“The angel told the women,” Don’t be afraid because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”
 (Matthew 28:5-6)
 
Caterpillars when they are ready to begin their transformation process first make cocoons. After a while they will change into butterfly. Their cocoons will remain empty but the caterpillar that was once there leaves and becomes something we all love to see in the spring butterflies flying and landing on flowers. Their cocoons lay empty. No one celebrates a butterfly’s cocoon being empty although the caterpillar became something beautiful the empty tomb of Jesus deserves all the praise and glory.

The women who went to the tomb. The tomb was sealed and no way for the women to open the tomb. They went expecting to see Jesus laid in a tomb but instead was meet by an angel. They went expecting to mourn a dear friend and teacher however, he was not there. That day the angel shared the news with the women that Jesus had risen from the dead just as he had said he would. They only had to come and see the place that he once laid to know the power of God. To know the promise that he had told them. It is the empty tomb that reminds us that Jesus defeated death and has all authority under heaven and on earth. The death of Jesus does not end on the cross for where he once laid is empty and still is empty. This is a sign of everlasting hope that cannot be denied that Jesus who came to die on the cross for us so we can have a right relationship with God defeated death and we will be with him again.

​Jesus was not held by death but lives. Death can be hard especially when it is someone we know and loved but we can have hope for if we believe in Jesus and that he conquered death we will come to live with him for he promises he will be with us always. Death does not have the final answer for Jesus defeated death.
 
Heavenly Father, I thank you for the empty tomb and that our savior lives.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins

Scripture:  Isaiah 58, Matthew 6:1-18; 9:14-17, Acts 13:1-3
 
Types of Fasting (feel free to replace food with anything that will cost you comfort or pleasure):

• Normal – Going without food for a definite period of time and only taking in liquids (be careful – know your physical limits and health issues)
  
• Absolute – Going without any food or water (not recommended)
  
• Partial – Going without certain foods or is on a limited eating schedule. For example skipping lunch or only eating when it is dark.
  
• Rotational – Eating or omitting certain families of foods for designated periods. Like only eating grains every fourth day.

 
Biblical Examples of Fasting

• The Disciples Fast – Matthew 6:1-18; 9:14-17
• The Ezra Fast – Ezra 8:23
• The Samuel Fast – 1 Samuel 7:6
• The Elijah Fast – 1 Kings 19:4-8
• The Widow’s Fast – 1 Kings 17:16
• Paul’s Fast – Acts 9:9
• The Daniel Fast – Daniel 1:8
• John’s Fast – Luke 1:15
• The Esther Fast – Esther 4:16 – 5:2

 
Suggested Reading:

• “Fasting For Spiritual Break Through” – Elmer Towns
• “A Hunger For God” – John Piper

Will you commit to fasting between now and Easter Sunday?
 
Step 1 – Why Fast?
Why are you fasting? Is it for spiritual renewal? For guidance? For healing? For the resolution of problems? Ask the Holy Spirit to clarify what He wants you to take away from this time.
 
“One of the greatest spiritual benefits of fasting is becoming more attentive to God – becoming more aware of our own inadequacies and His adequacy, our own contingencies and His self-sufficiency – and listening to what He wants us to be and do.”  - Elmer Towns
 
Step 2 – Commit
How long will you fast?  What will you fast?
How will you increase your time with God?  How much time will you devote to pray and God’s Word?
 
Step 3 – Accountability
Who do you trust?  Tell them about your fast, not to brag, but so they can hold you accountable.  Give them permission to check in with you and see how the fast is going.
 
Your Fasting Plan
Write it down:

• Why are you fasting?
  
• What are you fasting?
  
• How long will you fast?
  
• Who will hold you accountable?                                                       

 

“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”
Jesus
               
Those are probably the most powerful words spoken by Jesus from the cross. They are also some of the words we might be able to most relate to. I know Job felt it, David felt it, and I know there are times I have felt it – abandoned or forsaken by God. But, how can that be? How can we feel that way when Jesus came to die on the cross for us? It just shouldn’t be!

We typically feel that way when we experience or witness innocent suffering, when we or someone we know is the victim. It is in those painful moments we want to know why. Why did God allow that happen? Even if He didn’t cause it, He certainly could have stopped it? It is that inaction that often leaves us saying the same thing Jesus said – why have you forsaken me?

I can understand our anger and frustration over the pain we often suffer as an innocent human, but to hear Jesus express those words is mind blowing to me. Then I realize Jesus, while divine, was also human. He had experienced the comforting presence of angels and the encouraging moments with His Father. He knew, better than we do, what His Father is capable of. Yet, His Father didn’t act. The Father didn’t spare Him the pain or the death of the cross. In that very hard reality we don’t have answers for our suffering but we have a God who suffers with us, who has joined us in our “victimization.” God isn’t watching from a distance, He is with us and angry right along with us. He too says, this isn’t how it is supposed to be!

What we have to remember is the while the Cross is where we see the innocent One suffer and die while the Father doesn’t stop it, it is also the place where God the Father is making it right. It is a place for us to leave our anger and frustration, a place for us to let our pain die, and the place where we can see God is with us. Then when we are ready to let go and move with Jesus to the resurrection we can find new life and a new future.

So, are you feeling like Jesus – forsaken and abandoned by God? Let’s God know about it. He can take our complaints. He will listen to our laments. But, don’t get mad and walk away, realize that He is with you in it. He is at working making all things new, making all things right. He did it with Jesus and He will do it with us. Hope is alive.
​
Trusting in Jesus,
Pastor Matt

So Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After looking around carefully at everything, he left because it was late in the afternoon.
Mark 11:11
 
How would you respond if someone came into your home and took a close look around? What kind of things do you think they would see? What things would you try to hide? What would embarrass you if they saw it?
 
This must have been how some of the folks felt when Jesus showed up to the temple and did His “inspection.” There were plenty of things that Jesus did see – sacrifices, worship, conversations, buying, selling, and trading. On the surface all these things looked great. What wasn’t good was the things just below the surface, hiding out of plain site.
 
Jesus entered the temple that day and saw people being taken advantage of. Many had shown up to take care of important business. Like paying the temple tax, offering sacrifices, and worshiping God. But, instead of helping people do that, corruption had taken root. Greed had set in. People were being taken advantage of in their moment of need and charged exuberant prices. The temple wasn’t filled with a sweet aroma to God, instead it was the stench of greed.
 
In response Jesus threw over the tables and chased the people out. He got rid of the greed and corruption. He cleansed the temple so it could become the place God intended it to be. A place where people could find peace, forgiveness, and hope. 
 
Jesus came to confront this corruption in the temple. But, more importantly He has come to confront sin and corruption in our own lives.  Paul tells us that we are God’s temple. If we are God’s temple then Jesus has come and is taking a look around. What are the things in your life He needs to throw out? Are you willing to let Him get rid of the corruption and sin in your hear?
 
He Is Risen!
Pastor Matt

Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
John 13:3-5
 
The story of Jesus with His disciples at the last super has always intrigued me. I find it fascinating that Jesus treated Judas the same as the rest even though He knew Judas had betrayed Him. He offered everyone a place at the table, offered them all grace, and served all of them the same from Peter who was always overzealous to Judas who wasn’t fully one of them. I think it is a wonderful picture of how God works in our lives today.

God is always with us, all of us, offering us a place at His table. He offers each of us grace and despite the sin in our lives loves us, even to the point of death, even death on a cross. He is truly relentless in His pursuit of us.

Before the disciples ate their meal Jesus did something amazing. He washed their feet. This was a job that was only for a slave to perform. The fact that Jesus was doing it was astonishing. Peter was the only one brave enough to push back – Jesus you can’t wash my feet! But, Jesus knew this was exactly what Peter and all the others needed.  They need to be refreshed, the be touched up a bit. 

They had spent 3 years with Jesus going from city to city and had no doubt picked up some dirt along the way. So, Jesus set out to remove it. While He was washing away literal dirt, what He was alluding to was the fact that soon He would was away the spiritual dirt as well. Something we all need throughout our lives. Today, sit with Jesus at His table and let Him wash your feet. Let Him refresh you. Let Him cleanse you. It is, after all, what He came to do.
 
In Christ,
Pastor Matt

Behold your King is coming to you, Gentle, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.
Matthew 21:5

The Sunday before Easter (today) is often referred to as Palm Sunday. It gets that title because it has traditionally been the day we remember Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem as He begins His journey to the cross. On that day as Jesus entered the city He was greeted with people praising Him and waiving palm branches, hence Palm Sunday. Today, I want to draw your attention away from the branches being waved and focus on the ride Jesus had – the donkey.

Most of today’s Bible translations will interpret the Greek word (hypozygion) as donkey. But, the word literally means a pack animal and is translated in a few translations as “beast of burden.” I find that translation to be incredibly helpful in looking at this day from Jesus’ perspective. From ours we usually describe it as an exciting day and the pictures we usually see that depict this day is one of celebration. Much like we think a parade is like. But, if we pay close attention to all the accounts of this day in The Gospel’s we can see that in the moment, it was a heavy day for Jesus.

Luke describes Jesus as looking out over Jerusalem and crying over it because He knows the destruction that awaits them because of the decisions they had made.  John records Jesus as saying, just after the entrance into the city, that His soul was troubled. Then, here in Matthew He is riding a donkey. You know donkey’s do, right?  They carry burdens, the stuff people don’t want to carry or can carry. They take the weight off during the journeys of life.

One of the things that strikes me in this is that on this day Jesus needed a beast of burden to help Him in this part of His journey. As Jesus entered the city He had the sin of the world on His shoulders. The human side of Christ had to be exhausted. So, He asked for a beast of burden to help Him carry the load. If Jesus needed help and wasn’t afraid to ask for it, then we shouldn’t shy away from it either. If we are overwhelmed with life and the burdens are becoming too much to carry, be sure to say, I need a beast of burden to help carry this load!

So, who is that beast for us? First and foremost the answer is Jesus. Before heading into Jerusalem He invited everyone who was weary and heavy-laden to come to Him so He could give them rest. He invited them to lay their burdens on Him and He would lighten their load. Unload on Jesus – our beast of burden! Let Him carry those burdens that you are too tired to carry. He wants them. 

Palm Sunday is the day we celebrate the arrival of Jesus, our beast of burden, coming to our rescue. The moment Jesus embarks on the last leg of His journey to set us free. He isn’t looking for less of a burden, He is taking on more. He wants to free you from yours.  Will you let Him?
​
Pastor Matt

That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit."
John 20:19-22
 
Can you put yourself in the disciples sandals that first Easter morning? What must have been going through their heads? The week had been long with lots of exciting moments, but it ended tragically. They just buried their friend, their teacher. Now, Peter and John claim Jesus’ body is no longer in the tomb and Mary Magdalene is saying she saw and spoke with Jesus. The room the locked themselves in must have been full of grief, confusion, and a lot of fear.  Ever been locked in a room like that?

In the midst of all that fear the testimony of Mary wasn’t enough. They still weren’t sure what was happening. They found themselves paralyzed. Fear can do that to us. We can all relate on some level – words can’t change or fix a situation. We need action. Sometimes even being told God is with us isn’t enough – we need to experience Him for ourselves. We need our own encounter with the risen Jesus.

Thankfully, that is what happened in that room. Jesus showed up. The risen Christ came to them, right in the midst of their fear and all the other emotions and things that were keeping them in hiding, locked away. The risen Christ was there, in the midst of His scared disciples. It is what He promised – to never leave or forsake them (or us). If you are in a room today, locked away in hiding, know that Jesus is there with you. That is what the resurrected Lord does – He shows up.

In that room He offered the disciples exactly what they had been looking for – peace. In fact, He breathed on them and encouraged them to receive the Holy Spirit. To receive was to take hold of, to grasp. Jesus was there, offering them life, all they needed to do was take ahold of it. Right now, Jesus is breathing on you, offering you life, offering you peace, offering you forgiveness, offering you love, or whatever else you might need to get out of that dark room. Will you receive it? Will you grasp Him and let Him lead you out?

​Pastor Matt