DEATH COULD NOT HOLD HIM DOWN

He is the Risen King

John 20:1-8   NIV

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. ² So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”  ³ So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴ Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.⁵ He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷ as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. ⁸ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 

Scriptures for Holy Week:  Philippians 2:5-11;  Isaiah 42:1-4;  Matthew 26:14-15; John 13:12-16; Matthew 20:17-19

Commentary:  Death could not hold him down.  Rejoice in our Savior.   Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2) is probably not one who society would want to credit with the discovery that Christ had risen.  But look how her life was blessed!  She was the first to discover and share the good news that Christ had risen.  Never disregard anyone.  God is able to bring the least to the greatest; sometime, that’s just how He works. 

Happy Easter!

The Greatest Shepherd

Psalm 23:1; 4 NIV

1The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

4Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

We can trust The Lord in the midst of turmoil, distress, hurt and pain.

The Lord has a way of turning a total disaster into victory for His people.

His hand is mightier than any problem that may consume our very being.

He is a comforter and protector.  The Lord is our strength in the time of storms.

Photo from:  www.rhythmontherock.com

No Fear: Victory

No Fear:  Victory

Isaiah 41:10 AMP

Do not fear (anything), for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you;

I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand.

What a blessed assurance that God has made promises for us to claim.

It is so easy to let discouragement, disappointments and broken hearts cause fear to settle in our spirits.  Fear of loving again, fear of trusting a friend, fear of being betrayed or isolated can cause permanent damage to us.

It will become so easy to doubt, because of fear.

But God has assured us that He will always be by our side to lift us in victory through every situation.

Nothing is too hard for God.  

We are not equipped to handle the pressures of life and the world on our own.

God wants us to totally depend on Him to guide us and keep us.

Release from fears, lean and depend on Him.

Christ has showed us the way.   

He paved the way and He was victorious.