him. Worse, they called for Him to be killed.

While we rightly condemn their failure to recognize and bow to the Lord, we must realize that we too share the sin nature that places us in opposition to God. We are not an exception to the common condition of man. Paul wrote, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7). God did not reach out to us in grace because we were worthy but because of His love for even those who were His enemies.

Charles Spurgeon said, “We love everything earthly better than we ought; we soon fix our heart upon a creature, but very seldom on the Creator; and when the heart is given to Jesus, it is prone to wander.” The opposition that Jesus faced and those who cried out for His death was not because they were a particularly evil group of people. They were just like us—sinners—only they had not been touched by God’s grace. Without that grace, we too would be crying “Crucify Him.”

“And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.”

Luke 23:22–24

Edmund G. Ross of Kansas had only been in the United States Senate for two years when he faced one of the most important decisions of his life. President Andrew Johnson had been impeached by a Congress filled with those who opposed his position on reuniting the nation following the Civil War. Thirty-six votes were needed to convict Johnson and remove him from office, and the vote counters knew they had thirty-five certain votes for conviction. They put enormous pressure on Ross to be the deciding vote, but he insisted on hearing all of the evidence before reaching a conclusion.

When the day came, Ross voted “not guilty,” and by one vote Johnson retained his office. Of the crucial moment when he cast his vote Ross later said, “I looked into my open grave. Friendships, position, fortune, and everything that makes life desirable to an ambitious man were about to be swept away by the breath of my mouth, perhaps forever.” Ross lost his Senate seat in the next election and was ostracized by those who had once been his most ardent supporters. But he did what he believed was right and was vindicated by history.

There are times when doing right comes with a high price. In those moments if we consider the price that Jesus paid for us, we will find strength and courage to do right. God does not promise us painless service, but He does promise rewards to those who are faithful.

“And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.”

Luke 23:26–28

Though Rembrandt van Rijn is best known to us as a painter, it is his drypoint etching “The Three Crosses” that many art scholars consider his finest work. The work depicts the Lord on the cross with the thieves on either side. Light from Heaven shines in the center of the picture, but the edges are dark. At the very edge of the picture stands a figure in the shadows representing the artist himself—which apparently was Rembrandt’s recognition of the fact that his sin was responsible for the death of the Lord.

Under Roman law, soldiers could force anyone they encountered to carry burdens for them. When Jesus was unable to bear the weight of His cross because of the physical suffering He had already endured, a man named Simon was picked out of the crowd and compelled to carry the cross for Jesus. He became part of the crucifixion story simply because he was passing by at the moment Jesus was taken out of the city, but in a very real sense each one of us is also part of the story.

It was your sin and my sin that resulted in the necessity of the cross. Jesus died for the sins of the world, but He also died for me. Though the crucifixion happened centuries before we were born, we were part of the events of that day, as Jesus died for our sins, just as much as those who stood there physically when Jesus died.

“And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

Luke 23:32–34

In the four Gospels, we find seven statements Jesus made while He hung on the cross. The very first of those is this powerful prayer for forgiveness of those who were crucifying Him. Charles Spurgeon said, “It was not a prayer for enemies who had done him an ill deed years before, but for those who were there and then murdering him. Not in cold blood did the Saviour pray, after He had forgotten the injury, but while the first red drops of blood were spurting on the hands which drove the nails; while yet the hammer was bestained with crimson gore, His blessed mouth poured out the fresh warm prayer.”

Christ’s forgiveness for those who were in that moment crucifying Him is an incredible revelation of the depth of God’s love. He does not love us because we are good or deserving, but because He is love and, in love, paid the price for our sins. We need a renewed sense of appreciation and gratitude for the salvation we have received. Especially for those of us who have been saved for many years, the temptation is to take salvation for granted and forget how much we needed it. “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins” (2 Peter 1:9).

But Christ’s prayer on the cross should also motivate us who have received the forgiveness of God to freely forgive others. Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

“And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.”

Luke 23:35–37

As the enemies of Jesus were watching Him hang on the cross, they mocked Him, trying to add to His suffering and grief. Yet even in their hatred, they expressed a profound spiritual truth—Jesus Christ could not save both Himself and us. He made the choice, not being forced to the cross but willingly laying down His life as a sacrifice for our sins because of His love for us. There was no other way for salvation to be accomplished than through His sacrifice. It was essential to God’s plan: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Those of us who have benefited from the sacrifice of Jesus and received His grace have an obligation to live in the same manner. We must be willing to give up our rights, comforts, privileges, and possessions when called to do so by God if we are to be followers of Jesus. There is no service without sacrifice.

When David sinned by numbering the people and a great plague came, he wanted to offer a sacrifice to pray for God’s mercy. He was offered the land for his sacrifice for free but declined: “And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver” (2 Samuel 24:24).

“But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:40–43

The contrast in response between the two thieves crucified with Jesus couldn’t have been greater. One joined in the mockery directed at the Saviour, but the other recognized his sins and his need for mercy. He also recognized that the sinless Son of God was his only hope, and he cried out for mercy. Though it was the last day of his life, Jesus heard and answered his prayer, recognizing that it was the outpouring of a repentant heart.

The evangelist Gipsy Smith told of a man who was converted during his evangelistic campaign in South Africa. Smith said that the next morning, the new Christian knocked on the door of another man’s house and showed him a watch. The man was surprised to see it, for though it had his initials on it and was definitely his, he had not seen it for eight years. He asked why the man had it, and the new convert replied, “I stole it. I was converted last night, and I have brought it back first thing this morning. If you had been up, I would have brought it last night!” Salvation always makes a difference in the heart.

The devil tempts us to think that because we are not as bad as others we do not need to repent, but God who sees all that is in our hearts knows our true nature. Yet in grace, when a sinner cries out to Him for forgiveness, He freely pardons.

“And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.”

Luke 23:44–47

Though the Ark of the Covenant was a tangible symbol of God’s presence among His people for most of the Old Testament, it was usually hidden. During the Exodus and the early days in the Promised Land it was carried by priests from one place to another. But after that, it was normally kept first in the tabernacle and later in the temple in a special place known as the Holy of Holies. No one was allowed to enter except for the high priest, and he could only do that once a year on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

But Jesus came not just to fulfill the law and be our salvation, but to provide a new way for man to have access to God. No longer would there be a veil concealing God’s presence from His people. Now the way was open. As Jesus hung on the cross, the veil was torn apart by unseen hands from top to bottom, symbolizing that man could now enter the presence of God because of Jesus’ blood.

Sadly, many Christians never take full advantage of the amazing blessing of the access to God’s presence offered to us through grace. Hebrews 4:16 invites, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” We have every right to approach God confidently, not because of our merit, but because of the sacrifice of His Son.

“And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.”

Luke 23:50–53

According to one report, the most commonly borrowed item among people living in the United States today is a book. The second is jumper cables. Most of us have experience with borrowing something from a neighbor, family member, or friend. But I’m willing to confidently state that neither you nor anyone else you know has ever borrowed a grave. When we borrow a tool, money, or a book, we expect to return it. Yet for our physical bodies, the grave is a destination that will be in use until the Lord returns, and no one expects it to be returned.

Jesus was buried in a tomb carved out of rock that belonged to a man named Joseph. And why not? He wasn’t going to be there long! David by inspiration was able to describe the brief period before the resurrection when he wrote, “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Psalm 16:10). The Lord did indeed die on the cross, but death did not have power over Him.

One day, unless the Lord returns first, each of us will make one final trip to a cemetery or other resting place. But because Jesus only borrowed His tomb, that will not be our ultimate destination. Instead, we will live forever with Him.

“And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.”

Luke 23:54-56

It is popular among scoffers and those who do not accept the Word of God to propose alternate explanations for the resurrection. In the 1700s German rationalists proposed what came to be known as the “swoon theory” which suggested that Jesus merely fainted rather than actually dying, and then revived in the coolness of the tomb. This allowed them to provide a natural explanation for Jesus being seen by hundreds of people after His crucifixion.

The problem is that in addition to ignoring what the Bible clearly says, believing that Jesus did not die requires ignoring the thoroughness of the Romans in carrying out their executions. While it is certainly possible for people to survive for a day or two on a cross, the Romans did not casually declare someone as dead. The soldiers knew that if a prisoner escaped the punishment, they would be forced to take his place. Jesus, the very Son of God, did indeed die. His followers did not come to the tomb Easter Sunday morning expecting to find Him gone, even though He had told them of the resurrection. They came with the burial spices that were used to anoint dead bodies in that day.

The faith that we have is based on the Word of God being true. The events happened as described. The Bible is not a collection of fables or oral traditions passed down. Human authors wrote what the Holy Spirit spoke, and we have the very words that God has preserved for us through the ages just as He promised. Jesus did die—but He did not stay dead.

“Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.”

Luke 24:1-3

Dr. Curtis Hutson told the story of two English unbelievers named Lyttelton and West who set out to undermine the faith of Christians. They decided that the two stories that would most damage the Christian religion if they could be disproved were the resurrection of Christ and the conversion of Paul on the road to Damascus. They agreed that both of them would take one story and spend a year gathering evidence to prove it was false.

At the end of the year, the two met back together. Lyttelton said, “After a year of investigation, I am convinced that the Bible story of the conversion of the Apostle Paul is true. I too have been converted.” West replied, “I have discovered that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fact. I have received Him as my Saviour.”

The reason no one can prove the story of the resurrection false is that it is entirely and completely true. Jesus died, was buried, and was resurrected just as He said would happen ahead of time. The very first time He went to Jerusalem after His ministry began, Jesus described what was coming: “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). Though even His closest followers did not understand or believe what He was telling them until after it happened, Jesus did indeed come back to life. And it is His triumph over death and the grave that is our assurance that our faith is real and that our future with Him in Heaven is secure.

“And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?”

Luke 24:4–5

One of the most remarkable geographical features of the Holy Land is the Dead Sea. The lake is the lowest spot on the land surface of the planet, at some fourteen hundred feet below sea level. The salt and mineral content of the water is so high that almost nothing lives in it, and visitors are cautioned against swallowing even a mouthful of the water because of the danger of serious illness that can result. Though the Dead Sea is a source of chemicals used in makeup, health care, and commercial applications, it is not the place to go to look for living things.

The only source of true and lasting life is God, and yet many people, including some Christians, seek life in the things of the world rather than turning to Him. This search is always doomed to failure, because what they are looking for simply does not exist where they are looking. The world simply has nothing to offer that is lasting and meaningful. At best it only offers temporary pleasure and enjoyment that by its very nature is fleeting.

In contrast, Jesus offers a life that overflows and cannot be taken away. As Jesus Himself said in John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” If we are seeking life, we must look to the only source where it can be found. This is one of the great lessons of the resurrection—that in Jesus alone we have the hope and promise of everlasting life.

“He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.”

Luke 24:6–9

In the dark days of June 1940, following the collapse of France and the surrender of Belgium, Prime Minister Winston Churchill took the floor at the House of Commons in London to rally his shaken countrymen. He urged them not to give in to despair and laid out the plans England would undertake. Churchill concluded his speech by his now-famous words, “We shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”

These powerful words from a gifted orator had a great impact on an entire nation. But the most carefully crafted speech from the most talented man pales in comparison to the power of the Word of God. The Lord has given us everything that we need in the Bible, but too often we do not remember what He has said. Psalm 119:11 says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee,” but we often don’t keep His Word in our hearts.

Those who followed Jesus and heard Him teach in person still failed to remember what He had told them until they were reminded by the angels. It was only when they remembered His words that they were prepared to face the assignment they would be given to take the gospel to the world—and that is the same source of power we must have.

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”—Philippians 3:20–21

In the old city of London, there is a place known as Bunhill Fields; it is the burial ground of non-conformists. Many Anabaptists, Baptists, and Protestants are buried there who would not conform with unbiblical mandates given by the government and who, for their refusal, suffered for Christ. Not far from Bunhill Fields is Smithfield, where John Philpot and others paid the ultimate price as they were publically burned alive in the 1500s because of their stand for truth.

But the ashes at Smithfield and the remains at Bunhill Fields represent men and women who are now in Heaven and do not regret for a second their loyalty to their Saviour or the opportunity to stand for Him.

Truly, we live in challenging days. Christians in many countries around the world are regularly persecuted, even martyred, for their faith. Here in the United States, today, we face national and state elections that could have significant bearing on the future landscape of Christian liberty in America.

With all of the difficulties around us, it’s easy to become disheartened and fatalistic about the future. Remember, however, that the New Testament was written to churches in the first century who were also enduring difficult times for their faith.
One of the encouragements that the Apostle Paul gave to these Christians was to remember that, whatever their earthly citizenship may have been, they were citizens of Heaven. This is true for us as well. Patriotic as we may be, we have an eternal homeland.

Remembering our dual citizenship—earthly and heavenly—allows us to face the future optimistically. Whoever wins whichever offices in this election does not control our eternal destiny. The promises of our King remind us that the future is bright. In the words of missionary Adoniram Judson while facing extreme difficulties, “The prospects are as bright as the promises of God.”

“It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.”

Luke 24:10-12

It’s hard for those of us who have heard the story of the resurrection of Jesus all of our lives to fully grasp what it felt like to those who had mourned for three days and three nights over His death. The intensity of their loss was still fresh when the women who had gone to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus, but had met the angel who told them He was alive, rushed in. Though the news they were bringing was good news indeed, the disciples thought it was too good to be true and refused to believe it. They were not comforted until later when Jesus Himself appeared to them. These disciples missed out on the joy that could have been theirs.

The promises of God are not empty words. They are sure and steadfast, and worthy of our full trust. When our faith fails and we refuse to believe what He says, we miss out on so much. The only sure foundation we have been given is not found in our feelings or in our circumstances but in the Word of God. When we do not believe, we do not harm God, but we do harm ourselves. We lose the power to overcome the world when we lose our faith, and we miss out on our rewards. This is why Hebrews 10:35 admonishes, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.” Instead we should boldly and confidently act on and claim the promises of Scripture.

“And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.”

Luke 24:13–15

In his message “Ten Reasons I Believe the Bible is the Word of God” Dr. R. A. Torrey said, “You will sometimes meet a pious old lady, who tells you that she knows that the Bible is God’s Word, and when you ask her for a reason for believing that it is God’s Word she can give you none. She simply says: ‘I know it is God’s Word.’ You say: ‘That is mere superstition.’ Not at all. She is one of Christ’s sheep, and recognizes her Shepherd’s voice from every other voice. She is one of God’s children, and knows the voice which speaks to her from the Bible is the voice of God.”

The Bible contains more truth than could be learned in a thousand years of study. Yet it is not primarily through reason and research that we learn the things of God, but through faith. If we do not believe what the Holy Spirit has given us, we will never learn what God wants us to know. It is the combination of the Scriptures and the Spirit that open the truth of the Word to our hearts: “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

When it comes to faith, the mind is vital; but it is not enough alone. It must be joined with the heart so that we apply what we know and have learned and put it into practice.

“But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?”

Luke 24:16–18

Maybe you’ve heard the story of the little boy who was visiting his grandmother’s house when she asked him to go to the downstairs pantry and get a can of tomatoes she could use in making supper. He looked at the dark stairs leading down to the basement with some fear, and to comfort him she said, “Johnny, don’t be afraid. Remember Jesus is in there.” The little boy started into the darkness and then stopped and said, “Jesus if You’re in there, could You just hand me the tomatoes?”

We know the spiritual truth that God is always with us in the person of the Holy Spirit who lives within each believer from the moment of salvation. One of the most beautiful of all the names of Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Yet the reality is that many Christians do not have a real sense of His presence as part of their daily lives. We go to work, go home, go to church, and go about our errands as a matter of routine without stopping to consider that God is there with us.

If we live with a real sense of God’s presence, it changes us. The apostles were not powerful in their witness because of their great education or eloquence, but because of the time they spent with the Lord. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

“And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.”

Luke 24:19–20

The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls was a treasure for both students of history and the Word of God. The ancient scrolls dated back to the time of Christ, and had been hidden safely in caves until their discovery by shepherds shortly after World War II. The scrolls contained some entire Old Testament books and portions of all the others—except one. The excluded book was Esther, which the Essenes who copied the scrolls disapproved because it did not contain the name of God. Yet though His name does not appear, the hand of God is very visible in the story of the deliverance of the Jews from the plot of Haman to destroy them.

The reality is that God is always at work, whether or not we see and understand His plan. Often it is in the moments of what appear to be our greatest defeats that God is working His greatest triumphs. The victory is never lost because God is not faithful, but it can be lost because we lose heart and give up before it is won. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).

Those who were closest to Jesus during His ministry had faith in Him as long as they saw Him, but once He was dead they found themselves doubting what He had taught. They believed only what they could see. But before we judge them too harshly, we should remember that often we fall into the same trap rather than keeping our faith strong.

“But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.”

Luke 24:21–23

When Satan tempted Jesus, one of the things he tried to get the Lord to do was to presume upon God, going beyond what God had actually said and expect Him to work in ways He had not promised. “And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone” (Matthew 4:6). This promise, found in Psalm 91, is not a guarantee that God will rescue us if we jump off buildings, yet that is the way Satan tried to get Jesus to view it.

Many times we struggle because we are expecting God to work in ways which He has not promised. Our society is filled with people proclaiming what they say are God's promises concerning health and wealth and the things of this world—but often what they confidently declare is not actually what God said. Faith that is based on anything other than God’s Word will lead to trouble.

The two disciples Jesus talked to following His resurrection revealed that they had been looking for Jesus to overthrow the Romans and make Israel an independent nation again. But that is not what Jesus had been teaching them. They did believe God, but they believed the wrong goal because they did not understand what He was intending to do in their lives and in the world.

“And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:”

Luke 24:24–25

Perhaps the most famous of Aesop’s fables is the story of the boy who cried wolf. A bored shepherd boy learned that he could break up the monotony of his day by crying out that a wolf was after the sheep. The townspeople would rush from their homes to drive off the intruder and protect the flock, only to find that there was no wolf. In time they lost their confidence in the boy, and one day when a wolf really did come and he cried for help, no one responded. He had given people a reason to be slow to believe what he said.

The Word of God in contrast is completely faithful and reliable. Solomon said, “Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant” (1 Kings 8:56). Joshua, too, said, “…ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof” (Joshua 23:14). Yet despite a six thousand year track record of being completely trustworthy, we are often slow to believe that God will do what He has promised.

Our hesitancy to believe God reveals a lack of faith in our hearts. Too often, we are like the disciples in that we first fail to understand God’s promises and then are slow of heart to believe what God has spoken.

“Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”

Luke 24:26–27

The Bible is completely accurate in all its historical, scientific, and geographical information, but that is not its primary purpose. The Bible is not just a collection of ancient stories, fables, and folk wisdom. It is the inspired Word of God. When we approach it, we need to be looking for more than just information—we need to be looking for Jesus. For ultimately the Bible is the story of the Son of God. Every part of Scripture is about Him. Someone wrote:

I find my LORD in the Bible
Wherever I chance to look,
He is the theme of the Bible
The center and heart of the Book;
He is the Rose of Sharon,
He is the Lily fair,
Wherever I open my Bible
The LORD of the Book is there.

The Ram upon Mt. Moriah,
The Ladder from earth to sky,
The Scarlet Cord in the window,
And the Serpent lifted high,
The Smitten Rock in the desert,
The Shepherd with staff and crook,
The face of my Lord I discover
Wherever I open the Book.

Jesus is both the theme and source of the Bible. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” When we speak of knowing the Lord on a deeply personal and intimate level, there is only one possible avenue of success. We must immerse ourselves in the Scriptures. Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). We will never know Him unless we know the Bible, for that is the only book that was inspired by God to tell us about Jesus.

“And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.”

Luke 24:28–29

The Communist government of Romania hated Richard Wurmbrand because he would not stop preaching and telling others about Jesus. He was repeatedly arrested, beaten, tortured, and imprisoned because of his faithfulness. After his release, Wurmbrand wrote a number of books, including one called With God in Solitary Confinement which contains some of the more than three hundred sermons he prepared while he was isolated in a prison cell and cut off from all human contact.

The truth is that as children of God we are never truly alone. Even if those who should be closest to us turn against us, God never will. As David, who was forsaken by many who he had trusted, wrote, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” The question is not whether God is there, but whether we are living with a serious, focused realization that He is there. That is the great lack that robs Christians of their joy and peace, for those are found when we know that He is with us.

The two disciples Jesus spoke with on the day of His resurrection did not recognize Him as the Saviour, but they knew they wanted Him to stay with them. It should be the great desire of our hearts to be in such close fellowship with Jesus that we are constantly aware that He is present. Paul wrote, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Philippians 3:10). The Christian life must be lived in close fellowship and communion with Jesus, for He is the source of our strength, our hope, and our victory.

“And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.”

Luke 24:30–31

Hannah dedicated her son Samuel to the service of God before he was born, and when he was very small, he went to live with Eli at the tabernacle. Samuel worked with Eli, and was exposed to the things of God on a daily basis. But he was still very young, and when God spoke to him one night, Samuel did not recognize who was speaking. “Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child” (1 Samuel 3:7–8). Samuel had to be taught and trained to recognize and respond to the voice of God.

The Lord is still working in our world today. Though He no longer speaks audibly as He did before the written Word of God was completed and we do not seek His leading in dreams and visions, He is still active. It is our responsibility to be alert and aware to the opportunities that He brings us to be part of the work He is doing in our world. We do not need voices from Heaven to let us know that we should witness to the lost, comfort the sick and hurting, encourage those who are lonely, give to those who are in need, and pray continually because God has already told us to do these things in His Word, and by His Holy Spirit, He reminds us of these commands as we go throughout our day. The reason some Christians do not feel like God is working in their lives is that they have not taken the time to listen to His voice.

“And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,”

Luke 24:32–33

Early in the second half of the 2013 Super Bowl between the Ravens and the Giants, most of the lights went out in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans where the game was being played. For more than half an hour, the players, fans, and coaches stood around, waiting for something to happen. Electric crews worked frantically to get the lights back on so the game could resume. Finally, full power was restored, and the game went on. There are a lot of Christians and churches in our day who are much like that stadium while the lights were out. They are on the team—truly children of God—but they are standing around in the dark and not accomplishing much of anything.

What we need to overcome this spirit of lethargy and darkness is a renewed connection to our Divine source of power. Paul wrote to his young protégé Timothy, “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6). From time to time all of us need a renewed sense of God’s power and presence, and a stirring and revival of our hearts.

We do not have Jesus to talk to us personally as the two disciples did, but we have the indwelling Holy Spirit to quicken the Word of God in our minds and renew our hearts and spirits within us. If we will listen to His voice, we will find ourselves strengthened and encouraged for the work to which He has called us.

“Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.”

Luke 24:34–35

After many years as an effective evangelist, Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. developed Alzheimer’s late in his life. Before it was fully realized what was happening, he continued to speak, but he would often lose his place in a sermon. Those who heard those final few messages said that invariably, when he did not know what else to say, Dr. Jones would tell the story of his conversion as an eleven-year-old boy at a small country church near his family’s home in Alabama. He may have forgotten almost everything else, but he remembered the moment he met Jesus.

The world has no rebuttal to the testimony of transformed lives. When we tell what we have heard it is one thing, but when we tell what we have experienced, it is something much more meaningful. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and news of the miracle spread, Lazarus actually became the target of a deadly plot. “But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus” (John 12:10–11).

Every one of us who is saved has experienced a far greater miracle than the raising of Lazarus. We have passed from death to eternal life, and our lives are first-hand, eyewitness testimony to the power of the gospel. It is important that we know what the Bible says about salvation and can explain it to others and answer their questions. But we should not overlook the command Jesus gave to the man who had once been possessed by many demons: “Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee” (Mark 5:19).

“And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.”

Luke 24:36–37

D. L. Moody said that just before He died, Christ made a will. To His disciples (and to us) Jesus left His peace. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). Then Moody said, “They say that a man cannot make a will now that lawyers cannot break. I will challenge them to break Christ’s will. Let them try it. No judge or jury can set that aside. Christ rose to execute His own will. He left His peace and His joy for every true believer, and no power on earth can take it from him who trusts.”

Though Jesus had promised lasting peace to His disciples four days earlier, when He appeared to them they were in terror. They did not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead as He had said would happen, as the angels had told the women at the tomb, and as the two disciples who had just returned from Emmaus had said. And here is the lesson: when we do not believe what God has said, we forfeit His peace.

It is only through faith that we can maintain the peace of God in the face of the storms and tests of life. It is not from the outside that peace is stolen, but from the inside that it is given away. The promises of God are backed by His faithfulness and complete power—they never fail. So when we are facing trials and burdens, we will have God’s peace instead of terror as long as we do not give it away in unbelief.

“And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”

Luke 24:38–39

Many people in our world live with fear, worry, doubt, and consternation on a regular basis. There are long lists of different phobias and fears that effect people. Some of them are common—fear of snakes, spiders, and other insects are widespread. Others are less common, only affecting small numbers of people. For example:

Catoptrophobia—The fear of mirrors.
Pogonophobia—The fear of beards.
Ligyrophobia—The fear of loud noises.
Coulrophobia—The fear of clowns.
Allodoxaphobia—The fear of opinions.
Disposophobia—The fear of getting rid of possessions.

Fear is a natural part of life in a fallen world, but it is not something that we are to allow to control us. David spent much of his life facing people who were literally trying to kill him. More than once they nearly succeeded. In response to the threats he faced David declared, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (Psalm 56:3). The presence of fear is not a sin, but an opportunity for us to turn to God in faith and rest in His promises.

On His last night with the disciples before His crucifixion, Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1). The only real and lasting cure for fear is found in faith. Faith does not teach us that nothing ever goes wrong. Jesus said this just a few hours before He would be nailed to a cross. Faith teaches us that nothing ever takes God off guard—that He works all things together as part of His plan for our lives, and we can trust Him with the end result.

“And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?”

Luke 24:40–41

The Bible tells us a great deal about the wonders and beauty of Heaven. It speaks of a place where no sin can enter, there is no night, and tears have been wiped away forever. Heaven will be completely perfect—except for one thing. The body of the Lord Jesus Christ, the worthy Lamb, still bears the marks of His suffering for us on the cross. The scars are not gone. Throughout eternity each time we see Jesus we will see the reminders that He died for us. When John saw the Lord in his vision of Heaven he wrote, “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth” (Revelation 5:6).

The sacrifice of Jesus for our salvation provides a salvation for us that is free through His grace, but it was purchased at great cost. And the evidence of that payment is still visible today. Those of us who have been saved for many years face the danger of losing the awareness of how much our sins cost Jesus.

We speak of Jesus dying for the sins of the world, and He did, but what we need to remember is that His sacrifice was not general but very specific. It was my sin for which He paid. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

“And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.”

Luke 24:42–43

Even after Jesus showed the disciples the scars from the crucifixion in His hands and feet, they were not fully convinced that He was in fact alive. Many of the Jewish people of that day believed in ghosts that could appear in human form, but were not really alive. To convince them that He was truly alive, Jesus sat and ate with them. His ability to eat food was a clear proof that He had been physically resurrected by the power of God.

The resurrection to which we look forward—whether the instant transformation of those who are alive at the Rapture or the rising from the dead of those who sleep in Jesus—is only possible because Jesus first was raised from the dead. If He had not been physically resurrected, there would be no hope for us. All of our hopes hinge on the reality of the resurrection, and without a living Saviour there can be no salvation. Thankfully, He is alive! Paul wrote, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15.20).

Because Jesus was raised with a physical, glorified body, we have the same future hope. The importance of the physical resurrection is not a new idea. We find this longing and hope expressed in the Old Testament book of Job. “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Job 19:26).

The reality of death has been part of our world ever since the Fall of man, but the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus changed everything—past, present and future. Now we no longer need fear the grave for its power has been broken. Jesus is eternally alive, and His resurrection guarantees our eternal life.

“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.”

Luke 24:44

Charles Spurgeon told of a veteran Welsh preacher who gave some advice to a new minister regarding the importance of preaching about Jesus. The old minister said, “Young man, from every town and every village, and every little hamlet in England, wherever it may be, there is a road to London. And so from every text in Scripture, there is a road to the metropolis of the Scriptures, that is Christ. And my dear brother, your business is when you go to a text, to say, ‘Now what is the road to Christ?’ and then preach a sermon, running along the road to the great metropolis—Christ. And I have never yet found a text that has not got a road to Christ in it.”

The Jewish people divided what we now call the Old Testament into three sections—the law, prophets, and psalms. In His first appearance to the disciples following His resurrection, Jesus declared to them that all of the sections of Scripture told of His coming—and that He had fulfilled the prophecies exactly as God had given them to the inspired prophets of old. They had spoken of His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection; and He had lived just as they said.

In addition to being a powerful statement about the complete reliability of Scripture, this is a pattern for us to follow in our lives and ministry. Jesus is to be at the center of everything we do. Paul said, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). The focus of our efforts should not be anything other than our blessed and wonderful Saviour.

“Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,”

Luke 24:45

Solomon was presented with an opportunity that was truly unique. When he assumed the throne of Israel after the death of his father David, God appeared to him and presented Solomon with a blank check—he could ask for anything he wanted, and God would do it. Solomon had his priorities in the right place (although later in his life he would turn away from following God), and instead of asking for riches, power, or fame, Solomon asked for wisdom. “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” (1 Kings 3:9).

All of us have need of God’s guidance and direction for our daily lives. We understand that God does not speak to us in dreams or visions, but through His Word, and thus if we want His wisdom, we need to be careful students of the Bible. The wonderful news is that every believer has the Holy Spirit as a guide to help us live according to God’s Word. Jesus said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John 16:13).

Rather than seeking guidance in signs and feelings, we need to read the Bible and find our direction and wisdom in the pages of Scripture. We have the same Holy Spirit who inspired the writers of Scripture to help us understand His meaning in the words. This is not something to be taken lightly. The greatest resource available to God’s children is often overlooked because we fail to listen to the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit as we make decisions and choices.

“And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:”

Luke 24:46

There are many times when we can substitute one thing for the original without much changing the result. For example, if you are baking something and are short one egg, you may be able to use a little applesauce and baking powder and the results will be about the same. If you break a taillight, you can cover the hole with red tape and the light will still shine through when you step on the brakes.

But there are other areas in which no substitute will work. When it comes to the matter of our redemption, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are absolutely essential. This is the very foundation of our faith. Paul wrote, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). The reason Paul started his preaching with this truth is that it is the core of all doctrine.

There were no alternatives to provide a way for our sins to be atoned and for us to be reconciled to God. No angel could die in the place of man. No man could live according to God’s law. No one can pay the debt for another because we each owe our own debt. The only hope of salvation was the substitutionary death of the sinless Son of God. If there had been another way, surely God would have chosen it. But there was not, and so Jesus died in our place. The cross is the true measure of God’s love for us, and it should fill our hearts with gratitude and joy for our salvation.

“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.”

Luke 24:47–48

All four Gospels end with an expression of what we commonly call the Great Commission—the command of Christ to take the gospel to the world—and the book of Acts begins with the same command. There is little doubt about what Jesus considered to be important in leaving His last words for His followers. At the very beginning of His ministry, this was His call. “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). And it was the same at the conclusion just before He returned to Heaven.

Evangelist J. Wilbur Chapman said, “If today is the day of salvation, if tomorrow may never come and if life is equally uncertain, how can we eat, drink, and be merry when those who live with us, work with us, walk with us, and love us are unprepared for eternity because they are unprepared for time? If I am to stand at the judgment seat of Christ to render an account for the deeds done in the body, what shall I say to Him if my children are missing, if my friends are not saved, or if my employer or employee should miss the way because I have been faithless?”

What was true nearly two thousand years ago is still true today: God’s plan is for His children to take the gospel to the world. The population of the world continues to increase, but the number of Christians obeying this vital command is not rising. We decry the social and moral decay of our society, and it is a tragedy. But the only solution to human problems is found in the gospel, not in moral reform or political renewal. Only new life in Christ changes things.

“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

Luke 24:49

Dr. A. J. Gordon enjoyed telling the story of a Welsh preacher who was staying with a family prior to preaching in their church that evening. He asked the homeowner if he could spend some time alone before the service to prepare. As the time for the service grew near and the preacher had not come out, the man sent the maid to see if he was all right and let him know that it was almost time to leave. As she approached the door she heard him asking for God’s power. “I will not go unless You go with me,” he prayed. Without knocking on the door she returned to the homeowner. “He will be here soon,” she said. “And the Other One is coming with him!”

How we need the power of God’s Holy Spirit for every part of our lives! We cannot do it alone. One of the most effective strategies of the enemy is to get us to rely on our own strength and abilities as we work for God. But we lack the resources to accomplish meaningful and lasting results. It is only as our resources are empowered by the Holy Spirit that we are able to be effective in our ministry. Human ingenuity and devices are no substitute for God’s power.

It was not until the Holy Spirit had come on them in power that the disciples were ready to begin their ministry. We are just as much in need of His filling and power. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” (Ephesians 5:18). This command is not for a one-time event, but an ongoing process of continual filling and empowering.

“And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.”

Luke 24:50–51

As Christians we have received the greatest blessing possible in salvation through Jesus Christ. But God’s love is so amazing that He offers us far more. David, who experienced great blessings throughout his life wrote, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. He that is our God is the God of salvation, and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death” (Psalm 68:19-20).

We do not receive scanty blessings from the abundant resources of God. He loads us down with good things—good things which we do not deserve. A Christian who cannot find much for which to be thankful is simply not paying attention. We are surrounded by blessings every day. The fact that we often are not grateful is not a testimony to God’s lack of provision and blessing, but our lack of appreciation. Where would we be if God charged us for air, or there was a fee each time our hearts beat? How would we function if we had to create all the resources we need rather than using what God already created?

Charles Spurgeon said, “God’s goodness to us is not merely bene volens, in which He wishes us well, but it is beneficence of good doing. His gifts and benefits are deeds of goodness, acts of goodness. He doeth to us that which is good. He doth not only wish us well, and speak to us well, and direct us well, but He doeth well unto us.” Though God is gracious and patient, it must break His heart when we take His blessings for granted, or even worse, when we complain because we don’t have more.

“And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.”

Luke 24:52–53

When the disciples made their way back to Jerusalem after watching Jesus ascend up to Heaven, they were rejoicing. It was not because they were unaware of the trouble they were about to face. The night before the crucifixion Jesus told them that they would face hatred and persecution for His sake. “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:19). Instead they rejoiced because of Jesus.

Robert Murray McCheyne said, “The purest joy in the world is joy in Christ Jesus. When the Spirit is poured down, His people get very near and clear views of the Lord Jesus. They taste that the Lord is gracious. His blood and righteousness appear infinitely perfect, full, and free to their souls. They sit under His shadow with great delight. They rest in the cleft of the rock. They lean on the Beloved. They find infinite strength in Him for the use of their soul—grace for grace—all they can need in any hour of trial and suffering to the very end.”

A Christian’s joy is not the result of circumstances, but a result of the fruit of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. And it is that joy that equips and strengthens us to resolve that we will carry on no matter what trials or hardships we may face. As the prophet Nehemiah told those post-exile Jews in Jerusalem, “…the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

Remember that when Jesus ascended to Heaven, He left the disciples with an enormous task—to preach the gospel in all the world. Yet, because they had a real relationship with Christ and believed His promises of His power for the task, they could go to their assignment with joy.

“But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:20–21

The dawn of Christmas 1863 found Henry Wadsworth Longfellow gripped by sadness. His beloved wife Fanny had perished in a tragic fire in 1861. His oldest son Charles—who had joined the Union Army against Longfellow’s wishes—had been critically injured the month before while fighting in Virginia. As he heard the church bells ringing and pondered all he had lost even as others were rejoicing, Longfellow’s grief poured forth in a poem. But as he continued to listen to the bells—and reflect on the truths of Scripture, Longfellow’s mood began to change. He ended his poem, which we know as the carol “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” with these words:

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

The birth of Jesus that we celebrate on Christmas Day, and the purpose and meaning of His life is the greatest source of hope that our troubled world will ever know. Jesus did not come merely to be an example or a teacher or a prophet. He came to be our Saviour. The greatest need of our sinful hearts can only be met by the sinless Son of God, born of a virgin and come into the world for the express purpose of bringing salvation. Jesus Himself said, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

2 Corinthians 4:16–18

I think almost all of us who are parents or grandparents know the painful truth—sometimes the kids like playing with the box the toy came in more than playing with the toy. No matter how long we looked for the perfect gift, how carefully we planned the order in which the packages would be opened to lead up to the big moment, no matter how popular the toy is supposed to be, the child looks at it for a moment, and then picks up the box and goes to town. The child may be having a great time, but it just doesn’t feel right to us when we wanted the focus to be on the gift we provided.

Christmas is the celebration of the greatest gift in all of human history—God Himself coming to earth. But too many times we lose sight of that gift with all of the other things taking place around us. Trees and lights and traditions and gatherings are all wonderful, unless they take our focus off what is truly important. Peter warned of the danger of forgetting what matters most. “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins” (2 Peter 1:9). Make sure your Christmas this year is filled with more than just the boxes—keep your eyes on the great gift of God’s Son, our Saviour.

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:”

Acts 2:22–23

When it comes to Christmas shopping, there are two kinds of people. One group starts shopping in October (or even earlier) with a detailed list of everyone for whom they need to buy presents and an accompanying plan of how and where they will purchase each gift until everyone is covered. The other group can be found rushing to the mall or a discount store at 5:45 on Christmas Eve, hoping to get there before the doors are locked. Both groups have a plan for Christmas, but one is a little more detailed and thought out than the other.

God had a plan for Christmas as well—put in place before the world was even created. And everything that happened to prepare for the birth of Christ—as well as His life, ministry, death, and resurrection—happened exactly according to God’s design. “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4–5).

This is a powerful lesson for us, not just at Christmas but throughout the year. God is in control, and though He does not move according to our timetable, He does work according to His plan. The sovereignty and power of our Lord, gives us a confident assurance that no matter how difficult or chaotic our lives may be at any given moment, He is still firmly in control—and everything will come together according to His perfect plan.

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:6–8

One of the most poignant characters in all of fiction is Charles Dickens’ Miss Havisham in his novel Great Expectations. As a wealthy young woman, she was courted by a scoundrel who cared nothing for her, but only wanted her fortune. On the day they were to have been married, he sent her a note declaring his true intentions. The shattered woman never took off her wedding dress, left the wedding meal and cake on the table where they were laid out, and stopped all the clocks in the house at that fateful moment. She never moved forward from the pain she had suffered, instead becoming bitter and vindictive, and doing her best to destroy the happiness of others.

No pain or betrayal that we have ever endured can compare to the impact of our sin on the heart of God. He created a perfect world for man and placed upon Adam one single restriction. Everything was allowed except eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil—which is exactly what man did. Sin came into the world, and brought death with it, because we were not content with all the good things God had lovingly provided.

In light of that rejection, God would have been fully justified in allowing us to suffer the consequences He had decreed for disobedience. Instead, in love, He was willing to reach out to provide salvation to sinners who did not love Him. The most amazing thing about Christmas is not the angels or the star, but that Jesus came to save us.