“After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb.  Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb.  He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow.  The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men.  But the angel told the women. ‘Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here!  For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.  Then go quickly and tell His disciples, HE has been raised from the dead.  In fact, He is gong ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.’  So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news.  Just then Jesus met them and said, “Good Morning!”  They came up, took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.  Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid.  Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee and they will see Me there.”  Matthew 28:1-10

Today, we walk into the arms of Jesus.  He is alive!  He is risen!  Hallelujah!

They were ready.  They were ready to see Jesus – dead and lifeless in a tomb.  They had already planned what they would say to the guards to let them in.  They would beg if need be.  Their Beloved Jesus needed to be washed and wrapped with the proper spices to honor His body.  It was right.  It was fitting.  It was their last act of love for all that He had done for them.

Yet, Jesus, was not done loving them.  Not nearly done.

As the ground shook beneath their feet they must have trembled and stumbled.  Once they gained their footing and their eyes could look upon the path.  They were blinded by the brilliance of bright white.  An angel, for what else could it be, had removed the stone from the tomb.  The guards lay like dead before them.

There was no preparing or persuasion needed.  God had gone before them and made a way.  It was like having the most extravagant gift you can possibly imagine laid before you.

“But the angel told the women, ‘Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said.  Come and see the place where He lay.'”  Matthew 28:5

Their eyes were the first to behold the empty tomb.  I would have had to touch where Jesus had been.  I would had to have touched the grave clothes He left behind.  Then, I would have wanted to touch Him.  If it was, as the angel said, then nothing would keep me from Him.

Then they ran, not walked, not contemplated, but ran with fear and great joy to tell the disciples as they had been instructed to do.

Just then Jesus met them and said, “Good Morning!” Matthew 28:9a

Good Morning? Indeed!

The voice of Jesus.  The sweetest sound in heaven and on earth.  Music not just for the ears but for the soul.

His face would have out shined the sun.  The laughter and contagious joy in His voice would have awakened hope and dismissed grief in a twinkling of His eye.

I dare say that I would lay at Jesus’ feet.  I would bow before Him and every emotion that I had been granted in life would have welled up in me at that moment all to flood the feet of Jesus with adoration.  I would have had to have touched Him, the earthly form of God.  Spirit who took on flesh and defeated death and eradicated sin for me and for you.

On this side of the cross, I can walk into Jesus’ arms.  My faith leads me to Him and HE will never let me go.  It is the most extravagant gift of all… an empty tomb.  A resurrected Messiah and the hope of an eternity spent with God.  Never again will I be separated from the love of Jesus Christ.

“Don’t be afraid.  Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.”  Matthew 28:10

Don’t be afraid.  What powerful words!

Were they afraid?  Absolutely.  They had been afraid since the day Jesus had been arrested.  It was too horrible to think about much less imagine and yet it had actually happened and they had seen it with their own eyes.  A nightmare from which they could not wake.  Afraid? Yes.  But His voice and the gentle command in His voice erased it all.  He spoke peace with words they could embrace.

Can you imagine being the person that got to tell the disciples that Jesus was alive?  I fear my heart would burst with pride and joy.  They glowed.  I know they did.  It was the most magnificent secret on the planet and they got to share it!

I still feel that way.  Whether I am walking with you, as we have for the past few days, or with a complete stranger that may not know Jesus.  The fact that I get to share LIFE, eternal, ever-lasting LIFE with Jesus and that He trusts me enough to share that with others astounds me.  It brings me to my knees and lays me at His feet.  There is no greater joy for me.  Thank you for allowing me to share my joy. 

Thank you, too, for walking with me for 7 days.  I will miss you!

Let’s do this again soon.  Your company is good for my soul.

Jesus is Risen!  Hallelujah!

Laura Lea

The message must be spoken.  It needs to be clear.  There isn’t much time left.

Jesus and His disciples, once again, set their feet toward Jerusalem.

One foot in front of another, they walk and discuss yesterday’s events.  There had to have been a lingering comment or two about Jesus’ righteous rage in the temple complex.  Maybe even a thought-provoking comment on Jesus’ compassion and passion for Jerusalem as His tears fell.

Then they come to that place in the road.  That fig tree is till there.  Or should I say, that withered never-going-to-produce-fruit again tree.  Faith.  Their minds and thoughts are rooted in Faith.

They walk on.

Every step Jesus takes today is pregnant with purpose.  Every encounter He has on this day is meant to divide – truth from falsehood, eternal from temporary and redemption from religion.

There is a mood in Jerusalem today.  There is chatter of celebration preparations.  There are people everywhere acknowledging Jesus.  “Hey, Rabbi, where are you teaching today?  The left side steps of the Temple?  Great!  I will be there!”  There is a mummer of adoration for Jesus… for He is captivating.

Then, there are the Sadducees and the Pharisees,

“Every day He was teaching in the temple complex.  The chief priests, the scribes and the leaders of the people were looking for a way to destroy him, but they could not find a way to do it, because all the people were captivated by what they heard.”  Luke 19:47

None of this is lost on Jesus.  Every step He takes today has purpose.

It began with separating truth from falsehood.

Luke 20 v. 9-26 is a parable about a vineyard owner who allowed tenant farmers to farm his vineyards.  The owner was away a long time but sent a servant to the farmers to gather some of the fruit.  The farmers mistreated not one, not two but three servants who attempted to collect what was due to the owner.  So finally, the owner sent his BELOVED son.  This time the tenant farmers murdered him so that they would receive his inheritance.  What a sad story about bad people feeling entitled to the portion that is not theirs.  Oh, wait, the scribes and chief priests, they got it.  It was all about them and they were angry.  Truth will always speak against falsehood.  Jesus would make sure of it.

Next was dividing the eternal from temporary.

The air around Jesus was getting thick with drama and intrigue.  Those who sought to destroy Jesus sent spies into the crowd looking for evidence to turn Him into the governor.

“Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You don’t show partiality, but teach truthfully the way of God.  Is it lawful, for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”  Luke 20:21

I want to make note here that our calendar always places Easter in the middle of tax season.  Just pointing that out.

Jesus was not swayed by flattery.  His response, “Show me a denarius.  Whose image and inscription does it have?” “Ceaesar’s”, they replied. “Well, then,” He told them,”give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”  Luke 20:23-25 

Silence.  And so Jesus walks on.  Question after question He speaks Truth and Light and Eternal into them.  Those who seek to destroy Him are silenced at every answer that comes from His mouth.  “Teacher, You have spoken well.  And they no longer dared to ask Him anything.” Luke 20:39

Jesus must have been exhausted.  He had been giving of himself all day.  Seeking to pour the eternal into earthen vessels.  Every parable was critical to their survival.  Every word He spoke was a shield of protection against deception.  Every teachable moment needed to be turned toward the eternal so that they, or do I dare say we, would finally get it.

His feet could not turn towards Bethany yet.  No rest.  Not yet.  Redemption was coming and His followers needed to be ready.

This was it, redemption needed to be separated from religion.

The six or so parables that are recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all speak to seeing redemption through God and not religious duty, tradition or obligation.  Jesus was the authority and it had nothing to do with religion and everything to do with redemption.  Jesus was serious and the disciples were watching it unfold right before their eyes.

I imagine this was the tipping point for Judas.  He had watched for days as the religious leaders had tried to ensnare Him and each time Jesus had walked away.  That was good, right?  I think so, but I know Jesus on this side of the cross.  Judas, as a zealot, wanted change.  Jesus changed things – changed attitudes, hearts, bodies and minds.  Yet, Judas wanted political change and if he could just force Jesus’ hand by turning Him over to those who were trying to destroy Him wouldn’t He rise up and save Himself and everyone else along with Him?  It seemed logical.  He was desperate.  He was tired.  Surely, this would work out the way he wanted.  So, he did what any good zealot would do, he went and met with the Sanhedrin to start the revolution.  What did a few pieces of silver matter?  He could use it for the coming uprising when Jesus took down Rome.  Sigh.

We have walked a long way today. We have walked through the streets of Jerusalem.  We have sat on the steps of the temple.  We have danced around the dangerous.

Jesus, late in the evening, turned His feet toward Bethany.

Grace and peace, my fellow walkers.  Let’s walk together tomorrow.

Laura Lea

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