The tomb was empty. All that remained was the shroud that covered him. He had conquered death. Just as he said he would and now he was about to change the world.
IN CHRIST ALONE
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied –
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine –
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
Stuart Townend, Keith Getty
As his lifeless body lay in the grave, he had already conquered death and the devil.
Posted in Bible, Christian daily devotion, christianity, confidence, cross, Easter, Encouragement, eternal life, Faith, forgiveness, God, Holy Week, Hope for the hopeless, Inspiration, Jesus, Lamb of God, Passion Week, Salvation
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HE SUFFERED AND WAS BURIED
In remembering my little babe’s hands, I recall ten tiny fingers on smooth dimpled hands. These little fingers would grasp tightly to mine and in an instant he took hold of my heart.
Each day, as he grew, those hands became bruised and scuffed as he played with the other children. As he learned his step-dad’s occupation they became calloused and blistered, but he seemed to enjoy the feel of the wood and being able to form it into something.
Later I would see those same hands touch others and heal them of all kinds of ailments and maladies. He turned water into wine, calmed an angry sea, wash his followers’ feet.
He was my son, but he now had to suffer at the hands of his enemies. I cringed as the cat- of-nine tails slashed the skin from his back, exposing muscle and tendons. My heart ached as they pierced those sweet hands with the iron spikes. I can’t express my feelings seeing his arms extended and hands reaching out as far as they could. As the blood fell and gnats and flies surrounded him, my heart could think of nothing but the unrighteous death he had to suffer to take away the sin of the world. He no longer belonged to me alone.
He died. His pain was over, but my heart had been pierced right along with him.
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HE BELONGS TO THE AGES
He knew his time was drawing near. His little band of men and a handful of followers went back to Bethany to spend one more day with his friends. It seemed appropriate. He had spent many happy hours in their home. When we’re troubled, we often find strength being with those we love.
Martha busied herself with preparations for his return – Lazarus, having tasted death only a few days before, couldn’t wait to hear more about heaven – their sister Mary longed for more words from her rabbi.
My heart grew heavier as each day passed. The prophesies about him were being fulfilled one by one and I was beginning to realize what would be next. My dear boy would be placed on public display. He would be subjected to ridicule and mockery. He would eventually carry the burden of every man, woman and child that ever lived, died or would come to be. I knew his shoulders were broad and he could endure it, but to me he was still my child.
I remembered the words of Isaiah,
“He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.”
The words kept turning over in my brain. Every event leading up to this week seemed like the end of another chapter, yet the beginning of a new story. From the very beginning, I knew that God’s will was being accomplished through Jesus, but here was flesh of my flesh fulfilling each and every one of the things ever written about him.
I knew then that he was no longer just my boy. He belonged to the ages.
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OUT OF THE DARKNESS
(Originally posted 12-31-14)
Through the cobwebs of existence – through the darkness of our strife –
Through the dankness of our sinfulness, through the wickedness of life
Through the deepest, darkest pits of hell and the helplessness we feel –
Comes a single beam of light from heaven to sinful hearts to heal.
The light grows stronger as we move to get a closer glance,
but as we reach to touch it, we’re enveloped in a trance.
It’s just within our reach we think, but no matter how we try,
We can’t escape the darkness that consumes us from all sides.
Just when we think that all is lost and relinquish every hope,
The light erases darkness and through it we can cope.
This little light from Bethlehem became a brilliant star
that came to earth to save the world from sin’s most deadly scar.
He came in darkness of the night, but His brilliance cannot hide.
We are redeemed by His great might. He always will abide.
KATHY BOECHER©
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DO NOT BE AFRAID
Out of the depths of my transgression, my heart screams for relief.
I grumble – I complain – I even blame God for my shortcomings.
How dare I challenge the Creator of heaven and earth?
Who do I think I am that I can question the One who molded me in my mother’s body?
I am but a worm – an insignificant gnat who persists and bothers.
In my distress a quiet voice reaches my ears. It tells me not to be afraid.
The voice is comforting and for a moment I let myself be soothed by its gentle caress.
Again I stumble. My feet cannot follow all the regulations for my life.
My hands feel useless. My heart is empty. I lose hope.
Again He whispers, “Do not be afraid.”
It is like the spinning of a revolving door – in and out of belief – around and around,
Spinning, falling, helplessly, hopelessly. From the darkest part of my existence
He lifts me and carries me to safety. I rest in His strong arms. He is the Light of the world – my Savior!
KATHY BOECHER©
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MISSION TO SAVE
It was the start of a week filled with emotional highs and lows. On Sunday, I watched with the crowds as he entered the city on a donkey and was received with shouts off Hosanna. There were those who had come because they’d heard about all the miraculous things he accomplished – even the raising of the dead.
There were those with ailments they wanted healed – those who were curious about him – those who thought he was gaining too much popularity and wouldn’t tolerate it – those who followed him – those who thought he was a king would deliver them from their enemies. Each one had their own agenda. Each was thinking of their own needs, but he was on a mission to save them all.
When he came to the temple on Monday, he was disgusted at the sight of the many vendors in the area. Each of them there with hopes of making a profit – including the priests who made a percentage of the spoils. The entire city was a place of loud activity, buying and selling of animal sacrifices and those who exchanged foreign coins. It no longer remained the quiet place of prayer and contemplation. It was now a den of thieves, as my son referred to it.
It was a side of him I hadn’t witnessed before. He became enraged. His words again showed authority. His anger was righteous. He was not about to have his Father’s house abused in such a way. As his eyes revealed his inner anger, I realized that this was part of his mission. He displayed God’s own anger with a corrupt world and at the same time he showed compassion for those who would soon accuse and kill him.
There was no turning back.
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PRINCE OF PEACE
It was shortly after Lazarus had been brought back to life. His sister, Mary, lovingly anointed Jesus with oil. The aroma of expensive nard filled the room. I wondered why Mary was bestowing this honor on my boy. The use of such oil was reserved for those deserving special honor. It was also used for burial.
There was one in the room who thought it a complete waste. Judas was the disciple who took care of the finances for the group, so it was like him to be thinking that way. He said the oil should be sold for money to give to the poor. Somehow I had the feeling that his concern wasn’t for the poor. There was something about Judas that didn’t sit right with me.
The old prophesies started to fill my mind. The prophet Zechariah had spoken about the Messiah coming from the Mount of Olives. He spoke of him riding into Jerusalem on a lowly beast of burden – a donkey. This wasn’t the warhorse you’d expect a great king to ride, but the Messiah wasn’t a warrior. He would called the Prince of Peace. I couldn’t help remembering stories of King David and his entry into the holy city. He danced through the streets in triumph as crowds cheered. Would my boy be welcomed in such a way?
It was the day before we were to go to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. He sent two of his followers out in search of the foal of a donkey, which he would use to ride into the city.
The scent of the aromatic oil filled the air. I was starting to understand what was about to come. My heart grew heavy, but I knew that it had to be this way.
The journey was now well underway.
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GOD AND MAN
He spoke about the destruction of the temple and we all thought he was talking about the building in Jerusalem. He talked of things beyond our human comprehension. He quoted scripture as if he had authored the words. His advice for living was new to most – love your enemies – do good to those who hate you. He seemed an ordinary man with extraordinary powers, but I knew in my heart that he was much more.
All the memories of that day when I was first approached by the angel of the Lord came flooding back into my mind. “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”
I didn’t understand at the time. I had never been with a man, but I was chosen by God to be the vessel for His son – the promised Messiah. It had to be this way so that God could take on human flesh, become just like us only without sin and be the perfect sacrifice to take away the sin of the world.
The pieces were beginning to fall into place. As he taught from the Mount of Olives – the final resting place for so many of our people – the power of his words were taking hold of many hearts. His love for them was apparent. It was the love of God emanating from his voice. It was God’s voice. I now realized that the name Immanuel truly did mean, God with us.
Soon he would begin his final journey to the holy city of Jerusalem. It was the time of the Passover. The lamb of God was about to be led to the slaughter. My heart cried within me.
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He was so much more
He walked among the people, He told them of God’s love.
He came to walk within our shoes, from heaven up above.
His words were new to those He taught, He spoke of love unknown,
How every single sacrifice would not for sin atone.
He took the load of sin upon His bloodied back
He suffered for the likes of me, to get me back on track.
It was the only way salvation I could win.
He is the Lamb of God who took away all sin.
So come to Him today. Accept the gift He gives.
Approach His throne of glory. He died, but now He lives.
KATHY BOECHER©
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HE WAS CHANGING THE WORLD
The crowds grew day by day. Soon there were so many, he had to go to the top of a mountain to speak to them. They waited eagerly and hung on every word he had to say. Many of those words were new to them. Most of these people were used to the old laws, but my son had different things too tell them. His purpose was finally becoming known – not just to me, but to the thousands who hungered for his message.
He related to those starving minds that this world was only temporary. He taught us how to pray – not as those who made hypocrites of themselves, but in the quiet moments of our lives, in silent supplication and humility before God. He told us not to worry about things – not to store up treasures on earth – to look forward to our time in eternity – to ask God to fill our needs and then be sure that He would. He told us how to love each other – even those who persecuted or hated us.
There were people from all walks of life – even members of the Sanhedrin. They all wondered at his words, because his was a new and freeing message. It wasn’t meant as a cry for uprising or rebellion, but it was a call to freedom. He had an authority they had never heard before.
Could this be the Messiah we had all waited for? Was his life was finally being revealed to me? There was so much he wanted to say, but he knew his time was growing short. With that in mind, he packed so much information into one sermon- timely, pertinent, guides for living and fulfillment of the law.
I was finally beginning to realize why all of this was happening.
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THEY FOLLOWED HIM
He was beginning to establish quite a following. There were a number of men who left their jobs and families behind just to be part of this work my son was starting. His cousin, John, had laid the groundwork by baptizing those who were burdened with sin. All that was required was their repentance.
It was a new message for those who listened. People had been bound by the law and the ritual established over the centuries. These traditions and laws were constant reminders of the covenant God had established with us. They were our way of serving God, trusting Him and keeping His commandments, but they were rules that couldn’t be kept – even by the staunchest of believers. There was no sacrifice or offering that could pay the price for sin. We were all slaves to it.
My boy grew up with these traditions, but he knew them better than any other rabbi I’d ever heard. Even as a child, his words resonated with people. It was as if he had written them himself.
Now he shared a new message with those who listened. He talked about a kingdom not of this world – complete payment for sin – life after death.
Pretty soon he had a number of followers. They were from many walks of life – mostly fisherman – a tax collector – one who managed the financial affairs – but they all dropped what their lives held and followed him. This inner circle of friends would become part of a much bigger group. It didn’t take long and people were coming to hear his words – to be healed by him – to have demons removed – to gain insight and learn.
Many thought he was the Messiah – the king they longed for – the second David, come to rule and make them the powerful nation they once were. He was so much more than that.
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One year ago
it doesn’t seem possible, but I’ve already been a blogger for a whole year. I love sharing my thoughts with all of you and thank you for being a part of my blogging family.
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MEMORIES REVIEWED
Memories can surface when we least expect them to. Sometimes we tuck them away knowing they have value, but just aren’t sure what that is until we need them the most. My mind was swimming of thoughts of my boy.
Those early days after his birth were filled with happenings that simply didn’t make any sense. Like the visit of the Magi and their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. I couldn’t have comprehended their meaning then. The gold a gift intended for royalty – the frankincense was the sweet smelling fragrance offered to God – the myrrh was used as an embalming spice for death.
There was the visit to the temple to present my son to God. This dear, sweet, elderly gentleman was there to greet us. He was so happy to see my child. It was as if he had waited his whole life for him. When he spoke these words to me, they seemed strange, but I stored them away, because I knew they held great significance.
He said, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
I remembered my cousin, Elizabeth’s greeting, when I went to visit her. ““Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And why is it granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.”
I thought about the little boy, helping his step dad craft something from a piece of wood. The curls of planed wood and saw dust clinging to the curls on his head – the blistered hands – the bloodied fingers.
Now, as things were starting to unfold, I was beginning to realize why those memories were tugging at my heart strings. They were preparing me for the difficult road ahead.
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WHO KNEW?
I was just a young girl when my life was laid out for me. A husband had been chosen. We would soon be married and I could plan on having a family some day. We would work hard for what we wanted, but everyone did in my home town. Wealth was for the rich. We were just thankful to have our daily bread. Then my world turned upside down. All my hopes and dreams were changed in the blink of an eye.
Isn’t it funny how that happens? We go through life with our own expectations – we look down the road and try to see what the future holds, but God has it already mapped out for us. We think somehow we are in control of our destiny, but it really isn’t in our hands at all. God has a plan for us and if we let Him do His work, we can be sure it will be for our good.
No one was ever going to believe my story. My character would be put on the line and the shame to my family would be horrific. Still I had confidence that God knew what He was doing with me.
Now as I look back, I can see Him weaving the threads together with great craftsmanship – designing all the patterns that would fill my life with the pieces that would finally result in His artistry. At the time though, I had no clue what He had in mind for me. All I knew is that whatever it was, I would be blessed along with all the rest of humanity.
I had nothing to go on except His promise and the words spoken by Him through His prophet Isaiah. “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” God with us – and He is.
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THE HERODS
Our people had become used to foreign rule. It was part of our heritage for as long as I can remember. The Herod family considered themselves to be Jews, but they followed the ways of Rome and embraced their politics and laws. They ruled during my life.
Every day life was much simpler then, but not without challenges. Women were considered second class citizens, but we were held in high esteem by our husbands and families. Our daily tasks included gathering water from the well, grinding wheat into flour, making bread, milking the goats and making cheese. We made clothing for our families too, spinning wool from our sheep into cloth. Life was hard. We didn’t have the luxuries of our leaders who seemed to always be building something and taxing the population to fund their projects. There were really only two classes of people – the very rich and the poor. The middle class consisted of the merchants, but even they had to submit to Roman rule and heavy taxes.
I will never forget the fear that filled every woman’s heart at the time of my firstborn’s birth. Herod, the Great had ordered the death of all boys under the age of two. We were fortunate to escape to Egypt, but so many babies perished at his hand. Blood flowed like rivers through the city streets.
Now another Herod was ruling. This one just as brutal as the other. My cousin, Elizabeth knew him as the man who took the life of her son, John – only a few months older than my own boy. John was thrown into prison for stirring up the people with his words. His life was snatched from him as his head was removed and presented to Salome as a trophy. The cruelty never ended with this family.
What would happen next under these devilish facilitators of Roman rule? Would we never be free of these Herods? My heart weighed heavy with these thoughts as my son continued His mission.
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TAKE HIS HAND
His hands are open to the world. He reaches out to heal.
He touches and His will is done. He knows just how we feel.
He took on human flesh to be the perfect sacrifice –
The pure and spotless Lamb of God would pay the needed price.
We walk with Him in confidence. We know He’s always there
To wipe away our sadness and tend to every care.
So reach out to the Savior, the sinless. Son of God.
Prepare your hearts to meet Him as on this earth we trod.
And when our final hour has come and new life takes its place,
We know He’ll be there waiting to meet us face to face.KATHY BOECHER©
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THE NEXT STEP
All those years watching him grow from a tiny baby to a young man – seeing his character develop and his stature increase – the words I heard before his birth – the way he was during childhood – it was beginning to come together.
It began to surface when he was only twelve. Our family was on the way home, when we realized he wasn’t with us. My heart sank. Where could he be? When we found him, He seemed unconcerned as he told me that he was doing his father’s business. His mind was packed with so much information, it made even the most esteemed teachers wonder about him.
Now his true occupation was being realized. His ministry had begun. His life was no longer his own. Daily he was surrounded by crowds waiting to hear what he had to say. Every hour was consumed with requests for healing and miracles. He often didn’t find time to sleep As a concerned mother, I took the family to talk to him about this whole thing and try to make it easier for him. People were beginning to talk. They even said he had lost his mind!
When he spoke these words, my heart sank again. He said, ““Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
At first I was crushed by his words, but on the road back home it occurred to me that he was again doing his father’s work. All the events leading up to his existence were finally beginning to make sense to me. All those things that I held tightly in my heart were now coming to fruition. His words weren’t meant to hurt me. They were an invitation to the entire population to become heirs of his heavenly kingdom. His true vocation had begun .
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John 2:5
His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
THE WEDDING
Weddings are a time of reunion. It was no different in our family. The young couple was all aglow and ready to start a new life. The guests were eager to celebrate with them. Relatives were arriving from everywhere. When there’s a wedding in this family, we use the time to catch up with each other. It’s like a big homecoming.
It had been quite a while since I’d seen my son. The years had been good to him. He seemed stronger. There was something different about him. It was an inner something. He seemed wiser somehow. He was always a smart boy – but now he seemed to have a broader knowledge – the kind that comes from experience.
I knew from the day I first held him in my arms that he was going to be different. Oh, I know – that sounds like a proud mother speaking. Doesn’t every mom hope for the best for their children?
When I saw him at the gate, I ran to meet him. I suppose young men get a bit embarrassed when their mothers do such things, but it had been so long and he didn’t seem to mind. He was glad to see me too
The party was wonderful. We talked for hours about what was going on in his life and what his goals were. His voice seemed full of determination. Where was the little boy of long ago? He had become a man and seemed so confident. There was a quiet strength about him that made me see that his real work in life had finally begun.
I remembered the little boy I carried – the child at play with bruised knees – the little man that so wanted to learn his dad’s business. No longer needing me to help him through any crisis – this boy was now a man and ready to do his father’s work. Little did I know where that work would take him. What I did know was that he was ready and willing to do whatever it took.
And then it started.
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