Nothing to Fear

Nothing to Fear

 “He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead.”  Matthew 28:6, NLT

The crucifixion was marked by sudden darkness, silent angels, and mocking soldiers. At the empty tomb the soldiers are silent, an angel speaks, and light erupts like Vesuvius. The one who was dead is said to be alive, and the soldiers, who are alive, look as if they are dead. The women can tell something is up . . . The angel informs them: “He isn’t here!  He has been raised from the dead.”

Heaven unplugged the grave’s power cord, and you and I have nothing to fear. Death is disabled.

Not Yet Complete

 “God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished.”  Philippians 1:6

Not only are we ignorant about yesterday, we are ignorant about tomorrow. Dare we judge a book while chapters are yet unwritten? . . . How can you dismiss a soul until God’s work is complete?

Be careful! The Peter who denies Jesus at tonight’s fire may proclaim him with fire at tomorrow’s Pentecost . . . A stammering shepherd in this generation may be the mighty Moses of the next.

No Matter What

 “Nothing above us, nothing below us, not anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.”  Romans 8:39

No matter what you do, no matter how far you fall, no matter how ugly you become, God has a relentless, undying, unfathomable, unquenchable love from which you cannot be separated. Ever!

No Normal Friday

 “The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself.”  John 10:11, The Message

God is on a cross. The creator of the universe is being executed. Spit and blood are caked to his cheeks, and his lips are cracked and swollen.

Thorns rip his scalp. His lungs scream with pain. His legs knot with cramps . . .

And there is no one to save him, for he is sacrificing himself.

It is no normal six hours . . . it is no normal Friday.er!