LookingtoJesus

March 25

Bible Reading: John 13:1-11

John 13:1, “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”

Foot washing was a common practice in Jesus’ day.  The pathways were dirty.  People wore sandals.  Upon entry into a home, the lowest ranking servant would wash the feet of the guests.  When Jesus and his disciples arrived in the upper room, there was no servant to wash their feet.  Any of the disciples could have taken on the task, or they could have washed each other’s feet, but they took no initiative.  So, Jesus, the Master, set aside His outer garments, tied a simple towel around His waist and set about as a servant to wash their feet.  His primary concern?  To show His personal love to the twelve so they would rest secure in it.  So, he washed their feet.  One of them would soon betray Him.  The others would all abandon Him.  But “he loved them to the end.” 

“He loved them to the end.” The word translated “end” means literally, He loved them to perfection!  He never failed in His love for them.  Later, in His prayer to the Father, He would said, “While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12).

Charles Spurgeon has commented on this, “From Gethsemane to Golgotha, along the blood sprinkled road, you see proof that having loved his own, he loved them to the end. Not all the pains of death could shake his firm affection to his own. They may bind his hands, but his heart is not restrained from love; they may scourge him, but they cannot drive out of him his affection to his beloved; they may slanderously revile him, but they cannot compel him to say a word against his people; they may nail him to the accursed tree, and they may bid him come down from the cross, and they will believe on him, but they cannot tempt him to forsake his work of love; he must press forward for his people’s sake until he can say, ‘It is finished.’… The cross of Jesus reveals love to the utmost end and is a grand display of the immutability and invincibility of the love of the heart of Jesus.”

Charles Spurgeon

Take courage, Brothers and Sisters!  Jesus chose them and “loved them to the end!” As a believer, it is the same with you!  Amidst your hardships and failures, rest assured in the truth that He “will never leave you, nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5)!  Nothing can work to “separate (you) from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39)!  What a blessing it is to be loved by Jesus with a love that cannot fail!

“He knew all about the frailty and failures of His disciples, yet He loved them to the end.  And He loves us clean through to the end, to the uttermost.” – John G. Mitchell

O LOVE THAT WILL NOT LET ME GO
O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee.
I give thee back the life I owe,
that in thine ocean depths its flow
may richer, fuller be.

O Light that follows all my way,
I yield my flick’ring torch to thee.
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
that in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
may brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee.
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
and feel the promise is not vain,
that morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee.
I lay in dust, life’s glory dead,
and from the ground there blossoms red,
life that shall endless be.

March 22

Bible Reading: John 12:37-50

John 12:42-43, “Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”

Peer pressure is the process whereby members of a peer group exert influence over other members to conform them to certain beliefs and behaviors.  Peer pressure is nothing new, though technology has worked to provide new avenues for applying such pressure.  A steady stream of goofy and even dangerous ideas and challenges sweep across social media and through so-called “influencers.”  Peer pressure demands conformity to such things, but conformity to the world’s way of thinking and living is not a virtuous objective (Romans 12:1-2).

Though Jesus had done so many signs before them, the people, generally speaking, still did not believe in Him (John 12:37).  And though there were some, even from the authorities who believed, they were afraid to speak the truth lest they be put out of the synagogue.  They were more concerned with pleasing men, than with pleasing God.

“And this is a common disease to this day. There are many who know the truth, who, nevertheless, keep very quiet about it. They do not like to be despised; they cannot endure to seem to be separate from their fellowmen; it is not respectable to be decided for Christ, and to come out from among them, so they love the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

Charles Spurgeon

It should be noted, however, that there are always those more courageous examples who seek God’s approval vs. man’s applause.  Nicodemus was one such man.  He had previously come to Jesus by night, wondering about Jesus’ miracles (John 3:1-2).  On a subsequent occasion, he spoke up for Jesus before his peers (John 7:50-51).  Then, after Jesus died, Nicodemus risked it all when he worked to prepare Jesus’ body for burial, at costly expense to himself (John 19:39-40). 

While sources outside of the Bible can be unreliable, church tradition claims that Nicodemus lost his position as a Pharisee and the authorities later banished him from Jerusalem.  But in standing on the side of truth, resisting peer pressure, he chose the better path and gained a noble legacy.

Living for God’s approval is better than living for man’s applause.

NEVER BE AFRAID
Never be afraid to speak for Jesus,
Think how much a word can do;
Never be afraid to own your Saviour,
He who loves and cares for you.

Chorus:
Never be afraid, never be afraid,
Never, never, never,
Jesus is your loving Saviour,
Therefore never be afraid.

Never be afraid to work for Jesus,
In his vineyard day by day;
Labor with a kind and willing spirit,
He will all your toil repay. [Chorus]

Never be afraid to bear for Jesus,
Keen reproaches when they fall.
Patiently endure your every trial,
Jesus meekly bore them all. [Chorus]

Never be afraid to live for Jesus;
If you on his care depend,
Safely shall you pass through every trial,
He will bring you to the end. [Chorus]

Never be afraid to die for Jesus;
He the life, the truth, the way,
Gently in his arms of love will bear,
To the realms of endless day. [Chorus]

March 21

Bible Reading: John 12:20-36

John 12:24-25, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

Jim Elliot grew up in Portland, Oregon.  The child of devoted Christians, he attended church where he heard from visiting missionaries about serving Christ in faraway places.  It saddened him that people in other countries died without knowing about Jesus, so he dreamed of being a missionary himself someday.

In February of 1952, Jim Elliot waved goodbye to his parents and boarded a ship for the 18-day trip from California to Quito, Ecuador.  Jim and his companions were determined to bring the gospel to the uncivilized Auca Indians.  It was a dangerous undertaking, given that the Aucas had killed all the outsiders ever caught in their area.    

After three years of language learning and other preparations, they found a beach on which to land a plane where they hoped to meet with tribe members.  After an initial contact, they waited for two days for other Aucas to return.  Finally, two Auca women walked out of the jungle, but they did not appear friendly.  Then a group of Auca warriors approached with spears raised.   Within seconds, the warriors threw their spears, killing all the missionaries: Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, Nate Saint, Pete Fleming, and Jim Elliot.

News quickly spread around the world. Life magazine published a ten-page article on Elliot’s and his friends’ mission and deaths.  But that wasn’t the end of the story.  In less than two years, Jim’s wife, Elisabeth, and Rachel Saint (Nate Saint’s sister) were able to move into the Auca village.  Steve Saint continued in ministry there for many years.  Many Aucas became Christians, and they are now a friendly tribe. 

Jim Elliot once famously said, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” He gave his life in serving Jesus, but He gained a lasting legacy in his faithful service of the Lord.  He was a grain of seed that fell to the earth and died, but in dying he bore much fruit.  Just like Jesus.  What sacrifice can you make in serving Jesus, that others might come to know the truth?

“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”—Jim Elliot

ONLY ONE LIFE
Only one life to offer – Jesus, my Lord and King;
Only on tongue to praise Thee And of Thy mercy sing (forever);
Only one heart’s devotion – Savior, O may it be
Consecrated alone to Thy matchless glory,
Yielded fully to Thee.

Only this hour is mine, Lord – May it be used for Thee;
May ev’ry passing moment Count for eternity (my Saviour);
Souls all about are dying, Dying in sin and shame;
Help me bring them the message of Calv’ry’s redemption
In Thy glorious name.

Only one life to offer – Take it, dear Lord, I pray;
Nothing from Thee withholding, Thy will I now obey (my Jesus);
Thou who hast freely given Thine all in all for me,
Claim this life for Thine own, to be used, my Saviour,
Ev’ry moment for Thee.

March 20

Bible Reading: John 12:12-19

John 12:14-15, “And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, ‘Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!’”

Matthew 21:1-3, “Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.’”

The Romans celebrated any glorious victory with a lavish parade.  The triumphant commander rode in a four-horse chariot accompanied by his army, captives, and the spoils of his war.  But Jesus rode no war horse when he entered the city of Jerusalem. Instead, His steed was a donkey’s colt!

It was the exact fulfillment of a centuries-old prophecy, and in keeping with His divinely ordained purpose.  Though the people (and even the disciples) were looking for a powerful king to deliver them from the Romans, Jesus came in humility as a servant to deliver us all from sin.  Having a feeding trough for a cradle in His birth, nowhere to lay His head in His life, and a borrowed tomb for His body in His death, it was altogether fitting for Him to ride the colt of a donkey in His triumphal entry.  He came to triumph, but not in the sense most thought.  His triumph was at the cross where He defeated sin, death, and the devil too!

“The ass was used by judges and kings in the Old Testament on errands of peace; the horse was used mainly as a charger in battle.  By this conscious fulfillment of prophecy, Jesus offered Himself as a king of peace, not as a warrior.  He asserted royal claims, but not militarily.”

Merrill Tenney

Jesus is coming again, but He’ll be riding a great white horse instead of a donkey.  Having a robe ripped in blood, and accompanied by the armies of heaven, He’ll strike down the nations, and rule them with a rod of Iron.  “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16)!  As the Servant King, He is worthy of our love and devotion in all respects! 

The first time Jesus came in humility to die on a cross for sins.  He’s coming again in glory to reign over all forever.

HE IS LORD
Emptied of His glory; God became a man,
To walk on earth in ridicule and shame.
A Ruler, yet a Servant; a Shepherd, Yet a Lamb;
A Man of Sorrows, agony and pain.

He is Lord, He is Lord!
He is risen from the dead and He is Lord!
Ev’ry knee shall bow, ev’ry tongue confess That
Jesus Christ is Lord

Humbled and rejected, beaten, and despised.
Upon the cross the Son of God was slain.
Just like a lamb to slaughter, a sinless sacrifice;
But, by His death His loss became our gain.

Satan’s forces crumbled like a mighty wall.
The stone that held Him in was rolled aside.
The Prince of Life in glory was lifted over all,
Now earth and heaven echoes with the cry.

March 19

Bible Reading: John 12:9-11

John 12:10, “So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well.”

Lazarus had been dead and lying in a cave for four days.  But then, by His mere word, Jesus called him forth.  It was an amazing miracle that testified clearly to the identity and glory of Jesus (John 11:40).  There were many witnesses: “Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him” (John 11:45).  But there were two different responses, as some believed and some who refused to accept the truth.

The miraculous raising of Lazarus was a problem for the religious leaders.  A great multitude sought after Lazarus (John 12:9).  And “the crowd that had been with (Jesus) when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness” (John 12:17).  The word regarding Jesus was spreading.

So, the religious leaders met together and came up with a plan.  Kill Lazarus.  Put him back in a tomb.  Put a stop to his living testimony regarding Christ.  Stop the word from spreading.  Stop people from believing in Him.  It mattered not what the truth was.  They hated the light.  The Light revealed things about them they didn’t want disclosed.  He was a threat to their livelihood and power.  Instead of accepting the clear testimony borne by the miracle, they plotted to kill Lazarus!

They eventually managed to kill Jesus.  They set a stone and a seal over his tomb and placed a Roman guard in place to keep the Light extinguished.  Their evil deed accomplished; the religious leaders rested.  But the Light escaped.  The religious leaders assembled, took counsel, and bribed the soldiers to lie about what happened (Matthew 28:11-15).  But then Jesus rose from the dead and that truth spread around that world!

Lazarus lived.  Jesus now lives.  Nothing can change the truth.  You can try to shut up or lock up those who bear witness to the truth, “but the Word of God is not bound” (2 Timothy 2:9)!  And not all will hate the Light.  Some hear the truth of the gospel—the power of God unto salvation—and believe (Romans 1:16).  They come into the light and rejoice in His glory!

“When men hate Christ, they also hate those whom he has blessed, and will go to any lengths in seeking to silence their testimony.”—Charles Spurgeon

WORSHIP CHRIST THE RISEN KING
Rise O Church and lift your voices
Christ has conquered death and hell
Sing as all the earth rejoices
Resurrection anthems swell
Come and worship come and worship
Worship Christ the Risen King

See the tomb where death had laid Him
Empty now its mouth declares
Death and I could not contain Him
For the throne of life He shares
Come and worship come and worship
Worship Christ the Risen King

Hear the earth protest and tremble
See the stone removed with pow’r
All hell’s minions may assemble
But cannot withstand His hour
He has conquered He has conquered
Christ the Lord the Risen King

Doubt may lift its head to murmur
Scoffers mock and sinners jeer
But the truth proclaims a wonder
Thoughtful hearts receive with cheer
He is risen He is risen
Now receive the Risen King

We acclaim Your life O Jesus
Now we sing Your victory
Sin or hell may seek to seize us
But Your conquest keeps us free
Stand in triumph stand in triumph
Worship Christ the Risen King

March 18

Bible Reading: John 12:1-8

John 12:3, “Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

It was an audacious act of worship!  Mary loved Jesus.  Jesus had just raised her brother from the dead. One can imagine the depth of gratitude she felt.  It was the same Mary who “sat at the Lord’s feet listening,” while her sister was busy and distracted. She loved Jesus and had a heart for worship.  So, on this occasion, she poured out her vial of expensive perfume, estimated to be worth the equivalent to a year’s worth of wages, and wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair.  It would have taken a lot of courage on her part to do such a thing amidst that group of men.  But she wasn’t thinking of them. She had her eyes set on her Savior!

So, in that extravagant act of worship, Mary sacrificed her costly perfume.  As did the wise men traveled across a continent, over “field and fountain, moor and mountain,” bearing their expensive gifts (including myrrh), and Nicodemus who braved expulsion and worse, when he prepared Jesus for burial with spices estimated to be worth about $150,000! 

Extravagance has to do with spending too much or beyond what is reasonable.  We might say that a person is being extravagant when they go beyond the norm.  There’s a tendency to gravitate towards what is reasonable or expected in our “religious” dealings.  It is expected of a Christian to attend church, to read the Bible, and pray.  We might even limit our doings to the minimum we can get away with.  But worship doesn’t work that way.  In worshiping Jesus, the one who died for our sins, nothing is too much.  It’s far better to think of worship in personal terms—in who Jesus is and what He has done for me—and respond accordingly (Romans 12:1-2)!

The Apostle Paul commended the Macedonian believers, because they supported their brethren, giving beyond their means (2 Corinthians 8:3).  As Paul noted, they exercised such extravagance because “they gave themselves first to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:5).  Therin lies the key.  When Jesus has all of us, then we are not afraid to give our all in worship!

“God spilt the life of His Son that the world might be saved; are we prepared to spill out our lives for Him?” — Oswald Chambers

I GAVE MY LIFE FOR THEE
I gave My life for thee,
My precious blood I shed,
That thou mightst ransomed be,
And quickened from the dead;
I gave, I gave My life for thee,
What hast thou done for Me?
I gave, I gave My life for thee,
What hast thou done for Me?

My Father’s house of light,
My glory-circled throne
I left for earthly night,
For wanderings sad and lone;
I left, I left it all for thee,
Hast thou left aught for Me?
I left, I left it all for thee,
Hast thou left aught for Me?

I suffered much for thee,
More than thy tongue can tell,
Of bitterest agony,
To rescue thee from hell;
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee,
What hast thou borne for Me?
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee,
What hast thou borne for Me?

And I have brought to thee,
Down from My home above,
Salvation full and free,
My pardon and My love;
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee,
What hast thou brought to Me?
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee,
What hast thou brought to Me?

March 15

Bible Reading: John 11:45-57

John 11:53, “So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.”

Acts 3:15, “You killed the Author of life.”

Christ’s crucifixion marked history’s most sinful and despicable crime.  In his second sermon, the Apostle Peter indicted his own Jewish brethren for the offense, saying, “you killed the Author of life!” 

He is the Author of Life! He has life in Himself and is the only One having the power to impart life. His own words and deeds proved the truth of that.  As He said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:11).  Lazarus lay dead and rotting away until Jesus called Him forth from his tomb.  People witnessed what happened.  Some believed as a result.  But others ran off to tell the Pharisees.

The chief priests and Pharisees heard and gathered for a meeting.  At the top of their agenda, they had the question regarding what was to be done with Jesus.  By this time, Jesus had been performing all kinds of miracles over the course of a couple of years.  The Author of Life bettered the lives of all whose life He touched.  But the council was blind to truth and hard-hearted in their unbelief.  That He fed the multitudes or healed the sick or gave sight to the blind or raised the dead made no difference to them. They were more politicians than religious leaders, and their chief concern was their hold on power, not concern for the people.  Though he would not have realized the underlying truths of his prophesy, Caiaphas argued for Jesus’ death based on a forewarning he had received.  The council met and debated the issue and decided their best course of action was to put the life-giver to death (John 11:53).  They were evil men with an evil plan, but their plan would fail.  Turned out you can’t put the Author of Life to death, for when they tried, He rose again (Acts 3:15)!

That awful council meeting stands as a stark reminder that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).  The evil one and his minions are still hard at work, blinding the minds of the unbelieving and plotting against the believing (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 6:12).  But praise God that in Christ, we stand victorious, “for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4)!

They had sought to put life to death, but through His death He “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10)!

CHRIST AROSE
Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,
waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

Refrain:
Up from the grave he arose;
with a mighty triumph o’er his foes;
he arose a victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Savior,
vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord! [Refrain]

Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior;
he tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord! [Refrain]

March 14

Bible Reading: John 11:38-44

John 11:43, “He cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, COME OUT!’”

John 11:44, “The man who had died CAME OUT.”

Lazarus died.  They wrapped him in grave clothes and laid him in a cave.  A stone, lying against the entrance, kept the stench of his rotting corpse from reaching the nostrils of the living (John 11:39).  Jesus approached the tomb.  His surprising command, “Take away the stone,” was met with reluctant concern: “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days” (John 11:39).  Lazarus was dead and gone, buried, and rotting away when Jesus called him forth. After removing the stone, Jesus offered a prayer of thanks to God (John 11:41-42).  “He cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out’ (John 11:43) and Lazarus “came out” (John 11:44).  At His command, He imparted life.  At His command, Lazarus came forth.

The lost sinner is dead in his sins (Ephesians 2:1).  Physically, he may walk and breathe, but spiritually speaking, he is as lifeless as Lazarus lying in that grave, utterly helpless to do anything to rectify his lost condition (Romans 5:6).  But Jesus, who has life in Himself, is the resurrection and the life (John 5:26, 11:25).  Those who trust in Him as Savior and Lord instantaneously pass “from death to life” (John 5:24).

How wonderful the day, believer, when Jesus called you forth from your sin-darkened sepulcher!  Your first birth anticipated future death; re-birth brought eternal life.  Identified with Christ in His death, you were “made alive together” with Him (Ephesians 2:5; Galatians 2:20). 

“Death and the grave are never satisfied” (Proverbs 27:20, CEV), but they will gain no satisfaction in the death of one of His redeemed.  He who called Lazarus from his tomb and rose triumphantly from His own, will call us forth from ours.  “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22).  Lazarus came forth from his tomb in earthly garb, but in Jesus’ return, the believer will experience a more glorious exodus in which He “will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21).  Loved ones in Christ have departed us.  But the Day of Christ’s return draws near.  He will “descend from heaven with a cry of command…and the dead in Christ shall rise first.  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). 

He cried out to Lazarus and Lazarus came forth.  He will come from heaven with a shout and the dead in Christ will rise up to meet Him.  Jesus, the Life-Giver, has the power to do that.  He emptied Lazarus’ tomb and will empty countless others in His return.  He says, “come forth” and they do.

“Death and the grave are never satisfied” (Proverbs 27:20, CEV), but they will gain no satisfaction in the death of one of Christ’s redeemed.

AND CAN IT BE?
And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?

Refrain:
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!

He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race;
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me. [Refrain]

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee. [Refrain]

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own. [Refrain]

March 13

Bible Reading: John 11:28-37

John 11:35, “Jesus wept.”

I’ve officiated lots of funerals in lots of places, but none like the funeral for Lazarus.  It was customary in those days to put the body in the ground right away.  Folks would come to the home of the deceased.  Then a procession would follow to wherever the body was to be placed.  Afterwards, the people would return home, and mourners would stay for seven days.  No levity was to be expressed. Instead, there was mourning in which folks wailed loudly.  Sometimes they even hired professional mourners.  Folks would bring food.  Everyone would embrace the family and express their sympathy.  But all that happened occurred amid loud expressions of grief.

The use of different Greek terms distinguishes how Jesus wept from Mary’s weeping.  Jesus shed tears (dakruo), whereas Mary expressed her grief with loud weeping (klaio).  Why was Jesus weeping?  He knew He was soon to raise Lazarus, having previously told that to His disciples (John 11:4).  He could have said, “Stop crying everybody, I’m about to put a quick end to this funeral!”  But He who had come in the flesh, to embrace our sin at the cross, embraced the sorrow of those who were grieving (John 1:14; Hebrews 2:14).  He was, after all, “A man of sorrows, acquainted with grief,” who came to bear our griefs and carry our sorrows (Isaiah 53:3-4)!

Put simply, He came alongside those He loved and entered into their sorrow, having come to embrace the source of it all.  We are to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).  Jesus is the best example in every virtuous thing, and so He is here.  They were sorrowful, no one understands sorrow better than He.  His tears evidenced His love, every drop proof He cared. He would grant greater evidence at the cross in His willing sacrifice: “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16)!

You’ve your own sorrows, as do we all.  Trace them all back to sin and the curse.  But then turn your eyes to Jesus.  Not only does He care deeply for you (beyond the limits of any human), He can even work to turn your “mourning into joy” (Jeremiah 31:13).  One day, in heaven, he will wipe every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4), in the meantime we can trust Him to care (1 Peter 5:7, Hebrews 4:15-16)!

“O yes, He cares.  I know He cares!  His heart is touched with my grief!”

DOES JESUS CARE?
Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song;
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

Refrain:
O yes, He cares- I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near? [Refrain]

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief I find no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long? [Refrain]

Does Jesus care when I’ve said goodbye
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—
Is it aught to Him? does He see? [Refrain]

March 12

Bible Reading: John 11:17-26

John 11:25-26, “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”

Various tasks delayed my visit to a new hospice patient, and when I finally arrived, I discovered that the patient was dying. He clearly had little time left.  The wife suggested I take her seat and asked if I’d pray for him.  I read a few Scripture passages and shared some comforting words.  Though I don’t recall the exact words, I prayed, asking Jesus, who died for our sins and then rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), to grant comfort and strength and to walk with him on his journey.  Until that moment, he’d been completely unresponsive. But when I finished my prayer, the most amazing thing happened!  With the little strength he had left, he reached out his hand towards me.  Minutes later, he breathed his final breath.  Amidst the sorrow of his passing, it was a timely blessing.  And we all marveled at how God had orchestrated things!  I don’t know what transpired in the patient’s heart, but I know Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and that God is merciful, and that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16).

Christ is the resurrection and the life!  That’s good news!  Though death looms over us (Psalm 23:4), that message of hope makes all the difference.  He is the resurrection.  Death could not exist where He was, and He soon put an end to every funeral He ever attended.  He called Lazarus from the tomb.  He rose from His own grave, for it was “not possible for him to be held” by death’s power (Acts 2:24).  “I died,” He said, “and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades” (Revelation 1:18).  The resurrection and life promise is to those who believe.  At the moment of saving faith, they pass “from death to life” (John 5:24).  Not only does He remove from us the fear of death, He imparts life.  His life flows through the lives of those who believe in Him (Romans 6:4).  Have you trusted in Jesus (Romans 10:9)?

Warren Wiersbe has commented on this: “Christ is able to raise the dead and meet every need of the new life that follows that miracle, because He is both ‘the resurrection and the life.’ The Lord can move into ‘dead’ and seemingly hopeless human situations, and by His resurrection power, transform people and circumstances and infuse life that makes everything new.”

Warren Wiersbe

Christ has worked to replace the dark door of death with the shining gate of life.

I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
“I am,” says Christ, “your glorious Head,”
May we attention give,
The Resurrection of the dead,
The life of all that live.

By faith in me the soul receives
New life, though dead before;
And he that in my name believes,
Shall live to die no more.

The sinner sleeping in his grave
Shall at my voice awake,
And when I once begin to save,
My work I’ll ne’er forsake.

Thy power and mercy first prevailed
From death to set us free;
And often since our life had failed,
Had it not been in thee.

To thee we look, to thee we bow,
To thee for help we call;
Our Life and Resurrection thou,
Our Hope, our Joy, our All.