The Empty Tomb

At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared. They found the entrance stone rolled back from the tomb, so they walked in. But once inside, they couldn't find the body of the Master Jesus. Luke 24:1-3 (The Message Bible)

It is Easter morning, and I started writing the expected Easter morning trumpets and halleluiahs. Then my husband walked into the room and I came back to the 21^st century. Here’s my Easter story.

My husband works as the caretaker of the cemetery in town. It is finally Spring here and he is glad to go back to work. All winter, the local funeral directors have been placing caskets, filled with the departed, into a cement block building at the edge of the cemetery. During the last few weeks, with the melting of the snow, those caskets have been pulled out of winter storage and given their final resting places. Some of those bodies were lowered into the ground with no ceremony, only the funeral director doing his job and my husband saying a silent prayer for whoever it was. Most of the time, though, the family returns for one more send off, one more good bye.

What if a family came to the cemetery on the appointed time and day, and my husband told them, “I am sorry, I don’t know what happened. Your loved one isn’t here.” The tomb is empty.

If that really happened, someone would be in trouble. I don’t think that any of the family would think that Mom or Dad was raised from the dead. But the beauty, the wonder, of Easter is that the tomb really is empty. The body may still be there, but Mom or Dad, Sister or Brother isn’t there. If they were believers, they are not dead, they have eternal life and all because that tomb was empty on the first Easter morning.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the empty tomb, words can never say how much we thank you.

(Picture is not from my husband's cemetery; it is a cemetery near Rockland in Michigan's UP.)

Good Friday

By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours—a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle. Jesus called loudly, "Father, I place my life in your hands!" Then he breathed his last.

When the captain there saw what happened, he honored God: "This man was innocent! A good man, and innocent!" Luke 23:44-47 (The Message Bible)

There are so many lines in the Bible that I just love. Just the simplest few words can say so much. Here, the captain, called the Centurion in other versions of the Bible, looks up at the cross. His heart sinks. He knows that they have all messed up. Big time. Max Lucado says it here better than I ever could.

Maundy Thursday

One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: "Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!"

But the other one made him shut up: "Have you no fear of God? You're getting the same as him. We deserve this, but not him—he did nothing to deserve this."

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom."

He said, "Don't worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise." Luke 23: 39-43 (The Message Bible)

I always wanted to write a story about these two criminals. What were they crucified for? Did they have family, mingled with Jesus' followers, who cried below their crosses? Did any of that family hear the conversation from the crosses? What if one of these people, who had never heard of Jesus before, end up becoming one of the first Christians? Or does anyone know if such a story has already been written?

(This is a church in Quinua, Peru, a small village about an hour's drive from Ayacucho, where I volunteered for a week in 2009. Quinua, set high in the Andes mountains, is known for its ceramics, especially the little houses which are placed on the tops of buildings as protection against evil spirits.)

Holy Wednesday

Two others, both criminals, were taken along with him for execution.

When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left.

Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing." Luke 23:32-34 (The Message Bible)

I've thought about writing something witty to go with the Bible passages this week, but most of them really say it all. There's nothing more that I could add.

(In April of 2009 I took a volunteer trip to Ayacucho, Peru. All this week my pictures will be from there. Ayacucho is known for its many churches, so it dawned on me that these pictures might fit in well this week. Stayed tuned to my blog, as some day I will tell you all about that trip.)

Holy Tuesday

At that, the crowd went wild: "Kill him! Give us Barabbas!" (Barabbas had been thrown in prison for starting a riot in the city and for murder.) Pilate still wanted to let Jesus go, and so spoke out again.

But they kept shouting back, "Crucify! Crucify him!"

He tried a third time. "But for what crime? I've found nothing in him deserving death. I'm going to warn him to watch his step and let him go."

But they kept at it, a shouting mob, demanding that he be crucified. And finally they shouted him down. Pilate caved in and gave them what they wanted. He released the man thrown in prison for rioting and murder, and gave them Jesus to do whatever they wanted. Luke 23:18-25 (The Message Bible)

(In April of 2009 I took a volunteer trip to Ayacucho, Peru. All this week my pictures will be from there. Ayacucho is known for its many churches, so it dawned on me that these pictures might fit in well this week. Stayed tuned to my blog, as some day I will tell you all about this trip.)

Holy Monday

When it was morning, the religious leaders of the people and the high priests and scholars all got together and brought him before their High Council. They said, "Are you the Messiah?"

He answered, "If I said yes, you wouldn't believe me. If I asked what you meant by your question, you wouldn't answer me. So here's what I have to say: From here on the Son of Man takes his place at God's right hand, the place of power."

They all said, "So you admit your claim to be the Son of God?"

"You're the ones who keep saying it," he said.

But they had made up their minds, "Why do we need any more evidence? We've all heard him as good as say it himself."

Then they all took Jesus to Pilate and began to bring up charges against him. Luke 22: 66 – Luke 23:2 (The Message Bible)

(In April of 2009 I took a volunteer trip to Ayacucho, Peru. All this week my pictures will be from there. Ayacucho is known for its many churches, so it dawned on me that these pictures might fit in well this week. Stayed tuned to my blog, as some day I will tell you all about this trip.)

From a crowd to a mob

Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed: “Blessed is he who comes, the king in God's name! All's well in heaven! Glory in the high places!” Luke 19: 37-38 (The Message Bible)

What a difference just a few days can make! On Palm Sunday, the crowds in Jerusalem greeted Jesus with hosannas. He has returned to his hometown, victorious, like a Super Bowl champion. His fans wave flags and sing his praises; they each want to see his face, touch his robe.

Then suddenly, four days later, the tide has turned. What has happened to the cheering supporters? They are still a noisy mob, and instead of shouting accolades, they are screaming jeers, taunts. “Hosanna in the highest” has been replaced with “Crucify him”.

How could this happen? How could these people turn so quickly? What is the mob mentality all about?

Remember when you were in high school and one of the “cool” kids decided to pick on the class nerd. Everyone went along with the “cool” kid, even though they knew it was wrong. You might have been friends with the one everyone picked on. You went to his house after school or talked to him on the phone. But at school, did you defend him? Did you try to get the other kids to knock it off? Or, if you stuck by your friend, did you silently accept the taunts just like he did?

Perhaps you were the “cool” kid. You didn’t mean to start anything; you just made a few wise cracks about the brainiac you got stuck next to in study hall. But it caught on and pretty soon everybody was sneering at the kid. And you didn’t do anything to make it stop.

I went to school in that wonderful decade known as the seventies and that’s kind of what went on. From what I hear about our schools nowadays, we were actually relatively kind to everyone. What is up with the bullying that’s going on? It makes you wonder where the kids get it from. As adults, are we setting the example we should, or can we just as easily pick up that mob mentality. Maybe we aren’t shouting jeers but just what do our actions say?

Lord, be with me every day in my dealings with all people. Help me to treat all people with love and kindness, and help me to not judge anyone. Lord, above all, help me to remember what Your Son has done for us, that he silently accepted the worst bullying ever so that we would be spared that pain.

(As we swing into Holy Week, I am planning daily to post a Bible passage from the Passion. And for today's picture, this is one of my favorites from when I was in Kenya in 2006. These school children, outside at recess, came running out to greet us and touch us, thinking that as foreigners we could some how bless them by our touch. Read more about it. )

Where are you when the rooster crows?

Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about." At that very moment, the last word hardly off his lips, a rooster crowed. Just then, the Master turned and looked at Peter. Peter remembered what the Master had said to him: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." He went out and cried and cried and cried. Luke 22:61-62 (The Message)

Jesus knows his time has come. The disciples guarantee that they are there for him, that they will stick by him. Jesus picks out Peter and tells him, "Peter, you will deny me three times before the cock crows." Peter swears that that would never happen. And yet when the cock crows, their eyes meet and Peter realizes what he has done.

Just like Peter, we tell ourselves that we would never deny knowing Jesus Christ as our Savior. If only it were that easy.

Someone at work tells us some gossip that we can't wait to share. We receive a rather inappropriate e-mail. We know it's not right, but we still giggle and then we forward it to others. We're in the Wal-Mart parking lot and see a young woman struggling with packages and two small children. We turn the other way, telling ourselves that someone else will help her. If, when we turn away, we were to see Jesus' face, would we weep just like Peter?

(From now until Easter, my Sunday blog will be taken from the book of Luke, looking at the last days to the last hours of Jesus’ life on this Earth. I pray that I can share something meaningful with you.)

The picture today is another one that my daughter took while in Kenya. A young child brought this chicken to the clinic as payment for medical care. One of the women who runs the clinic promptly cut off its head and cooked it for dinner. I have pictures of that too, if you are interested.

A Prayer in the Garden

He got up from prayer, went back to the disciples and found them asleep, drugged by grief. He said, "What business do you have sleeping? Get up. Pray so you won't give in to temptation." Luke 22:45-46 (The Message)

Taking several of the disciples with him, Jesus had gone to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He did this on occasion, but this time was different. He knew his time had come and he needed to pray to his Father for strength.

He had warned his disciples once already that they should stay alert. But instead of being there for the Master, they fell asleep. This is where, in the book of Matthew, we hear the famous line “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”

As much as I hate to admit it, this is probably the incident where I am most like the disciples. Ask my husband, ask some of my co-workers. I can lay awake in bed half the night, but put me somewhere quiet for five minutes in the middle of the day and I am asleep. I have turned nap-taking into a fine art. But sometimes, even for me, taking a nap is just not appropriate.

Lord, give me the strength to stay alert, to not give into temptation as I go through the many trials of daily life. Nothing I encounter today, or any day, will be like what you encountered on the cross for me. And when you return to this earth, may you not catch me napping.

(From now until Easter, my Sunday blog will be taken from the book of Luke, looking at the last days to the last hours of Jesus’ life on this Earth. I pray that I can share something meaningful with you. Today's picture is of the rose garden at the Green Lake Conference Center, where I attended the writer's conference which inspired me to start a Sunday devotional blog.)

A New Meal

Taking bread, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, given for you. Eat it in my memory." He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant written in my blood, blood poured out for you. Luke 22:19-20 (The Message)

As I am writing this, my husband and I are anticipating going to a neighbor’s house for a simple get-together this evening. We will share fellowship and many stories, all over plates of delicious food. I don’t know what kind of food, but it will be good and there will be plenty of it. That is what we do here in America and in most other countries around the world. We don’t gather with family and friends unless there will be eating.

The same thing went on in Biblical times. The feast of Passover was just that – a feast. Actually, it sounds like it was a four-course meal and each course had its only special meaning.

When Jesus and his disciples were celebrating Passover, he instituted a new meal for them to observe. His very body and blood. They didn’t realize the significance of this until the next day, Good Friday, when their teacher, their friend was breathing his last on the cross. The meaning of simple bread and wine became something so much different then.

Lord Jesus, may we always remember you, not only when we partake of the Lord’s Supper, but when we eat any food, drink any beverage, don any clothing, or even when we breathe the air around us. You are with us everywhere in everything we do.

(From now until Easter, my Sunday blog will be taken from the book of Luke, looking at the last days to the last hours of Jesus’ life on this Earth. I pray that I can share something meaningful with you. This week's picture was taken at our going away party for Val just a year ago, before she left for 6 months in Kenya. She and Nick's girlfriend created a menu of East African foods. Umm.)

The Passover Feast

The Day of Unleavened Bread came, the day the Passover lamb was butchered. Jesus sent Peter and John off, saying, "Go prepare the Passover for us so we can eat it together." Luke 22:7-8 (The Message)

Have you seen the movie The Ten Commandments? The epic by Cecil B. DeMille with Charlton Heston as Moses? Remember the ten plagues, the locusts, the frogs, the boils? The last plague was the death of the first-born throughout Egypt. The Israelites, slaves in Egypt at the time, were God’s chosen people so they needed to be spared from this plague. They were instructed to spread the blood of a lamb on the sides and top of their door so that the angel of death would “pass over” their household. The lamb was to be a one year old male, either a goat or a sheep, and was to be perfect, without blemish.

The Passover became one of the major Jewish holidays. And so, during this particular year in the life of Jesus, he met with his disciples to celebrate the Passover feast.

The disciples didn’t know it at the time, but the Passover lamb was always meant to symbolize Christ. Back when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, God had planned that just as they would be freed from their bondage by the blood of the lamb, we would be freed from our sin by the blood of Jesus. Even the doorframes where the blood of the Lamb was spread takes on the shape of the cross where our Lord was crucified.

Lord Heavenly Father, You developed the best plan for all of our lives, from way before we were even born. We may not see it every day, but help us to realize that You know the meaning behind all that goes on around us. Help us to understand Your plans and see that Your perfect way is the only way.

(From now until Easter, my Sunday blog will be taken from the book of Luke, looking at the last days to the last hours of Jesus’ life on this Earth. I pray that I can share something meaningful with you. The included picture this week was taken by my daughter Val in Saikeri, Kenya, last summer.)

Who is Judas?

That's when Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot. He was one of the Twelve. (Luke 22:3, The Message Bible)

Judas Iscariot, the man who would betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Not much is known about his past, but when he joined the disciples, he had enough previous business experience that he was elected to be the treasurer for Jesus’ followers. It seems odd to me that they needed a treasurer, but as it turns out, various people donated money to the Twelve, who in turn would give it to the poor and needy. The disciples didn’t need to use this money to support themselves; they were usually given food and shelter wherever they went. Judas, however, as the keeper of their money, managed to sneak some of it into his own pockets. This kind of greed caught Satan’s eye.

Why would such a man ever have become one of the chosen twelve disciples? Well, we like to think that Judas came to the Lord with the most honorable intentions and that Jesus made him one of his twelve closest followers based on that. But remember, God knows everything that’s going to happen well before it happens. He knows what is in our hearts before we even know it. I think that all of the disciples were chosen based on that, based on who Jesus knew they would become. Jesus knew before he even walked on this earth that Judas Iscariot would betray him and be the catalyst that led him to the cross.

Lord Jesus, help me to understand that the things that happened to you your last days on earth were not accidents, not bad twists of fate. Our heavenly Father knew exactly what these last hours were going to be like and yet He sent you to endure it on our behalf. Help us to understand what that kind of love means.

(From now until Easter, my Sunday blog will be taken from the book of Luke, looking at the last days to the last hours of Jesus’ life on this Earth. I pray that I can share something meaningful with you.)