Sunday, April 24, 2011

BIBLE PICK 'EMS - Remember Me

Setting: A garden.

Speaker: A disciple.

Time: About two thousand years ago…


"He is risen.

He is risen indeed."

Today I sit in astonishment at the entrance to an empty tomb. I've been here for a couple of hours, ever since Mary came rushing into the room where we were hiding. She had the most preposterous story! Jesus' body was gone – vanished! These were the very words she shouted – at least after she was able to catch her breath…

Peter and John ran to the tomb. They didn’t come back.

So, I decided to check things out for myself. Hey, they don't call me "Doubting Thomas" for nothing, you know!

She was right – Jesus' body isn’t here. I’m puzzled…confused…scared.

It was just the other day that we were celebrating the Passover meal with Him. We met in quite a large room – it was already set up!

Jesus was rather quiet. And He said some disturbing things.

He said one of us would betray Him.

Yes, it's true – Judas did sell him out. But, we all betrayed Him in our own way. We all ran when He needed us the most. And when He was crucified, I was hiding.

Like the coward that I am.

But, the strangest thing of all that He said was this (Today’s "Bible Pick 'Ems"):

"As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it into pieces and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take it, for this is my body.' And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And he said to them, 'This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many.'" (Mark 14:22-24)

I've been puzzling over these words ever since.

And now I'm sitting here trying to figure the whole thing out –


Eight days later…


OK, I thought I was confused before – now I really am! Now all my friends claim they have seen Jesus alive, and in the flesh.

I told them, "I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side."

They were terribly frustrated with me – accused me of having no faith. They're probably right. But, I want to have faith – I want to believe. It just all seems so impossible.

So now we're gathered together again. They're excited. I’m forlorn. Oh, would that it was true!! Dare I even hope???

"Peace be with you."

I look up. Is it Him??? It's HIM!!!

I'm suddenly overcome with fear and awe and joy – all at the same time. I fall to my face on the ground.

Then He turns to me.

"Thomas, put your finger here, and look at My hands. Put your hand into the wound in My side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!"

And I do.

"My Lord and my God!" I exclaim.


Today is Easter Sunday, dear friends. It is a day of joyous celebration. Today our precious Jesus rose from the dead. Having completed His purpose on this earth, having sacrificed His life for us, having borne all the sins of the world on His bloodied shoulders – He now rose in triumph from the grave!!

He defeated sin – He defeated death. He defeated our enemy.

IT. IS. FINISHED.


"Do this in remembrance of Me."


Oh Lord, we will remember You today – and we will remember You every day.

We will never forget You, or what You did for us.

For You remember us…

"See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands." (Isaiah 49:16)

"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand."
(John 10:28-29)


"When in doubt, search God out!"

11 comments:

  1. So thankful for the gift God has given us. So thankful too, to see the truth written here! Happy Easter Sharon, He is Risen Indeed!

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  2. Sharon:

    As always, your words have touched my heart this beautiful Easter morning. I have so much of Peter in me, and yet God sees it all and loves me, and today the tomb is empty, and I one more time, stand amazed. I am redeemed... He is risen!

    xo

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  4. Blessings Sharon... remember me?

    What a beautiful RISEN Savior we celebrate today in remembering Him and loving Him as He so loved us! Your capacity to reach the heart with your words always amazes me and brings me back to fill up my cup again and again over here. I am blessed and delighted in you and your gift of writing!

    Now I'm not in the garden or sitted at an empty tomb... oh know I'm sitting at the table He has set before us... I'm so grateful for ALL He gives me and that my name is written on His palm actually carved.

    I'm so very thankful that my days of being a doubting Thomas or a Peter that denies Him are getting less and that He has drawn me into His arms and embraced the good and the bad in me. Really He has defeated the bad so that I may live, so since my enemy is defeated and it.is.finished, I must LIVE an intentional life that flourishes by His Spirit rather than wrestling in the muck and yuck...

    You have tied this altogether so beautifully! I can see the power of the Resurrection rising! Glory! Jesus lives! Hallelujah... the tomb is empty, He is risen and "now we can face tomorrow"... all fears and doubts are gone,
    BECAUSE HE LIVES ...life is worth the living! And HE TOUCHED ME through YOU today! I'm so glad WE can celebrate HIS RESURRECTION and pray for others to REJOICE with us and join us knowing Jesus!

    Glory!!! Believing... trusting,
    Peggy

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  5. Thank you Lord Jesus for what you did for us; we will remember you!! Not only today but every day of our lives as we live for you and to spread your word to people who need to hear your good news!!!

    great words you used, Sharon, to express an awesome message!! Happy Easter!

    betty

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  6. Happy Easter Sharon, Thanks for always making us think about things. Today the sun is shining full of hope for a new beginning.

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  7. Happy Resurrection Day Sharon!

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  8. Fear...awe..joy...all emotions when I think of Jesus. I relate to Thomas...such joy when I realize He's with me.

    Rejoicing in His empty tomb,
    Pamela

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  9. I never got to the computer yesterday to read the "pick 'ems". This was wonderful. They always are.

    I really, really, liked the part about them ALL betraying him. I can't wait to share that with the husband as it relates to a conversation we recently had.

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  10. Thank you, one and all, for visiting me. I trust that all of you had a wonderful Sunday, celebrating the victory of our Lord! Because of him, we will never be separated from God!

    Glorious future - glorious hope!

    He is risen - He is risen indeed!

    GOD BLESS!

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)