Sonsofthesea.org

"Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

Month: April 2021

We Have A Great High Priest…

April 24, 2021 /
MaryEllen Montville

“For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people” –Hebrews 2:17.

This morning has been pain-filled—my heart is heavy. Truth be told, this has been a very trying season. Some seasons are just like that. And when we’re walking through our pain—at least when I am, it’s easy to fall into despair. To forget for a time that, even though what we’re experiencing is real, we shouldn’t be surprised that it’s happening—or that it hurts as bad as it does. Jesus assured us that as long as we’re on this earth, things like this will happen. But how easy it is to forget that sometimes. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid”  –John 14:27.

I’m sure it’s because of just how pain-filled these recent times have been for me that the Holy Spirit came as only He can in His gentle, loving way, and reminded me of something this morning that I needed to be reminded of. Something I’d recently heard the character who portrays Jesus in the series, The Chosen, say. A statement He made in response to a question posed to Him by the hostess of a dinner party He was attending.

The hostess asked, “When I was a little girl, my father told me the Messiah would bring an end to pain and suffering. If you are who people are saying you are, when will you do that?” And the character that portrays Jesus responded: “I’m here to preach the Good News of the Kingdom of heaven, a Kingdom that is not of this world, a Kingdom that is coming soon, so yes, sorrow and sighing will flee away. I make a way for people to access that Kingdom but, in this world, bones will still break, hearts will still break. But in the end, Light will overcome darkness.”  I needed to be re-minded of that today. And I thank the Holy Spirit, not only for what He deposits within me but equally, for what He re-minds me of when I need reminding. And so I’m here to re-mind you, as well. Because perhaps like me, you may need reminding right now.

But first, notice Jesus’ response to this woman. He pointed her towards the Good News—towards God’s Kingdom, towards The Truth. And then He addressed her concerns. So today, as I share with you what God has placed on my heart, I pray it points you towards God. Towards His Kingdom, and His Word—made flesh. Towards the Truth; towards Jesus and His great Love for you.

Over these past several months, I’ve lost four dear friends. I take great comfort in knowing that I will see them again one day soon as each of them knew Jesus. But it still hurts that they’re no longer with me now. In addition, I’m currently typing this message in an entirely different state, as in location. I’m here because the enemy has attacked my family, and the Lord suddenly sent me here, for now, to help. Also, before I began typing this teaching this morning, I was—I have been, praying with my brothers and sisters back home for a dear brother in Christ who is undergoing surgery today to remove a cancerous tumor from his body. Updates continue to come in via text of complications the doctors have encountered. Suffice it to say that my heart hurts this morning—it’s heavy. Yet, at the same time, by God’s grace, I have great peace.

As I was sitting here praying, pouring my heart out to the Lord, the Holy Spirit, my precious Comforter, came. And, doing what only He can, He began ministering to my broken heart.

He reminded me, as I had just reminded my friend’s wife via a text message, that we have a Great High Priest who has tasted everything—every emotion and situation we can imagine. So, He knows—can personally relate to, exactly what we’re feeling and thinking. He is not a God who is far off. He is close to us—to my friend in surgery and me right now, to his wife and his family as well. He’s close in the hour of our deep need. He’s close to my son and your son or daughter in their moment of need. Closer even than we can fathom. And I, for one, am so grateful for that fact right now because I need what only Jesus can give me—His peace and strength. “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint” –Isiah 40:30-31.

I am grateful for the assurance that He will never leave me nor forsake me—no matter the circumstances—no matter what every demon springing up around me may be screaming at me right now!

I know God is with me –I trust Him. And He sent me here to you today not only to share my testimony but also to remind you that as surely as God is with me, so too is He with you. If you are His child, then His Spirit at work in us reminds us that we are to walk by faith, not by sight, not according to how we feel. Feelings change; Truth doesn’t. His Spirit in us reminds us to trust Him. Especially now, when so much of what is going on around us makes absolutely no sense. In these trying and uncertain seasons of my life—these dark and challenging valleys, I am so thankful that I don’t have to walk by sight. That I can trust Jesus to lead and guide me instead. Otherwise, I don’t know if I would make it out of this present pain-filled valley in one piece, to experience the mountaintop, once again, that faith and my relationship with Jesus have taught me are waiting for me on the other side of this. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” –Hebrews 4:15-16.

I’m also reminded this morning that no matter how painful this valley may be, I’m not walking through it blindly. This pain will not overtake me because Jesus made sure to forewarn me that people will get cancer in this fallen and sin-riddled world—yet He is with them, still. They’ll die what seems like way too early, in my mind at least. Divorce will happen, and we’ll be forced to stand by and watch those we love walk through the pain it brings while not being able to do one thing to stop it from happening. Our children will become addicted—or maybe our parents. They’ll make lifestyle choices that, as Christians, we cannot and do not agree with—and yet we’ll love them despite their choices. Just as Jesus loved us—and still does. Despite those sinful choices we continue to make. “Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted” –Hebrews 2:18.

We may never understand—or know why God allows certain things to happen to us or to those we love, this side of heaven that is. But if we have a relationship with Jesus, this much we do know about Him now, today, for certain: He’s a loving Father. A Good God. And because we know this, know Him—because we’ve tasted and seen for ourselves that He alone is Good, we can confidently say as Job did: “…What? Shall we receive only pleasant things from the hand of God and never anything unpleasant?” –Job 2:10. In fact, right before Jesus was about to be betrayed—about to willingly take up His Cross. Before His sinless Body was about to be ripped open by the Roman whip, well before thorns were viciously pressed into His forehead and scalp, and before spikes were savagely driven through His wrists and feet and a spear jabbed into His side, Jesus assured His disciples—comforted them really, us too, me right now, with these Words: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” –John 16:33.

All you and I can do is comfort and pray for each other, friends—be Jesus’ hands and feet, honestly, compassionately, and tangibly.

Because whatever valley I may find myself in, whatever my sister and her husband will face once he’s out of surgery today, whatever valley my son or your son or daughter, your parent or parents may be walking through at this very moment. By God’s grace alone, we must remember, as we pass through it, that we have not endured the ultimate betrayal, the pain—physical or emotional, that Jesus suffered for us—for me, lest I ever forget His pain was personal. It was and still is personal for you, too.

So, if like me, and so many others today, you find yourself in the valley of despair—walking through pain so heavy it’s taking all you have to just put one foot in front of the other, please friend, know you are not alone right now. Even as I type, I am still praying—for you this time. I’m praying and take authority over whatever has your heart in its vice-like grip this day, in Jesus’ name. I’m praying you will follow my lead and cry out to the One who knows us better than we know ourselves—the One who sees the end of your situation from its beginning, despite your pain.

Cry out to the One who saw it all coming and will, no matter how it looks to you right now, no matter how hard it is for you to believe you’re going to get through this, more, believe that you’ll eventually smile and thrive and grow and love and heal and forgive and reach out, again. And why? Because we have this Great High Priest who not only felt and experienced everything we have, He will also empower us to overcome this. This same Jesus assures us in His Word that: “I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me” –Jeremiah 32:27.

So If you’re reading this and have said to yourself, “wait, this is me! This is how I’ve been feeling, too! I’m walking in a valley of my own right now. Then won’t you cry out to Jesus for help? And, if you’ve yet to ask this Jesus into your life and heart as Lord, what better time than while you’re in a pain-filled valley? Why? Because He’s just waiting for you to ask for His help, waiting to help you walk through it. He’ll come and forgive and restore, renew, and heal you, right where you are. Yes, friend, even there in the thick of that sin you think is so unforgivable. Just repent of your sins today and ask Jesus into your heart. Why go it alone when you can do it with Jesus? “He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset by weakness” –Hebrews 5:2.

When God Calls You To It, Do It.

April 17, 2021 /
Stephanie Montilla

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” – Joshua 1:9.

Now that New England’s weather is slowly becoming warmer, my car rides have become more enjoyable. I can finally open my sunroof and feel the pressing warmth of the sun on my face. It feels great to extend my arm out of the car window and feel the force of the wind blowing against it. And I’m so enjoying being able to soak up more sunlight throughout the day now. The warmer weather brings with it an added boost of happiness as well. Yet none of these things compare to the joy my car ride conversations with Jesus bring me.

Besides being at home, I spend most of my time in my car. It’s where I do my pondering, my questioning, confessing, and my praying. And I am convinced that my car transforms into my own private sanctuary in those precious moments. The other day, while driving, I talked with God about many of my worries and stresses. See, I have always been a planner. I’m always looking towards the future. And as great as being prone to thinking and planning for the future may sound, this mindset is also riddled with its own fears and anxieties—Its endless loop of questions. Questions like: “What if this doesn’t work out?”, “What if I run short of money?”, “How long do I have to wait, God?” And the more questions I ask, the more it feels like I’m doing little more than enabling my anxiety. Then suddenly, somewhere on that same drive, the Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Now I’ve heard and read this verse numerous times, but this time, it felt personal. Being reminded that the Lord is with me brought me comfort and peace. My remembering not to be discouraged; uplifted me. Knowing I need not be afraid; strengthened me. And that’s when it hit me: the same God that had spoken those exact words to Joshua; just brought them back to my remembrance! And knowing this prompted me to go and dig into Joshua’s story yet again. Allow me to pivot here and share some of what I discovered about courage and faith, and strength as a result.

The bible tells us, Joshua, son of Nun, became Israel’s leader after Moses’s death.

Moses had appointed him his successor before his death. And shortly after Moses died, the Lord said this to Joshua concerning his new ministry: “Moses, my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan river into the land I am about to give them – to the Israelites” –Joshua 1:2. God called Joshua to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River and take possession of the land promised to their forefather Abraham –Joshua 1:1-5; Genesis 17:8. Yet before Joshua ever issued his first command to the people, God had already commanded Joshua three times to be strong and courageous. –Joshua 1:5, 7, 9. God’s repeated command over Joshua stood out to me because the Lord’s command for Joshua to be ‘strong and courageous’ was vital for Joshua’s future, his preparedness. Joshua would need to drink deep of this command before he could lead these people—before he would be able to execute God’s plan for them all. The Lord, who is both Sovereign and Omniscient, knows what lies ahead of us—and within us. He knows what we’ll need to be prepared to lead those He has entrusted to us, just as He did both with Moses and Joshua.

Leadership is no easy task. So, God makes things clear for Joshua and, through Him, for us. He outlines for Joshua what he must do to be prosperous and successful. First, and above all, love God and be obedient to Him. Keep God’s Word close to his heart—on his lips, and to not rely upon his own strength but, in all things, to trust God. “Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go” –Joshua 1:7. Secondly, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it” –Joshua 1:8. And lastly, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” –Joshua 1:9.

The Lord’s repetitive command to Joshua to be strong and courageous is meant to draw Joshua into a greater understanding that the strength he’ll need moving forward will not be his own, but the Lords. Joshua would never be able to do all that the Lord had for him to do in his own strength. Neither can you and me. Think about it. How many times have you felt afraid before executing a task? How many times have you lost your nerve? God knows we get anxious; Scripture assures us that “He knows our anxious thoughts” –Psalm 139:23. He knows that discouragement will come our way. Yet, if we’ll but only remember that God is with us wherever we go, we can, in His strength, become empowered to be bold and walk confidently in the will of God—despite how weak and incapable we may feel.

It’s not true that God does not give us more than we can handle—He does. He allows it so that we’ll learn to rely and depend on Him even more!

After Joshua instructs the Israelites to cross the Jordan River, he then sent two spies ahead of the people into the next town to scout out its fighting force. Once these spies entered enemy territory, it wasn’t long before they needed to be hidden, and they were with the help of a prostitute named Rahab. But why would Joshua’s spies enter the home of a prostitute in the first place? Simple. No one would have thought it strange for these strangers, these men, to enter and leave the house of a prostitute at all hours of the day and night. But Jericho’s King found out about them and questioned Rahab as to their whereabouts. And as per her agreement with them, she lied to the King. “But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. Go after them quickly” –Joshua 2:4-5.

“By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient” –Hebrews 11:31. Talk about courage! Rahab shares with these Israelite spies her belief that it was indeed Yahweh who had given Israel this land. “I know the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you” –Joshua 2:8-9. I found it remarkable that this harlot from Jericho, a woman from Jesus’ lineage, was used by God to play a significant role in Israel’s story. As with Rahab and the Samaritan woman, God still demonstrates that He will use the unlikeliest of people to protect and support His children. And He’ll use the most improbable people to carry out His will. Let this be a reminder to us all that God goes before us to prepare the way, that He is preparing hearts to receive us, even now.

We can learn many valuable lessons from the first six chapters of the book of Joshua. The first is that even when we do not feel courageous or strong, we must trust God’s strength at work in us. The second is that the Lord is faithful to prepare the way, and He can use an unlikely person in a strange set of circumstances to aid and protect you just as the Lord used with Rahab with the spies. The third is that sometimes God’s instructions both sound and appear foolish; it’s in these moments we must hold tight to His Truth. Even when our minds desire to question God’s will or the instructions He gives us, faith in God means that we obey Him because He alone is faithful to do what He says He will. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” –Isaiah 55:8-9. And finally, if we desire to see a supernatural move of God, we must be willing to exercise an unwavering, dare I say, crazy faith and obedience to His Word. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” –Hebrews 10:23.

Friends, our obedience to God is evidence of our faith in Him. Like Joshua, the more we unflinchingly follow his commands, we, too, will conquer and be victorious in our walk with the Lord—in His strength. The God of the Bible keeps His promises. So, I encourage you to stir up your faith in this miracle-working God. I encourage you to be strong and courageous no matter what you are facing today. And I pray that, like Joshua, you become unflinching in your obedience to God—come what may. And, if you desire to know more of this God, that you’ll invite Him into your heart. I pray that He reveals Himself to you. And that you’ll trust Him to show you His wonder-working power and faithfulness. “In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might” –Ephesians 6:10.

What Do You Want?

April 10, 2021 /
Kendra Santilli

Although the Easter holiday is behind us, I’ve still been reflecting on its significance this past week. As believers, we set aside Easter Sunday as a day to honor and celebrate our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ’s, resurrection. Yet, for us, celebrating His resurrection moves beyond Easter Sunday; celebrating Jesus’ resurrection is really an everyday occurrence for Christians. Our salvation has led us to come alive in Him—that new life in us the result of, evidence of, His resurrection power. And, we’re made whole as we grow in our understanding of the significance of Jesus’ empty Cross and His empty tomb. The coming of the Messiah, who Scripture assures us is Jesus, changed everything. Literally. His appearing on earth, Jesus’ life and death, His resurrection means that access to God the Father is now possible once again for anyone who will genuinely believe in Jesus. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” – 2 Corinthians 5:21.

In part, Jesus’ leaving heaven and coming to earth as a God-man means that we can access the kingdom of God and help bring His kingdom into this world. We can witness the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, and the deaf able to hear because of Him because He defeated sin, death, and the grave. “I tell you this timeless truth: The person who follows me in faith, believing in me, will do these same mighty miracles that I do – even greater miracles than these because I go to be with my Father! For I will do whatever you ask me to do when you ask me in my name” – John 14:12-13.

That Truth can mean only one thing: the miracles Jesus performed while He walked among us, are still accessible to us today! Because Jesus defeated death through His resurrection, He is still very much alive today. Not even death could withstand His mighty power! Through Him, because His Spirit lives within us, we have the power to overcome sickness and disease in the body, mind, and spirit. That’s great news, my friends! Why? Because throughout the Gospels, we see many instances where Jesus healed the sick. And we are assured in Scripture that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!” –Hebrews 13:8.

And whether people were tormented in their minds by an evil spirit or dealing with a physical ailment, Jesus sets the example for what fearless ministry looks like.

There are multiple instances in Scripture where Jesus took the initiative to heal those who came to Him for miracles—regardless of their intentions. Yet there are also several instances where Jesus asks those who sought Him out if physical healing is what they genuinely wanted. Let’s dive into what the Bible tells us within those particular accounts. “As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored – Matthew 9:27-30a.

We see a comparable situation in Luke: ‘As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God’ – Luke 18:35-42.

We’ll find the final passage I’d like us to look at in the Book of John: ‘…there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five porches. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. and they waited for the moving of the waters. From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked’ – John 5:2-9.

In each of these instances, we witness Jesus’ humility firsthand. Knowing that He is God, and fully capable of healing these people, Jesus nevertheless asks them, “Do you want to get well?” Jesus doesn’t just force His power onto them.

You see, sometimes people can get so comfortable with their sickness and the attention that it brings them they honestly don’t want to be healed. Sounds crazy, right, not the norm surely, this desire is certainly not born from a sound mind, but it’s true, nevertheless. Of course, these same people may say that they want to be healed, yet in their hearts, what they often desire most, is the gaze of man. To be noticed, to receive the attention their illness affords them. Perhaps they’ve become addicted to the attention it gives them, and they fear that in getting well, they may somehow fade into society, into the background, no longer standing out. No longer being noticed. Jesus knows this, and so He asked, “Do you want to be healed?”

As a healthcare worker, I’ve witnessed and treated those who seem to love being patients.

Don’t get me wrong, most patients are genuinely sick and rightfully in need of treatment, but others do come into the hospital because they desire the attention being a patient affords them. Their gaining attention can range from wanting to stay in the hospital so badly that they’ll refuse to get off the treatments only available in the hospital to feigning symptoms that might cause them to remain in or be admitted to the hospital. I’m referring to people capable of caring for themselves, yet they like the attention and ease of someone else doing things for them. I will reiterate that this is not the majority, but I sometimes do see patients who seem like they don’t want to get well. And as I was driving home from work one day, frustrated by a similar situation, I asked the Lord, “why are people like this, Lord?!” And it’s almost as if I heard Him say, so people haven’t changed, huh?

Maybe that’s why I was intrigued by these people as I read over their accounts in Scripture? They caused me to have a new understanding of why Jesus asked the question, “Do you want to be healed?” At first glance, it seemed counterintuitive to me for Jesus to ask a sick person if they wanted to be made well. It seemed odd to me for Jesus to confer with a blind man about his truly believing that Jesus could do what He said He could do. It seemed silly to me for Jesus not to assume that these people each wanted to be well. I believe the default assumption for most people reading the above accounts would agree that it’s just common sense for people to want to be well? Yet Jesus, being God, knows differently. He understands—He sees a man’s heart—his intentions.

This led me to wonder: Just how many people did Jesus ask if they wanted to be healed, but they turned Him away—choosing their illness and the attention it afforded them instead?

I wonder if Jesus asked anyone if they wanted to be healed, and they suddenly realized that it would be easier to sit on the street and continue to beg, instead of accepting the healing Jesus was offering? To have to work then, and perhaps lose the attention their illness had afforded them? I also wonder if Jesus asked them this question to help them truly see? Not just with their physical eyes, but deeper and broader instead, with the eyes of their heart. I wonder if Jesus wanted to help give those we’ve read about not just their physical healing but a fresh perspective as well? Was Jesus attempting to lead them towards an awareness that it is He alone who heals? Or, was Jesus prompting them—encouraging them to examine their motives? To come to that place within themselves where they could honestly say that they wanted to receive all that Jesus was offering them.

There are so many rich and unspoken nuances—so many possibilities, within these passages; we will never realize their fullness this side of eternity. Yet there is this one thing Scripture makes crystal clear: sin causes spiritual blindness. “I will bring distress on mankind so that they will walk like those who are blind because they have sinned against the LORD” – Zephaniah 1:17.

I can’t help but think that Jesus was, in part, pointing those we read of in today’s Scriptures towards this one simple, yet profound Truth. That though they may receive healing in their body, if the deeper wounds in their souls weren’t healed, they would continue to walk around spiritually blind. “Jesus came to bring heaven to earth by preaching The Good News to the poor, [healing] broken hearts and [proclaiming] liberty to captives, vision to the blind, and to restore the crushed with forgiveness” – Luke 4:18.

Jesus completed what His Father bid Him do in eternity past by taking our sins upon Himself when He came and walked among us as a man. By offering His sinless Life on the Cross and rising again three days later so that we might have eternal life in Him one day and live our lives to the fullest now. His resurrection afforded those who have made Jesus Lord of their life the same power He demonstrated while He walked the earth—The power of God’s Holy Spirit alive and at work in us.

So, in closing, I’ll ask you the same question today that Jesus asked those He healed. “Do you want to be well?”

Know this, friend: complete healing is available to you today in no other than Jesus Christ. And If you don’t know this Jesus, I invite you to do so now. Just confess your sins to Him and proclaim Him as your Savior. He will lead you into a life of forgiveness, love, and healing. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” – 1 John 1:9.

Hope, Resurrected.

April 3, 2021 /
MaryEllen Montville

“As the women bowed their faces to the ground in terror, the two men asked them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee” –John 24:5-6.

We’ve each done it, haven’t we? Even those of us with the most robust faith have failed to take Jesus at His Word on one occasion or another. Ashamedly, I know I have. We allow our fleshly expectations to overshadow—completely shade at times, our pure spiritual beliefs. And then we wonder why we miss what it is God is doing right before our eyes! Yet how can we honestly expect to recognize new life when we’re looking for it through the lens of our spiritually dead eyes?

Jesus loved these women who came to His tomb heads downcast, spices in hand, ready to prepare Him for the time they believed He’d spend entombed. He knew that they would come to His grave one way yet leave another! That hope restored would wipe out all traces of their despair. That joy would throw its coat over mourning’s shoulders, enlivening it once again. He knew His strength would replace their weakness, becoming the very strength they’d need to carry them all the way to the finish line! So, now imagine their disbelief. The shock and confusion, the excitement and joy they must have felt when they found His tomb was empty! I know, I know! These women were standing outside the entrance of Jesus’ grave, so it was reasonable then, for them to expect that what’s been buried to remain dead—reasonable to their carnal minds, that is.

Conversely, if anyone of us hopes to ever rise above what has passed for truth in our lives, we must allow our minds to be transformed and renewed. We need to be willing to die to our preconceived, closed-off carnal truths and, instead, allow ourselves to be opened to The Truth—to God’s Truth. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will” –Romans 12:2.

And if we who believe know this, know that God’s Word is Truth, have experienced its transformative, life-changing power for ourselves—why then, do we still doubt Him?

Why do we forget about His unwavering character and promises? His power to accomplish within us what He has already accomplished around us—above and below us? Why do we forget that He truly is The All-Powerful God? And that His Resurrection isn’t just a one-day celebration—at least it shouldn’t be. Yes, Easter Sunday will pass, but remember, Jesus remained on the earth for 40 days after His resurrection. He could have just as easily instantly ascended to His Father. His earthy work was finished after all—His birth, death, and resurrection—sin defeated on His Cross. So why did He stay?

Some say it was because our Lord knew man’s weakness. Knew that even though He walked amongst us as a man, that He fulfilled every scripture, Jesus knew that we would need to see certain ongoing proofs of life before we’d allow our hearts and minds ever to hope again. To rise up and soar once more. Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves—ask Peter. Jesus knew that Peter would forget—Matthew, Mary, and Andrew too. Forget all that He’d told them about what the Son of Man must endure—and that He would rise again on the third day—even though it would appear death had won. “Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help” –Hebrews 4:15-16.

Satan thought he’d won that first Good Friday. Death and despair had a plan for our lives. Jesus’ empty tomb put an end to that plan, listen: “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” –Colossians 2:13-15.

So, let me ask you, my friend, what grave are you standing before today? What are you mourning? What loss has hit you so hard it’s robbed you of life and time—of your hope? Of allowing yourself to believe, as you once did, that your life can be joy-filled, hope-full? What caused you to let go of that vision God gave you? The dream that made you get out of bed every morning, excited to engage with the world. What happened to the spark of the Divine deep down in your belly? Might it be possible that God has allowed you to experience this tomb, this seeming end of a thing so that you too might be an eyewitness to His resurrection power? Your dead hopes and dreams, those promises you held dear, infused again with new life? Your life, hope-full once more?

Remember brothers and sisters, Jesus drew only those that loved Him, followed after Him, yearned for Him, had yielded their hearts to Him—to His empty tomb. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here! See the place where they put Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you” –Mark 16:6-7.

Then, He spent the next 40 days demonstrating to His friends that He truly was alive. That He alone has the power to not only to forgive our sins and heal our bodies, to bring us from death to Life in His Son, and to teach us that God alone has the final Word over death. That He alone has the power to resurrect our long-dead hopes and dreams. You have not lost what God has promised you. God is not a man that He can lie. Jesus said death could not hold Him—and it didn’t. So, if He has spoken a Word over you, given you a plan for some ministry, a vision to build, a desire to serve and grow and bear fruit for Him—then believe He will bring it to pass—in His time, not yours.

Remember, Jesus’ friends thought they’d lost their reason to hope too. They thought all that they had loved and yearned for was dead—sealed-up inside a garden tomb. It took a herald to remind them not to go looking for life in places intended to hold dead things. “I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” –John 10:9-11.

You’ll never see your hopes come to pass if you continue to show up ready to bury them.

My friends, Jesus said He would restore. He said He would provide. He said you’d go and do and plant and water and reap. So be open to seeing the vision God has given you through today’s eyes. You didn’t get it wrong back then—you just needed three more days of preparation. “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord” –John 20:19-20.

Dear friend, if you have yet to meet this Jesus who breathes new life into us. The One who resurrects dead hopes and dreams, who uses what others see as useless, then I encourage you today, right now, to ask Him to come into your heart. Ask Him to forgive your sins. To restore within you what life has taken out of you. He will. He wants to. He’s just waiting for you to invite Him into your heart. “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends” –Revelation 3:20.

© 2024 Sonsofthesea.org

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑