Tag Archives: Matt28

Go Tell: Impact – Sat – 21-04-10

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Have you ever wonder what it was like to experience historical events, like being the first to walk on the moon or fly an airplane?

Here’s one for you. What was it like to be Mary Magdalene, one of the first people to see the risen Jesus? She was the first to carry the message of the risen Christ. Can you imagine the grief turned to elation? Can you see her running back into the city, bursting with joy? Even after telling the disciples, can you imagine what she said to her friends and neighbors about the experience?

Do you suppose Mary told all the ways that Jesus had impacted her life? Surely she told about the first time she met Jesus. She was suffering, possessed by seven demons, Luke 8:2 says. Jesus removed them. She could tell of all the times she had heard Jesus teach, had seen him perform miracles. Mary could tell you about the crucifixion and the choked-throat-feeling of seeing Jesus die. But I’m sure she always ended her story with the thrill of seeing the risen Jesus!

As we conclude our emphasis on the angel’s message of the resurrection, let’s remember the three parts. Fear not, this is a message of hope. Come see, there is evidence that Jesus rose. And finally, go tell. Our message should be like Mary’s, tell others of the way you have experienced the impact of Jesus in your life.

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Go Tell: His Coming – Fri – 21-04-09

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Anticipation is a wonderful thing. When my children were growing up, we used to plan big family vacations. Each year we would drive across the United States to our destination. Sometimes these were homes of our extend families. At other times, they were tourist destination such as the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore or Washington, D.C. We always enjoyed the trips. But I enjoyed planning and anticipating the trips as well. It was fun to think about what we could see and pour over the maps to choose the routes and campgrounds we’d use.

I also enjoyed telling friends about our vacation. It was definitely more fun telling them after the vacation. But even before, it was fun to explain where we were going and what we had planned.

This is very similar to our task to “go tell” about Jesus’ resurrection. You see, the story is not just that Jesus lives, but that he is also coming again! I Thessalonians 4:13-18 describe what it will be like. Jesus will appear in the air with a loud trumpet. Then all his followers who had previously died will rise from the dead. Then we will all sail up into the air with Jesus, to be with him forever!

This is planned. It is the promise of God. You can anticipate it!  In fact, the chapter in Thessalonians ends with the command to encourage each other with this message. Today, take time to tell another Christian that Jesus is alive and coming again!

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Go Tell: Victory – Thu – 21-04-08

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Victory feels good! Have you ever triumphed over a problem? Years ago, I used to write computer code. I remember struggling with a particular problem for a few hours. Finally, I solved the problem and the machine behaved correctly. I lifted my arms straight into the air and yelled, “Yes!”  In fact, during my years as a developer, I did this many different times. I also high-fived other developers on the team when they solved problems. Victories feel good and they are fun to share.

What was your victory? Maybe you were victorious passing a huge exam to become a doctor or attorney. Maybe your struggle was against a tough bearing or other mechanical repair. Maybe it was designing a new product. Maybe it was finding you were cancer free, or victory over some other medical condition. Whatever the victory, it feels good!

As we focus on the message to go tell about Jesus’ resurrection, we have a message of victory — not just his victory, but also our victory. You see, it is not just Jesus who defeated death, all who follow him in faith defeat death too! This is the message in 1 Corinthians chapter 15. We are promised when Jesus returns, we will rise from the dead never to die again!

Go ahead, lift your arms above your head and say “yes!” Then tell someone else about your victory in Jesus!

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Go Tell: Forgiveness – Wed – 21-04-07

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When Mary Magdalene visited Jesus’ tomb on Easter morning, she met an angel. The angel gave her a message. We’ve summarize that message with three phrases based on Matthew 28: “fear not,” “come see” and “go tell.” The final phrase, “go tell,” will be our focus the rest of the week. For Mary, the message was to tell Jesus’ disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead and he would meet them in Galilee. For us, the message is a bit different.

Yes, we are to tell people that Jesus is risen from the dead! This is fantastic news! The early followers of Jesus often used the phrase “He is risen!” as a greeting. The reply was “He is risen indeed!” The fact that Jesus miraculously lives is exciting. But we have so much more to tell! What does it mean for us that Jesus has risen from the dead? First, it means that forgiveness from God is possible.

Romans 4:25 (NIV) says “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (NIV)

The word justification is a legal term. It means one is declared right in the eyes of the law. In other words, Jesus’ resurrection was necessary for God to declare believers not guilty. Because Jesus lives, we can be forgiven of disobedience to God. We can have our relationship with God restored, here and now. Tell someone today that Jesus lives and about the forgiveness made possible by this fact.

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Come See Peter – Tue – 21-04-06

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Today, we take another look at the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. Rather than examining the empty tomb, we are going to examine the changed life of one of Jesus’ closest followers.

Peter was a leader among the disciples. He was always speaking up. He professed that Jesus was God’s son. Yet on the same occasion he urged Jesus to take the wrong action. Jesus told him, “Get behind me, Satan!” Peter seemed to blow hot and cold.

When Jesus came to the disciples in a boat by walking on the water, Peter had the faith to step out onto the water as well. Then he took his eyes off of Jesus and sank! Consistency was not his forte!

At Jesus’ arrest, he was ready to defend him against the crowd. He even swung his sword and severed an ear. Yet on the same night he denied Jesus three times. Imagine his guilt and fear. What caused him to stand and preach Jesus to thousands a few weeks later — in the very city that had killed Jesus? What turned him into a rock of faith who eventually was executed as follower? Why didn’t he again deny Jesus to save his own skin? What could cause such a change? He had seen the empty tomb. More importantly, he had seen the risen Jesus several times. His changed life is evidence that Jesus lives!

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Come See the Tomb – Mon – 21-04-05

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Here’s two minutes of encouragement on the Sparking Faith podcast.

Today, we are going to take a look at evidence for Jesus’ resurrection. It really is a challenge to believe in life after death. I think that is why the angel that appeared to the women at Jesus’ tomb urged them to “come and see the place where he lay.” (NIV)

The empty tomb of Jesus is one piece of evidence for his resurrection. It must be explained. What happened that a tomb sealed and guarded by a squad of Roman soldiers is now empty?

Was his body stolen? No, that’s why the seal and guard were there in the first place — to prevent theft of the body.

Did Jesus revive because he didn’t really die? No, Roman soldiers knew quite well how to execute people through crucifixion. They didn’t screw it up! They also made sure of his death when they shoved a spear up into his side, undoubtably into his chest cavity.

Many atheists have tried to disprove the resurrection of Jesus. Many have also come to faith in the process. Lee Strobel is one of them. He was the legal editor of The Chicago Tribune. If you have not seen his video The Case For Christ, search for it on your streaming service. You can also check out the show notes for a link to his site.

There is no explanation for the empty tomb of Jesus that fits the facts except that he rose from the dead.

Lee Strobel website: https://leestrobel.com/books

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Easter – Sun – 21-04-04

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Have you ever had chills of fear run up your spine? I remember hunting deep in the woods of Northern Michigan many years ago. I was alone and the sun had set. I started walking the half mile back to my car when I discovered I had forgotten my flashlight! I walked down the trail with all my senses alert when something startled me. I felt the jolt of fear!

Evidently, seeing an angel can also be a fearful thing. More than once in Scripture, the first words angels say when appearing to people is “Don’t be afraid.” That certainly happened on the first Easter Sunday. Matthew 28 tells us a few women visited Jesus’ tomb, where an angel appeared. The Roman guards posted there were paralyzed by fear. The first words the angel said to the women are recorded in verse 5. He said, “Don’t be afraid.”

That is the first thing to remember as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus today. Don’t be afraid! I like even better the translations that say “fear not!” This is a message of hope!

The angel had more to say as well. He told the women to “come and see the place where he lay.” He concluded with a message they were to go quickly and tell to his disciples. This week, we will focus on the message of the angel. We will “come see” and “go tell.”

Please provide feedback and suggestions at: https://www.sparkingfaith.com/feedback/

Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.