There are so many things to look at as we dive into the Easter story.  I love how throughout the scripture that the women in Jesus’ life stayed close to him until the end.  Why were they still there?  When all the disciples had fled, why did they still stand strong?  They were there when he was arrested, beaten beyond belief, nailed to the cross; they prepared the body, and finally mourned at the tomb.  I suggest to you, the Lord had profoundly touched each woman. Mary of James and Joses, which little is known about except she was very wealthy, ministered to Jesus and the disciples physical needs.  She believed in Him so much, she took her wealth and followed him.  Mary son of Zebedee, who was the mother of James and John, left when her sons did to follow Christ.  Only one verse is mentioned about her in Mathew 19:28 when she tried to find positions for her sons, one on the right and one on the left of Jesus.  However, her husband also had a lucrative business, which afforded her money to also care for Jesus.  Mary Magdalene was changed when Jesus called her name. Jesus cast seven demons out of her, and restored her life. Mary Magdalene had been overlooked, shamed, and rejected but the Lord took notice and with one call of her name, saved her life. Of course, then there was Mary, the mother of Jesus.  She watched her son brutally treated for crimes he did not commit.   She watched him in agony on the cross as he took his last breath.  Why would she torture herself this way?  We were talking at work about the Passion movie, and how it was hard to watch the full scene of Jesus beating; yet these ladies were there in person.  Working in the medical field I have always found it interesting it is usually the mom that stays at the death bed of a child, when the man cannot stand to bare it.  It is the mom who wants to soak in every last second of their child’s life, and sit with them, and hold them even after they are gone.  Mary even though it was difficult, would not forsake her son, her Lord, for one minute.

I challenge you with this statement “Christianity is not for the faint of heart”.  These women stayed at the cross because as gruesome as it was; He was their Lord.  They stayed because of his touch on their lives.  Many people knew Jesus, they had seen the miracles, and had even followed him, but there is vast difference between having knowledge of God, and a personal Savior.  I ask you today, “Would you have been at the cross?  Would you have risked it all just to be by his side? Would you have been able to care for his battered body, that was beaten beyond recognition?”  We will never know what we would have done in that situation, however, Mathew 25:40 says, “whenever you saw a brother or sister hungry or cold, whatever you did to the least of these, so you did to Me.  So I ask you when is the last time you helped someone pay a bill because they could not afford it.  When is the last time you helped an alcoholic get help because they needed it?  When is the last time you saw a homeless person and offered them shelter, or clothing?  When is the last time you were heart broken over a loved one’s lifestyle?  When was the last time you were on your knees before the Lord crying out for mercy?   Have we overall become immune to those around us, and sacrifice that was made?  Do we dare take the blood of the cross for granted?

Once again for these ladies the story does not end here.  When they went to the tomb, they were greeted by wonderful news
Mathew 28:5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he[a] lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

The ladies that had remained faithful even to the last drop of blood was spilled, were now the one’s who received the good news.  If this was not enough in verse nine it says, "and Jesus met them.”  For all the things they had been through, the ridicule, the emotions, the tears, the devastation, perhaps doubt after his death; Jesus appears to remove it all.  Wherever you are, what ever you are doing, whatever you have done, Christ wants to meet with you.  If you are not a believer will you meet with him today?  

  These ladies were so changed by their encounter with the Lord; they were willing to go to the very end.  Has your encounter with the Lord profoundly changed you, and if yes, are you living like it?  This Easter let us renew our passion for the one who stood in our place.  

He is not here for he is Risen!!!!!

The following is a link to “Silently” A song about Mary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGMwhft0yfo

Our devotion is based off scripture from Mathew 27, Mark 15, and John 19:30

According to Mark 15:25 it was the third hour (9am) as Jesus is hung on the cross.   You could hear the nails being driven into the cross. Close your eyes and imagine that sound boom, boom, boom, and the   deep agony as they pierced through the very flesh of Jesus’ hands.  Now when the sixth hour approached darkness fell.  There was no weather that could explain the thick, eerie gloom that proceeded all through the land.  In the darkness of the ninth hour, Jesus cried out, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”  My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?  It was this moment Jesus mourned in the garden, as big drops of blood fell from his face, as he prayed for another way.  As Jesus hung on the cross, he experienced the departure of His Father.  Alone, Jesus hung on the cross and suffered for our sins. The sins of mankind had been heaped upon the unblemished lamb, and now marred with sin, God could no longer look upon him.  Can you imagine something so horrendous happening to your child, it caused you not to be able to look upon their face?

2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that    in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus was standing in the gap for us.  Jesus could not pay the price for all of mankind, if he had not in fact felt the tragic separation from God.  There are times in our life when calamity enters, and we indeed feel forgotten by God.  But Jesus experienced these same emotions, to become our intercessor.  Does anyone need to know today that Jesus has been where your are right now?  His heart has been broken, he has been betrayed, he has been mocked, he has been called a liar, he has been rejected, he has been beaten, and on and on the list goes.  He died for these very reasons, that you might be set free in Him.

If the story ended with Jesus crying out, "why have you forsken me?", it would be indeed a tragic tale.  However, it is not the end.  Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “It is finished, and yielded up His spirit”. Mathew 27:50/John 19:30 (ESV).  The Greek word “amphiemi” means to send forth.  Jesus is yielding, giving up His life on His terms in order to pay our debt.  It is also interesting to look at the statement “it is finished”.  In Greek it is one word “Tetelestai”, which is a victors shout, a cry of a man that has finished his task; a cry of triumph over struggle; a cry from out of the darkness, into the light; a cry of a mighty king who has grasped the crown.  It was truly finished; the entire work of redemption had been brought to completion.

I think William Barclay says it best:  Jesus passed through the utter abyss, and then the light broke.  If we too cling to God, even when there seems to be no God, desperately and invincibly clutching the remnants of our faith, quite certainly the dawn will break and light will come.  The victor is the man who refuses to believe that God has forgotten him, even when every fiber of his being feels that he is forsaken.  The victor is the man who will never let go of his faith, even when he feels that its last grounds are gone.  The victor is the man who has been beaten to the depths and still holds on to God, for that is what Jesus did.

The darkest day in history, is the most glorious day for us.  Jesus paid a price for every tribe and nation; that we would all be redeemed by the blood of the lamb.  Are you redeemed?  If not, don’t let such a precious gift pass you by.  Simply admit that you are a sinner, and you are in need a Savior. Believe that Jesus is God's Son, and confess your sins. It's never too late to be washed by the blood.  Praise the Lord I am redeemed.

All my life I have been called unworthy
Named by the voice of my shame and regret
But when I hear You whisper, "Child lift up your head"
I remember, oh God, You're not done with me yet
I am redeemed, You set me free

So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, now I'm not who I used to be
I am redeemed, You set me free

Big Daddy Weave  I AM REDEEMED

Mathew 27:11-14 ; 22-25
Jesus Before Pilate 11 
Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd.16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus[b] Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.
19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dreambecause of him.”20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.“Barabbas,” they answered.22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.  They all answered, “Crucify him!”23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Have you ever heard the saying don’t judge a book by its cover.  Often time’s things are not what they seem from the outside.  Many times there may be other circumstances that have played into the situation, or have persuaded a person’s decision.  Today we will look at Pilate.  From the outside he is the man that pronounced the death sentence on Christ.  For many that may be the only knowledge they have of Pilate.  I would like to try to share with you today, a day in Pilate’s shoes.

Pilate was a procurator, which meant he was directly responsible to the Roman Emperor.  Through history we know he had to be at least twenty-seven years old, for that was the minimum age for the office.  Pilate would have had to climb the corporate ladder so to speak.  He had advanced military experience, as well as established administrator skills.  He took the job in A.D. 26, and was there for ten years.

Pilate was not a soft man.  He was known for his lack of respect for others, acts of insolence, his rapine, his habit of insulting people, his cruelty, his condemnation and murders of innocent people, and his overall inhumanity.  Pilate's relationship with the Jews was bad from the beginning.  For example, Pilate refused to take the graven images off the flags when he came to visit, as all his predecessors had done before him; although he knew it would incite the Jews and their beliefs.  Pilate raided the temple money, and used it to build an aqueduct into the city.  Although the aqueduct was desperately needed, raiding the temple money was probably not a good way to make friends.  Pilate also had certain shields made known as votive shields; they were devoted to the honor of the Emperor.  So now Pilate has inscribed a name of a strange god and displayed it in the holy city.  The people were enraged, and the Emperor instructed Pilate to remove them.  Do you see the pattern yet?

The Jews felt for sure they could get a death sentence from Pilate, given his history with them.  However, don’t you find it interesting that Pilate did not immediately sentence Jesus, but rather tried to escape the very request?  As always Jesus’ presence commanded respect.  When Jesus spoke of truth Pilate demanded, “what is truth?”  Here is a man with fame, fortune, and power, yet he is intrigued by the thought of truth.  Could this man Jesus offer him what he had been missing? The Son of God sat directly in front of Pilate, but fear, confusion, and distrust kept him from the very truth he sought.  That day he could have found it all, but he did not have the courage to deny the pressures of the world.  Many times we are just like Pilate.  We feel his presence and conviction, but do not have the courage to follow through.

Pilate was trying so hard to free himself of the situation.  He tried passing the responsibility by sending Jesus to Herod.  When that didn’t work he began to try to inflict punishment instead of death.  When that failed, he tried to appeal to the emotions and pity of the people, but with no avail, they still demanded death.  Why did none of these things help; because you cannot escape a personal decision in regard to Jesus; you have to decide to accept or reject him.  Pilate exclaimed to the people that he was washing his hands of the matter, but the truth is the decision would stay with him forever.

Pilate was truly torn in his decision.  I believe from scripture Pilate did not want to issue the death sentence.  Jesus had affected both he and his wife, even though they did not really understand who he was.  On the other hand Pilate loved his status.  He was afraid if he did not issue the death penalty, the Jews would report him once again to the Emperor, and he would loose his job.  He was in gridlock between going with his gut feeling, and satisfying the world.  Are we not the same today?  Many times we feel God telling us what is right, but we feel the pressure of the world pulling us in a different direction. I pray today that you will not try to escape the presence of the Most High, but instead invite him to move into your life; and draw you near.

Last week in our devotion time we left with Jesus being at the point of death, in the Garden of Gethsemane.  There are so many things to pick up in the next scriptures that we will divide it out between three devotions: the Jews, Pilate, and finally Jesus himself.  I needed to divide it out so you wouldn’t think I was a long-winded preacher.  I don’t know any of those, do you? :)

28 Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s residence. (Now it was very early morning.) They did not go into the governor’s residence so they would not be ceremonially defiled, but could eat the Passover meal.  29 So Pilate came outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They replied, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” 31 Pilate told them, “Take him yourselves and pass judgment on him according to your own law!” The Jewish religious leaders replied, “We cannot legally put anyone to death.”

      Before we begin we need a little bit of history.  Jesus was brought to his first trial (Jewish), which was in front of Anna’s, who had been the High Priest, until he was removed from office.  However, he still had great influence because most consider him to still be the “true” High Priest.  Who were the Sadducees and Pharisees, and why were they against Jesus? Sadducees were priestly, wealthy men, mostly from aristocratic families.  They only associated with the ruling class. The name Pharisee in its Hebrew form means separatists, or the separated ones. They were also known as chasidim, which means loyal to God, or loved of God.  This was pretty ironic considering their actions toward Jesus.  The Pharisees received the following of the common people. Then you’ll notice the Bible speaks of the Sanhedrin which was a governing body made up of the chief priest (high priest), a vice chief justice, and 69 general members. It was made up of Pharisees and Sadducees. It is basically the Supreme Court and legislative body of ancient Israel. However, this governing body did not have the right to hand down a death sentence.  Jesus would have to go before Roman law to carry out the scriptures referring to the crucifixion.

     So if you are still with me, there is a point to the History lesson. Jesus was a Jew, an ordinary man in appearance, and from the town of Nazareth. He and His disciples had no education, no formal training, and yet they had the audacity to quote scripture, heal people, and cast out demons.  This infuriated the religious leaders because they felt threatened by Jesus and his disciples.  The Sadducees and Pharisees political standing, pompous attitude, and arrogant self-esteem caused not only blindness to the truth, but hatred in their heart.  Eventually, they were so sure of themselves; they left God behind.  We may actually know Christians that fit this category.  They are so stifled in religion, rules, and regulations; they have left God behind all together. 

     I don’t want you to miss the irony of this situation.  The Jews are demanding Jesus’ death on the cross, as they are preparing for Passover.  They would not even enter into Pilate’s dwelling because they were scared they would be defiled.  Is there anything out of place here?   They are meticulously carrying out all the ceremonial and ritual details of the Law, while trying to crucify the Son of God.  Basically, they had missed it.  Does this sound familiar?  We get so involved in church life, and Christianity that we forget to be Christians.  We overlook the verse If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother he has seen, cannot love the God he has not seen” (1John 4:20).   So does history repeat itself?  We still get caught up in the things we think are right, and just, and forget mercy, grace and forgiveness, the very core of whom Jesus was.

     Jesus had already been scourged, beaten, and humiliated, but they cried for more.  Hatred had consumed them, and they no longer contained reason, mercy, or even common humanity.  Once a person allows their heart to become cold, callous, unforgiving, and full of hatred; they can no longer see the truth as it really is. Hatred is a scary emotion.  It can rip relationships, divide communities, and crumble a nation from the inside out.  Everything becomes distorted, twisted, and manipulated for personal gain. The Jews did not hesitate to twist the facts around to satisfy their goal.  They knew Pilate would not take part in any religious matters, so they produced a charge of rebellion and political insurrection.  They were willing to do anything it took to make sure they reached their end desire, crucifying Jesus.

     Not only were they willing to twist the truth, they were willing to deny every principle they had.  In verse
John 19:15 the Chief Priest says, “We have no king but Caesar”.  Pilate must have been astonished at what he heard.  A Jew was recognizing Caesar as their King, rather than God. In Samuel 12:12 when the people wanted a King, He tells them that God alone should be their king.  In Judges 8:23 Gideon said, “ I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you: the Lord will rule over you.” So what has just happened?  In one rash moment, with one statement, the Chief Priest has abandoned their belief of God as King.  Don’t miss this point because it was essential to the Jews.  Many Jews had died trying to preserve this belief, but now because it is not convenient, the Chief Priest chose to disregard it.   Have you ever been guilty of disregarding your faith?  Maybe God was not convenient for you in a relationship, a job, a political standing, and the list could go on and on.  The bottom line is there are times we are willing to sacrifice our faith and beliefs, for something we want, no matter the cost.

     I will leave you with these thoughts.  Sometimes we can miss God, and be in church every Sunday, just like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day.  It is not enough to hear the gospel.  The Gospel demands a response.  It demands action.  If you are sitting in church and never serve; it calls you to get up and go serve.  If you despise your neighbor, it calls you to forgive.  If you are racial, it calls you to love.  If you are greedy, it calls you to give.  If you are lost, it calls you to a redeemer.  If you are broken, it calls you to a healer.  Do you see the pattern?  I ask you today, what action is the Gospel calling you to today?  Can we really celebrate the risen Savior, if we are not willing to take an active part in the story?

Mark 4:32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” 39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. 41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
     In Mathew Jesus states, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death”.  In Luke it is described as anguish.  In Latin the meaning of anguish "angere"   includes the definition “to choke”.  In Greek, the word is thlipsis, which means to crush, press, compress, or squeeze.  This gives the picture of something being crushed, pressed, or squeezed under a great weight.  It is used to denote physical, mental and spiritual distress.   Jesus knows he is about to die and is in anguish, “overwhelmed to the point of death”.  He invites his closest disciples to accompany Him to pray.  Notice however, what he asks them to pray for, not Him, but their own temptations?  If you remember from last week, Jesus had informed Peter he would deny Him three times.  However, instead of praying, Jesus found the disciples sleeping? The book of mark reveals Jesus calling Peter by his previous name, Simon.  He tells them the “spirit is willing, but the body is weak”.  By calling him Simon, He is reiterating the temptation of the flesh. Can you imagine the disappointment, the frustration, and the very heartache Jesus felt?  Even the people closest to Him could not understand the magnitude of the situation.  However, don't miss the text in Luke 22:43, "An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  I have goose bumps just typing those words. In this very tender moment when Jesus is overwhelmed to the point of death, His sweat is like drops of blood, and he is almost unrecognizable because of His anguish—God provides strength. 
      Do you feel it?  This is it --the pinnacle, the apex, the climax? A decision has to be made.  Jesus is in a body just like yours and mine.  He was literally at the point of death, and God strengthens Him to carry out the fate of the cross.  When hard times come and you can't go on; HE CAN.  He will find us in our darkest hour, and pull us to the light.  Philippians 1:19 reads, “what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.”  Not only will God pull us from the darkness, He will deliver you.  He will literally take those dark places in life, and make you passionate about seeing others delivered from them.  My mammal at this point would say, “GLORY, Praise Jesus”, and I would have to agree.  

Psalms 30:11 says, “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.

Deuteronomy 23:5 “However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.”

Notice in all these verses, God is literally turning one into the other.  The Hebrew word used is hapak- to turn, change, or convert.  He is literally saying wailing to dancing, sackcloth to joy, and curses to blessings.  Please hear me today.  If you allow God to touch your life, He will not leave you the same.  
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6

Have you ever found yourself too comfortable in your work for the Lord, or maybe lost the awe of who He really is?  Sometimes we get so complacent we miss the opportunities God has for us.  Sometimes we are scared of failure, we have spirit of fear, or maybe we are simply unwilling to sacrifice.  Let us remember what Jesus said Mat 20:27-28 (NEB) "...whoever wants to be great must be your servant, and
  whoever wants to be first must be the willing slave of all--like the Son of Man;  He did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give up his life as a ransom  for many." I love the poem that Sir Francis Drake wrote:

Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased
with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too
little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the
shore.


Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build
a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.
attributed - sir francis drake -1577

May we never find ourself too close to the shore in our work for the Lord.