Tag Archives: Death

Holy Land 2013 – Day Seven – Up From the Grave

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Today was our last day in the Holy Land. It’s been a great trip. I’ve learned so much. So much of what I have learned and experienced is because of the great work of our leader, Dr. Sam Morris. Sam has been phenomenal and I can’t thank him enough for what he has taught me in this trip.

DSCN0728Today was one of the days where we really walked where Jesus walked. We spent the entire day in the Old City. We started the day off by entering in the city through the Dung Gate. From there we went on top of the Temple Mount, seeing the Al-Aqua Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.

Leaving there, we saw some steps at the bottom that literally go back to the first temple. Yep, the one that Solomon built. Cool, huh?

After that, we went to the Western Wall. This is the only wall left standing from Herod’s Temple after Rome destroyed the city and the temple. This is the holiest place in all of Judaism. We were able to go and pray there. It was pretty neat.

DSCN0786From there, we went to the teaching steps. This is where Jesus would have taught from, specifically the Seven Woes found in Matthew. So, standing here, we literally stood where Jesus stood. We know that we know that we know that we know Jesus stood here and taught. There is no doubt.

After that, we went to Bethesda where He healed the man on the Sabbath. And from there we walked down the Via Delarosa ending up at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. This is the actual site of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Hear me, y’all. This is the actual site of these things.

DSCN0845We got to touch Mt. Calvary. We got to see the place where the earthquake spilt open the mountain. We got to touch where the cross was put in the ground. We got to see the place that Sam feels very confident in the actual tomb, we got to see what a tomb would have looked like, and we got to the traditional spot of the tomb.

Wow!

And this is my take away from today, and really from the entire trip. As we were in a tomb that is next to the actual tomb, we read the story of the crucifixion and burial. We prayed. And then we sang together “Up From the Grave He Arose.” From next to the spot where He arose from.

It was amazing. I’m tearing up right now thinking about it. To sing of His death, and then to sing “Death could not keep its prey” is amazing.

And that’s my take away. As awesome as this place is (and you each need to come. Really. It will change your life and your faith) this is even more amazing. Up from the grave He arose!

Where oh death is your victory? Where oh death is your sting?

Sin, death, and the grave are defeated! Christ is victorious! Through Him, we have nothing to fear. We have won.

We are not a people of places or of churches. We are people of relationships. With each other. And with God.

I’ve been convicted of my sin this week by seeing the places where my Lord suffered from. I have felt that strong hand of conviction on my heart in this week. I have been reminded of what my sin cost my Lord.

Today, through, I was reminded of this – He is not dead. He is alive.

Death could not hold Him down. The grave could not keep Him.

My sin, your sin, it has been paid for. Jesus has paid the price. And the grave is empty. Death has been defeated!

We are not judged. We are not condemned. We are not forsaken.

We are loved. We are freed. We are given grace.

Today, I’ve seen the tomb. And hear me friends. It is empty! Life has won.

He is not in the ground. He is not here. He’s in us.

Up from the grave He arose! Wow! Yes! Praise Jesus!

Live forgiven. For you are. You are a forgiven child of God. Live in that grace today!

See you back in the good ole US of A.

Good Will Win

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I just got back from the Mississippi Annual Conference this past weekend. It’s the yearly gathering of pastors from all around the state. There are times of worship, times of business, times of reflection.

And in the state of the current United Methodist Church, times of sadness. We closed more churches in Mississippi last year than we started. We had more pastors retire than were commissioned for ministry. Our budget remains very, very tight, and we are only meeting 80% of it.

Not to mention all controversies that swirl around the national/international church.

But it’s not just the Methodists that struggle. Every denomination has plateaued. The largest growing religions group in our nation is “those not affiliated,” meaning they aren’t part of a church.

We see these things locally with many churches in our hometowns struggling to grow, to meet their financial obligations, to be relevant in their communities.

So, with all that in mind, listen to what Jesus says to Peter today in Matthew 16:17-18:

And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

To those of you in a panic today about your church, your larger tradition, all of these things, listen to Jesus.

The gates of hell will not triumph against His church. God will win. Good will win. The Body of Christ will be victorious in the end.

The church is His body and His bride, and He will return for Her one day. So, yes, in 2012, it may look like things are bad, but, His word tells us that He will win.

Evil will not. Death will not. Pain will not.

Good will win. In life. In the church. In the universe.

In your life.

So, hold on, hold fast. Help is on the way. Don’t lose sight of that. Don’t forget.

God will win.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

The Long View

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I had a professor of mine that used to always talk to us about the notion that the Christian faith is not just a future thing, it is a now thing.  It is a present thing. I’ve always liked that.

We’d don’t follow Jesus to simply get into heaven.  We don’t follow Jesus to avoid hell.  Now, both ofthose things are good things and things I’d like to do!  But the great thing about the life found in Jesus Christ is that it is life that is found today.

Right now.

In this moment.

As Christians, we aren’t just living for the future. We are living for today.  We don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to experience the power and joy and grace of God. We can experience that right now.  As Jesus taught us in John 10:10 – we can have that abundant life. Today.  Right now.

And that’s kind of my default position.  I know heaven will be great and awesome and all that. But, I don’t worry too much about it at this point in my life.  I feel like this life, lived to God, is pretty awesome too.

But, Paul gives us (and especially me) a very healthy reminder today in 1 Corinthians 15

30 And why are we putting ourselves in danger every hour? 31 I die every day! That is as certain, brothers and sisters, as my boasting of you-a boast that I make in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If with merely human hopes I fought with wild animals at Ephesus, what would I have gained by it? If the dead are not raised,
“Let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die.”
33 Do not be deceived:
“Bad company ruins good morals.”

If there is no life beyond this life, than this make this life all that matters.  If there is no life beyond this life, then where is the need for bravery?  For courage?  For doing what is right, no matter what?

In this life, we need the courage to do what God calls us to. Sometimes it’s scary. Sometimes its terrifying. Sometimes we don’t want to do it, we are afraid of the results, we are afraid of the response people will give us.

We are just scared.

That’s when we need to take the long view.  This life is not the end. There is something greater and better for us. There is a true life, beyond this life, we are a peace with God completely and know the life He has truly intended for us.

And to me, that gives me even more courage and desire to fully live here on the earth!  For I know that God is with me, and I have nothing to worry about!

And this moment, whatever it is that is just killing you. That is worrying you.  That is taking your joy, you sleep, you life, you hope.  It will pass.  It is not the end of your life.  Don’t take the short view. The view of only today.

Take the long view.  There is life beyond this that you made for.  Live fully!  Live boldly!  God is with you!  You have nothing to fear!  You were made for more than this moment.  You were made for eternity.  May that knowledge  help us to live for God with all that we are, in this moment.