 Our Lent Devotions "All eyes on Jesus" has finished. Thank you so much for joining in and for all the 'Amen's and lovely comments; it's been fun, and we'll do it all again next year! If that's too long to wait, I’ll be publishing my second book any day now. I’ll announce it here!
For now, it just remains for me to wish you a wonderful Easter. When He comes, our glorious King, To His kingdom us to bring, Then anew this song we’ll sing Hallelujah! What a Saviour! Thank you, Jesus! Author: P P Bliss Copyright: Public domain
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He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. Mark 16:15-20, NIV The disciples, fuelled by the resurrection reality and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, embarked on a mission to share the good news of salvation. Their obedience led to a global ripple effect as they preached everywhere. The message of hope, forgiveness, and eternal life echoed in regions far beyond the initial confines of Jerusalem.
This serves as an encouragement to us today. It reminds us that the Gospel is not bound by geographical or cultural limitations. The power of the message is as potent in our current context as it was in the early days. The same Lord who worked with the first disciples continues to confirm his word through the signs and wonders that accompany our preaching of the good news. Seeing the world saved requires a collective effort with each of us playing a unique role in fulfilling the Great Commission. Whether in our local communities or in global missions, the call to share the message of salvation remains urgent. Go. Go today. Go where he sends you. Go with what he has given you. Go! Let's pray Lord Jesus, I renew my commitment to the global mission today. Make me bold. Let my life be a living testimony of your transforming power and saving grace. Amen. When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either. Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. Mark 16:9-14, NIV Mark enables us to witness Jesus revealing himself to Mary Magdalene but then tells us the disciples refuse to believe her testimony. I have some sympathy for them. I can imagine that grief had closed their hearts making it difficult to fathom the possibility of good news. I also know cultural norms may have contributed to scepticism as the testimony of a woman was deemed less reliable at that time.
But then I read Jesus appears to two disciples on the road to Emmaus and that doesn’t move the eleven. And then Mark tells us Jesus has to appear to all of them and rebuke them for their unbelief and hard hearts! Can you imagine? Of course you can. The journey from doubt to faith resonates with all of us. Our experiences, preconceived notions, and expectations can hinder our ability to embrace the extraordinary truths of the Gospel. Like the disciples, we may find it deeply challenging to believe in the miraculous. For me, doubt is a natural part of my faith journey. Doubt makes me question, but it also forces me to seek answers. More to the point it forces me to seek Jesus. I know there is nothing like encountering the risen Christ to illuminate my understanding and ignite a great fire inside my soul. Ask Jesus to meet you today. Let's pray Forgive me for those times when I find it hard to believe, Lord. Meet me in those times, counsel me, encourage me, empower me, and send me. Amen. 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. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” Mark 16:1-8, NIV Arriving at the tomb, three women are greeted not by the cold stillness of death but by an empty sepulchre and radiant messenger. "He has risen; he is not here!" These words pierce the darkness of the tomb... and our hearts.
In this pivotal moment, the faithful three are entrusted with a divine commission. God chooses not only to reveal Jesus' resurrection to them first, but also to make them the deliverers of this world-changing news. They will tell the other disciples of the empty tomb and testify to the victory over sin and death secured by Christ's sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection. What a privilege! It is our privilege, too. Who will you talk to about the power that raised Jesus from the dead? How will you help them understand the same power is at work in your life today? Who will you speak to about the assurance of forgiveness, the promise of eternal life, and the invitation to a renewed and transformed existence? Help someone else embrace new life today. Let’s pray Lord, I want my life to be a testimony to the living hope I have in Christ, echoing the angels' proclamation, "He is risen!" Empower me to make it so, Lord. Amen. It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid. Mark 15:42-47, NIV In the closing moments of Mark's account of Jesus' crucifixion, a quiet yet significant figure steps into the narrative. As evening falls on that fateful day, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, approaches Pilate to request Jesus' body for burial. This request demonstrates great Joseph's courage, as identifying with Jesus at this moment carried the potential of extreme censure from his fellow council members. Yet, Joseph's actions betray a profound shift in his perspective on Jesus.
Previously a secret disciple, Joseph now publicly associates himself with the man he once followed in the shadows. The linen shroud, the spices, and the carefully prepared tomb reflect not only a practical concern for the proper burial of Jesus but also a heart profoundly moved by the significance of Christ's sacrifice. In the face of rejection and death, Joseph steps forward as a silent witness to the dignity and honour due to the Son of God. Joseph evolves from a cautious observer to a courageous disciple. This is the power of the cross! Joseph's bold witness encourages us to embrace our identity as followers of Jesus, not just in words, but in deeds. Let’s pray Jesus, I want my life to bear witness to the power of your cross. Help me openly and wholeheartedly align myself with you today and every day. Amen. Every story we have considered this week and will read in the coming days is told in the shadow of the cross so we are pausing to worship Jesus again today. There is a green hill far away,
outside a city wall, where our dear Lord was crucified, who died to save us all. We may not know, we cannot tell what pains he had to bear; but we believe it was for us he hung and suffered there. He died that we might be forgiven, he died to make us good, that we might go at last to heaven, saved by his precious blood. There was no other good enough, to pay the price of sin; he, only, could unlock the gate of heaven and let us in. Lord Jesus, dearly you have loved, and we must love you too; and trust in your redeeming blood, and live our lives for you. Author: Cecil Alexander Copyright: Public domain At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:33-39, NIV In Jesus’ day expediency meant the city’s landfill and crucifixion sites were close together. Rubbish was piled up and burned outside Jerusalem’s walls, where there would have been rats, scavenging dogs, excrement, and soiled rags. And, very likely, the decomposing corpses of crucified criminals whose families were too afraid to claim them for burial. The crosses on which the crucified hung were positioned on high ground or public roads, warning travellers of the consequences of disobeying Rome. No one can confirm Golgotha’s exact location, but it is thought the backdrop to Jesus’ crucifixion was a foul, stinking place.
Very few people witnessed Jesus’ terrible death there. Only some women, John, a handful of cursing bystanders, one or two Roman soldiers, perhaps beggars picking over the litter and travellers on the road. For hours nothing was heard but weeping, a thief’s accusations, soldiers laughing, the mocking of a small crowd, and Jesus’ blood dripping to the ground with the rasp of each agonising breath. The onlookers witnessed Jesus’ appalling sacrifice and remarkable surrender, not realising it removed every barrier to the bond of friendship and trust that God has always been invested in. In one terrible act, Jesus restored our connection with the Father forever. As the gruesome scene unfolded at Golgotha, the soldiers and onlookers revealed a range of emotions - mockery, indifference, and callousness. Yet, the centurion emerges with a revelation that echoes through the corridors of time: "Truly this man was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:39, ESV). What revelation of Jesus do you need today? The Holy Spirit can help you understand something more of what Jesus' sacrifice meant for you. You simply need to ask. Let's pray Thank you for the cross and for the price you paid, Lord. I will never fully understand the extent of your sacrifice, but I am grateful. As I imagine myself at the foot of your cross now, I wait for you to reveal something new to me today. Amen. “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. “Crucify him!” they shouted. “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. Mark 15:12-15, NIV Jesus stood before Pilate falsely accused and unjustly condemned, the crowd's perception of him marred by misunderstanding, frustration, and the self-interest of the Chief Priests. The crowd’s expectations of a triumphant earthly ruler did not align with the suffering servant standing before them. Barabbas, a fighter, the symbol of rebellion, seemed a better option for the future.
Pilate, unwilling to commit himself, asks the crowd, "What shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?" (ESV). The crowd cries, “Crucify him!” and God's redemptive plan unfolds. The rejection and crucifixion of Jesus become the means by which salvation is made available to all. In their unknowing participation, the crowd plays a role in God's divine purpose. Confronted by that same question the decision we make is crucial. Our response holds eternal significance. What will you do with Jesus? Will you choose to believe he is the Son of God, Saviour of the world, Messiah, King of kings? Will you embrace him and his offer of forgiveness, new purpose, and eternal life? Accepting Jesus may not be the obvious choice. It will mean choosing to take a path of surrender, agreeing to change, learning to become a disciple. But the reward is an abundant life transformed by his love, filled with hope that stretches into eternity. What will you do with Jesus today? Let’s pray I say ‘yes’ to you today, Jesus. I want to follow you all the days of my life. I trust that you are working out your perfect plan in my life. Have your way, Lord. Amen. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Mark 14:22-26, NIV I love serving and taking communion. We are part of a church that holds to the un-fancy tradition of encouraging pretty much anyone to serve the meal at any time and in any place. That is crucially important to me as I am certain communion should not simply be a ritual, it should present us with an opportunity to see and meet Jesus afresh.
Seeing Jesus in communion involves recognising the depth of his love, understanding the gravity of his sacrifice, rejoicing in his victory, embracing the power of his covenant, and looking forward to his return. It is an act of remembrance, worship, and anticipation. Not just a symbolic meal but a moment of profound connection with Jesus and our brothers and sisters in Christ. The disciples, steeped in tradition, couldn't fully fathom that the elements before them would become symbols of Christ's body and blood. Unlike them, we stand on the other side of the crucifixion and resurrection, armed with the knowledge of Christ's ultimate sacrifice. We should take every opportunity we have to celebrate his victory! Let’s pray Lord, thank you for the privilege of being able to take communion. Remind me of the profound truth the elements convey and the transforming, healing power of your redeeming love. I am grateful. Amen. While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her. Mark 14:3-9, NIV While dining in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman enters, holding an alabaster jar filled with costly perfume. Breaking the jar, she pours the fragrant oil on Jesus' head, anointing him with it. The unnamed woman saw Jesus through the lens of profound gratitude and recognised him for who he truly was. Her response was an extravagant outpouring of love.
The act of breaking the alabaster jar symbolises the complete surrender of her most prized possession. It was an act of vulnerability, revealing her unwavering devotion to Jesus. The fragrance of the perfume filled the room, changing the atmosphere. Likewise, her love permeated the space, leaving an eternal imprint on the hearts of those present. As we reflect on this account, we are challenged to see Jesus as the woman in Bethany does. To recognise the immeasurable value of having him in our lives. To question whether we are be willing to break our alabaster jars, surrendering our most cherished possessions as we devote ourselves to him. Let’s pray Forgive me for those times when I have taken your presence for granted, Lord. Help me to respond to you today with a love that is willing to break open the most precious parts of my heart and life in unparalleled adoration of you. Amen. |
Author"Life is short; eat dessert first." Loraine Davies Archives
March 2025
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