Easter Sunday devotion - Mark 16:1-8

Easter Sunday

Gospel Reading: Mark 16:1-8

Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. (NIV)

            And so Holy Week ends where it had begun – with women carrying perfume to cleanse and anoint the body of Jesus. Throughout this whole week, most of the men have failed Christ but the women have remained loyal, devoted, and courageous. They loved Him dearly and so they wanted to allow Him some dignity in His death, of which the Roman soldiers and religious leaders had mercilessly robbed Him.

            Quietly and faithfully, the women approach the tomb together. They are probably still weeping and supporting each other physically. They know that this is the right thing to do. The ministry and gifts of women are going to supersede the power and brutality of men. They come out of duty, as well as compassion. They come because they are women called by God to serve His Son.

            And then this beautiful moment in the whole of history occurs. The women are told that Jesus is not there, but that He has actually risen from the dead. They are utterly surprised and naturally fearful. They do not understand what has happened, but they have become the first people on Earth to receive this wonderful news. The ministry of Christ continues in the hands of those who loved Him best. Their lives are never the same again and our world is changed forevermore.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Point to ponder

How have women sustained, shared, and advanced the ministry of Christ in my life, across history, and around the world?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we praise You for this special and most glorious day. We thank You for the gifts of forgiveness and eternal life that come through Your grace. And we are also grateful for the love, devotion, and ministry of women in Your Church and throughout the world. In your Holy Name, we joyfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM. You’ll be made very welcome.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Easter drawings called “Easter 2018.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Easter.

Holy Saturday devotion - Matthew 27:57-66

Holy Saturday – Low Saturday

Gospel reading: Matthew 27:57-66

Matthew 27:57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. (NIV)

            In the Gospels, rich people are sometimes cast as greedy villains who are insensitive to the poverty and suffering around them. This makes us tend to think that Christ’s message was strictly limited to an underprivileged socio-economic class, but nothing is further from the truth. The Gospel that Jesus preached was for everyone and the message that He proclaimed wasn’t exclusive to one group alone.

            Take, for instance, Joseph of Arimathea. We are told that he is a rich person who had become a disciple of Christ. He obviously had a good reputation because he was able to arrange an urgent meeting with Pilate, in order to obtain the dead body of Christ. This would have made him a marked man in the Governor’s eyes, as well as a radical among the religious authorities, but this did not stop Joseph from making his request. He was a true follower of Christ, so he used his influence and resources to ensure that Jesus received a decent burial, instead of letting his body be cast aside and thrown on the local dung heap.

            Joseph’s commitment and courage show that rich people can actually be effective disciples and great influencers in the work of Christ. The prosperous Arimathean respectfully took Christ’s battered body and laid it sacredly in a tomb. He wanted Christ to have an honorable end to His ministry. What Joseph didn’t know, of course, was that he was playing a remarkable part in the glorious resurrection event that was still to come, so just as some of Christ’s friends had been devoted to Jesus, here we also have a rich man doing all that he could for the Teacher he loved and served.

Point to ponder

How can I use my influence and resources to advance Christ’s ministry?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have called all different sorts of people to Your ministry of salvation and message of love. We are thankful for the privilege of serving You with our time, talents, and treasures, in order to advance Your work and glorify Your Name. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM. You’ll be made very welcome.

Today’s image is one of John’s Holy Saturday drawings called “Starfall.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Starfall.