November 14 – Matthew 28 & Mark 16

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Matthew 28 & Mark 16. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

When I was young (somewhere between five and seven years old) I had a project I was working on and I borrowed a pair of my father’s adjustable pliers. I do not know why but these pliers where designed to come apart; a fact that I was not aware of.  While using them they did just that; came apart. I was petrified that I had broken the pliers. I did not ask permission to use them, so instead of owning up to my error I took the pliers and hid them behind a shelving unit in the basement. From the moment I hid them I began rehearsing my story for the day when I would get caught. I have never gotten caught for my crime (I even checked for the pliers sometime in high school and they were not there anymore. I am assuming they were found apart, put back together with a question as to how they ended up falling behind the shelf). However, that day I began a practice in my life of preparing a statement for wrongs committed.

Have you ever done it in your life? You do something wrong so you begin talking to yourself preparing your statement … what your going to tell, how your going to tell it, what details you are going to add (embellished or not), what details you will conveniently leave out, and on and on. Now I do not know why you do it, but as an adult I know why I do it. I do it because I do not think quickly on my feet. I like to be prepared. I write an outline/manuscript of my sermons because I do not think quickly on my feet. I was never the kid to raise my hand to answer a question, because I took a while to process the question. My daughter is now three years old, very perceptive, so my wife has started spelling things, and we got in an argument because I have a hard time processing what she is spelling. My brain processes slowly in many regards, and because of that I gave rehearsed explanations for my crimes.

In our reading today we see that very thing play out with the Jewish leaders. When the women go to Jesus tomb the tomb is empty. Jesus is not there. The men who were supposed to be guarding were doing their job but they had no power over God. Jesus resurrected. However, this empty tomb meant possible death for these guards. What were they to do? What were they to say? Well the Jewish leaders had their backs. They gave them a prepared statement to go to the Roman officials with. Now this was not to protect the guards, but to control the story.

The Jewish leaders did not want people believing that Jesus actually resurrected. They wanted people to believe His disciples stole the body. So they prepared and rehearsed and shared their story. But friends, as we know, there is greater power in truth. Truth needs no preparation. Truth needs no rehearsal. Truth needs no thought. Truth is truth, and it will stand the test of time. That is the beauty of the Gospel. The tomb of Jesus is empty. He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!

October 29 – John 11

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from John 11. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Jesus says something rather remarkable in our reading today. Jesus has been close with three siblings from the Jerusalem suburb of Bethany. Lazarus, the brother and possible bread winner of this family has taken ill. Jesus is a considerable distance away from Bethany, but certainly close enough to come to the aid of Lazarus. However, when the news of his illness reaches Jesus ears, Jesus stays back and says … “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” (John 11:4 NLT) At first glance that statement does not seem all that remarkable but let’s break it down.

Jesus has insight into what will happen to Lazarus. Jesus knows that Lazarus is going to die. He also knows that He will bring Lazarus back to life. If you happened to be someone who was reading this for the first time you may not have picked up on that bit of information. But as someone who knows the story, who has read it multiple times, we are able to see the foreshadowing Jesus is giving. None of that is the amazing part.

What amazes me is the reason for death. Jesus is going to let Lazarus die, even though He has the ability to heal him remotely. Why? So that glory will come to Jesus and God through the resurrection. And that is exactly what happens. Many people believe and they could not keep quiet. God and Jesus were both being glorified for this event. But the glory does not stop here.

It is through this event that eventual glory will take place in Jesus own death and resurrection. Look at verse fifty-three again … “So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death.” (John 11:53 NLT) Had Jesus not returned like His disciples advised Him to, then maybe something else would have been the catalyst for the crucifixion. But Jesus foreshadowed in a powerful way. Not only do we have the glory of the here and now event, but we have the glory of the cross from this one event. I find that remarkable.

So … on a side note, maybe the events in your life; the ups and downs, the joys and pains, the tears and laughter, are part of God orchestrating and event to bring Himself glory. Approaching situations with that mindset might help you through the trying times. 

September 2 – Ezekiel 21-22

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Ezekiel 21-22. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Do you look for hope as you read through all the destruction of the prophets? I hope you do because God has planted it throughout. In our reading today we saw just another example of that … “Destruction! Destruction! I will surely destroy the kingdom. And it will not be restored until the one appears who has the right to judge it. Then I will hand it over to him.” (Ezekiel 21:27 NLT) As I have said before I love the fact that God doesn’t only paint a picture of destruction, but he also gives hope.

What we see here isn’t just hope of restoration as a nation. The kingdom talked about here is much more than they could imagine. We know that the Israelites understood that there was coming a messiah to offer deliverance. We know that during Jesus life they were looking for a military or political leader in their messiah. And we also know that even Jesus own disciples didn’t fully understand Him. But as people living after the resurrection we have historical perspective. We can understand God’s words here on a level 1^st century Israel didn’t.

I am grateful for that. Because I can look at the Bible, the wonderful story it weaves and see God preparing the world for the coming of the Messiah! I can see the language of the one who has the right to judge, and know that person is Jesus Christ. Jesus was God in the flesh; He had the full authority to judge and the full authority to forgive. Had they understood this passage, the Pharisees might not have questioned Jesus like they did in Matthew 9:1-8. I love that I can look at that and understand what God is saying. Do you cherish that ability as well?