Easter Devotional

What About Lazarus?

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 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. John 12:2 KJV

Now, we are all familiar with the story of Martha complaining to Jesus that she was doing all the work, and most know about Mary pouring perfume on the Lord’s feet, but we don’t really know much about Lazarus. The Bible doesn’t tell us even one word that he ever said. In some ways Lazarus reminds me a little of my grandmother. She once told me, “When I was young, I was my father’s daughter.” (The local doctor.) When I married, I became my husband’s wife, (my grandfather was a U.S. Navy Captain.) When I had children, I became the mother of my kids: (Both my mom and one of my uncles became somewhat well-known writers.) “What I want to know, is when I can just be me?” Like my grandmother, we don’t know anything about Lazarus personally. We first hear about him only as the brother of Mary and Martha. Later on, all we know is that he got sick and died. We aren’t told whether Lazarus was married, had any children or even what kind of job he had. But we do find out one very important thing: Jesus called him out of the grave! His life may not have been impressive, but the lesson that we learn from Lazarus is because, we are loved by Jesus Christ. We don’t need to have the best grades, the highest paying job, or a perfect family to be special to Him. To Jesus, none of those details matter more than the simple fact that He chose give His life for us and that, if we believe in Him, He will also call us from our grave. Then, just like Lazarus, we will get to sit next to Jesus at His table in heaven forever and ever. And that is pretty impressive if you ask me!

“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.” Saint Augustine
Photo by Chavdar Lungov on Pexels.com

One Simple Miracle

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But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 
Matthew 28:5-6 ESV

As we get closer to Easter, we need to remember what our faith is really about. Christianity is not about big church buildings, Christian concerts with special effects or elaborate social programs. Instead, all that we are and everything we do is based on one single morning at a tomb. The body of Jesus was supposed to be inside it. The priests were counting on it, because they had sent soldiers to guard it. Pilate was sure of it, because it was shut with a Roman seal. Even the closest friends of Jesus believed He would be there because they went with spices to prepare the body. And the grave was shut. The tomb was silent. The death from crucifixion was final…. Until it wasn’t!

“You seek Jesus who was crucified” the angel said. “He is not here for He has risen as He said!” And in that moment all History turned on the hinge of one simple miracle - an empty tomb and our risen Lord!

Peace Talks

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I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 ESV

I am old enough to remember the Paris Peace talks, which preceded the end of the Vietnam War. Those meetings gave the illusion that peace was at hand, but the reality was that, for the first week, they argued over what shape of table they were going to meet at! Then, after years of painful negotiations and millions of words exchanged, a document was signed that ensured nothing at all. Not long after the U.S. withdrawal, North Vietnam, invaded and conquered all of South Vietnam in record time. That is the way peace is in this world. But in today’s verse, Jesus assures us that He wasn’t leaving us a peace like that and thank God He didn’t! Instead, Jesus left us His peace: an amazing and eternal one. Unlike the Paris Accords, the peace Jesus gives has nothing to do with the absence of trouble, rather the presence of a power to overcome it. In fact, Jesus tells us, “In this world you will have tribulation.” There’s no doubt about it. Everyone battles for their tiny piece of turf, but when we put our faith and our lives in the hands of Jesus the battle is over, and He has already won! Now, He offers us His peace plan. The peace that Jesus gives is not false, weak or temporary, but it will last forever. But this peace of Jesus also comes to us only on the terms of unconditional surrender. Instead of trying to negotiate what kind of table we are going to sit at, we can trust Him and joyfully sit down wherever He decides. Jesus won the war for our souls when He gave His life for ours and we belong to Him. So, let’s sit down with Him, not at a negotiating table, but at a banquet table, and celebrate with the Prince of Peace and worship Him forever!

“Father, let me loose my clutch on everything temporal. My life, my reputation, my possessions, Lord, let me loose the tension of the grasping hand. Open my hand to receive the nail of Calvary, as Christ’s was opened. He thought Heaven, yea, equality with God, not a thing to be clutched at. So let me release my grasp.” – Jim Elliot

In the light of the sadness and tragedy of the ongoing wars in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan, it is precious breath of fresh air to hear the voices of these young people, blending together in four languages. May God bless you with His peace wherever you are this morning and may He guide your steps into His ways of peace today.