Mourning into Joy

Prepare: Ask God to make His living presence real to you.

Read: Luke 24:1-12

Perplexed and frightened: On this first Christian Sunday, the women who were near the cross till the end were the first at the tomb. The situation facing the women at dawn of the third day took them completely by surprise. That heavy stone had been rolled away revealing an empty tomb! The body had gone! Angels appeared in dazzling apparel! No wonder they were perplexed and frightened. We too are sometimes baffled and afraid. The loss of a loved one, illness, or financial difficulties can cause great distress. How can you cope at such times?

They remembered His words: The angels gave the women the good news: 'He is not here. He is risen! Remember...' Now, as they recalled His words, the scales must have fallen from their eyes. Mourning was turning into joy. In our times of darkness, we too can turn to God's Word, refresh our memories, and recall His promises. They will bring comfort and light. 

They told these things to the eleven: The news had to be shared, and the women became the first witnesses of the resurrection. How discouraging it must have been when their words 'seemed like nonsense'! In those days, the witness of women was not considered valid! Perhaps you have been rebuffed when attempting to share the gospel. Don't give up! Jesus is alive!

It may well be that our Christianity has lacked an essential something because we too have been looking the living Jesus among the dead. 

Respond: Christ is risen. Hallelujah!.. 'Go and tell'. 

The Depths of Despair and Darkness

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12

Prepare: Can God bring light out of darkness?
Read: Luke 23:44-56

'He breathed His last' : This momentous event in history is recorded with such brevity. The Gospel writers make no attempt to dramatize or play on our emotions. The stark facts are given, and in just  six verses 44- 49, six significant details are described. What do you find most striking?

A shaft of light in the darkness : For the women and followers of Jesus, there could have been no glimmer of light that day! They had sunk to the depths of grief, loneliness and despair. It was only later that they could realize that out of death would come life, salvation, joy and light. The temple curtain was torn in two, symbolizing the new an living way opened up for us through the death of Jesus. (Heb.10:19-22). Have you discovered the joyous privilege of coming into His presence?

The secret disciples: Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Council, was a secret disciple 'for fear of the Jews' (Jn. 19:38), but now He and Nicodemus, who had visited Jesus at night (John 3) had the courage to ask for the body of Jesus. Condemned criminals lost the right to a proper burial. Their bodies were thrown on a garbage dump outside the city; so Joseph's action ensured that the Son of God was buried with dignity and love in his own new tomb. (Matt 27:59, 60). He defiled himself for Passover week, but it made no difference: he had met the Lamb of God, and that was all that mattered.

Respond: Out of my shameful failure and loss
                Into the glorious gain of the cross,
                Jesus, I come to thee.

Eternity in One Act

Prepare: Fix your eyes on Jesus who endured the cross.. Heb.12:2,3
Read: Luke 23: 26-43

The Cross: Take time today to look at the cross and bow in humble adoration, as you remember that the Savior bore the mocking, insults, and pain for you. More than that! - He died, (the righteous for the unrighteous) to 'bring you to God.' (I Pet. 3:18). Luke highlights three incidents which are not mentioned in the other Gospels.

Prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem: Approaching Calvary, Jesus told the mourning women to weep not for Him, but for themselves. because of the impending doom of Jerusalem. 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem.. I longed to gather you.. toghether as a hen... but you were not willing' (Matt.23:37)

Promise of life to the dying thief: The two criminals were guilty of violence and murder, but what a difference! On one side the robber joined those who hurled insults at Jesus. On the other side, the penitent thief confessed his guilt and recognized that Jesus was innocent. He saw beyond death, 'envisaging a spiritual kingdom' (A.E Cundall). What remarkable faith he showed! And Jesus responded, with His promise: 'Today you shall enter eternal life with Me.'

Prayer for His tormentors: "Father, Forgive...", another of the many details recorded which revealed the love Jesus had, even for His enemies. Marcus Aurelius, the great Roman Emperor and Stoic saint, used to say to himself every morning, "Today you will meet all kinds of unpleasant people; they will hurt you, and injure you, and insult you; but you cannot live like that; you know better, for you are a man in whom the spirit of God dwells."

Respond: 'Love so amazing, so divine,
                Demands my soul, my life, my all.'

Stand up, Stand up for Jesus

Prepare: How do you react when tempted to compromise or disown the Lord?
Read: Luke 23:1-25

Your verdict: Everyone in Jerusalem was giving their verdict on the Man who for the past three years had demonstrated God's power and love. The Jewish Council had already declared Jesus guilty of blasphemy and worthy of death according to their law. Judas betrayed Him, and His closest friends fled the scene. Peter had denied Him and now we see Jesus standing alone, facing Pilate, Herod and the hostile crowds. What would your verdict have been?

Fear and selfish ambition versus justice: Pilate and Herod had the authority to release Jesus, but Herod was only interested in making sport and seeing miracles; and Pilate only cared for his position. He declared Jesus innocent three times, but he yielded to pressure from the religious leaders who incited the crowds. Their shouts prevailed, and he handed Jesus over to be crucified. Justice did not enter into the equation. He released a murderer and condemned the innocent.

Who is on the Lord's side? Daily, we encounter situations when we have to  choose whose side we are on. We will be tempted to be silent when we should speak. There will be pressure to go with the crowd, for fear of losing friends or popularity, or in some cases, fear of persecution. Take courage! When Jesus commissioned His followers to be His witnesses, He also promised the power of the Holy Spirit. (24:48,49).

Respond: O' Jesus, I have promised to serve thee to the end. O' give me grace to follow my Master and my friend.

Condemned but Vindicated by God

Prepare: 'Who do you say that I am?'
Read: Luke 22:63-71

Mocking and ridicule: The soldiers were allowed to mock Jesus although He had not been officially declared guilty.This was in fulfillment of Jesus' own prediction (Matt 20:19). He endured it all without retaliation, as Peter later writes (I Peter 2:21,23). We are called to 'follow in His steps'.

Who is Jesus? This question is echoed repeatedly throughout Jesus' ministry; for example, in His home town (4:22), at the healing of the paralytic (5:21), at the stilling of the storm (8:25) and many other occasions. His identity was the crucial question that revolved round His life, miracles and teaching. Jesus asked the disciples, 'Who do you say that I am?' (Matt.16:15, 16). Have you answered the question?

'.....the Son of Man.....': The title which Jesus claimed was recognized as a Messianic title from the Old Testament (Dan.7:13,14). The Jewish Council immediately accused Jesus of blasphemy. The penalty was death (Lev.24:10-16), but they did not have the right to pass a death sentence. Only the Roman Governor could do that, hence the need to bring Jesus before Pilate and persuade him to ratify the death sentence. Jesus's words in verse 69 show that ultimately He would be vindicated. Indeed from that very hour, the authorities brought judgment on themselves. 'In the act of judging Him, they themselves are judged by Him' (Wilcock). 'Jesus is seated at the right hand of God' - the place of honour, authority and power.

Respond: Praise God that in spite of all the turmoil in so many countries of the world, we know that God is on the throne working out His purposes. 

Peter's Denial

Prepare: Would I remain true if challenged in a hostile crowd?
Read: Luke 22:54-62

Satan was in the courtyard to sift Peter and in the council chamber to lead the men astray. His victory over Peter was only temporary, for the apostle wept, repented and was restored. His victory over the religious leaders was complete, for he blinded their eyes to the truth and they condemned their own Messiah.

Faith challenged: In many parts of the world and in our land, be it Orissa, Karnataka or UP, Christians have had to suffer or even die for their faith. Some of us have led relatively sheltered lives, and our faith had not been seriously challenged. I wonder how our faith would measure up if faced with a hostile crowd.

The Lord looked straight at Peter: What did Peter see in that look? Rebuke? Sadness? Love? I'm sure the 'look' was not saying 'Didn't I tell you?'! But Peter did immediately recall Jesus' words and the crowing of the cock affirmed the sad prediction of Peter's denial. That look melted Peter's heart. Filled with remorse, he went out and wept bitterly. Those words say it all!

Hope for Peter and for you and me: The crowing cock reminded Peter that he could be forgiven because along with the warning of denial, Jesus had said, 'I have prayed for you..When you turn back...' Wiersbe points out that the rooster's call means a new day is dawning. This was surely true for Peter as his tears of repentance were the first step towards the restoration to come.

Respond: Pray for courage for all who are facing persecution. 

Darkness

Prepare: 'Man of Sorrows', what a name!
Read:  Luke 22:39-53

A famous pianist said of Chopin's nocturne in C sharp minor, "I must tell you about it. Chopin told Liszt, and Liszt told me. In this piece all is sorrow and trouble. Oh such sorrow and trouble! Until he begins to speak to God to pray; then it is all right." That is the way it was with Jesus. He went into Gethsemane in an agony; He came out with victory won and with peace in His soul because He had talked with God.

The 'cup': Crucifixion was an excruciatingly slow and painful death by which the Romans punished criminals. Thousands of people have suffered physical torture; so what was the 'cup' that held such horror for Jesus? Surely the answer lies in the spiritual dimension of suffering. Others can suffer physical pain, but only He could 'become sin for us'.(II Cor. 5:21) The 'cup' was a symbol of wrath of God (Rev.14:10). The agony endured in the garden was the knowledge that He would be forsaken by God as He would bear the punishment that we deserved. Victory over darkness was won when He accepted the 'cup', praying 'Not My will, but Yours be done.'

Testing: The disciples were tested in that hour of darkness, but they were not ready because they were sleeping instead of praying, not realizing their weakness. (33.Cf Mark 14:31). So they blundered 'fighting the wrong enemy with the wrong weapon' (Wiersbe) and deserted Jesus. That sounds very much like me! I wonder if you too might have to admit failure in some of these tests.

Respond: Praise God that Jesus overcame darkness and never deserts us in our time of need.