2018

John 20:1-18 – The Empty Tomb20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Big View: Person of Peace
Small View: Perception – Presence – Proclamation

Gwen Adams
Priceless – Anchorage AK

Observation: I love that Jesus addresses her broken heart first. He could have said, “Mary, stop crying, I am Jesus and I have been raised from the dead!” But instead he comes alongside her in her pain and listens. When a Person of Peace may be standing in front of us, starting with proclamation before we acknowledge that we SEE them is often counterproductive. The beautiful example Jesus sets of first acknowledging that he sees her broken heart by asking her a question first. Then Jesus connects with her by calling out her name, another personal connection. The truth is revealed in a tender and personal way.

Action: The beautiful truth I carry about the gospel of Jesus Christ sometimes causes me to proclaim the truth first without acknowledging the brokenness or pain in the life of the person I am preaching to. I am going to start conversations with questions addressing the reality of a broken world first; then, and only then, can I proclaim the truth.

Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin.

As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.

Big View: Person of Peace
Small View: Permanent Relationships – Proclamation

Patrick Cannon
Catalyst Church – Cleveland OH

Observation: Joseph did not agree with his fellow leaders and was a good and righteous man hoping and waiting for God’s Kingdom. Do I let my co-workers opinions, beliefs and approval influence my seeking and sharing of God’s Kingdom?

Action: I have a customer at work who has been very open to receiving prayer from me concerning his family. I am going to prayerfully look for an opportunity to engage him in a deeper spiritual conversation, perhaps even invite to grab a cup of coffee.

26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’
31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Big View: Person of Peace
Small View: Passing Relationships – Perception

Steve Diehl
Walnut Creek Friends Church/Forgiveness Ministries – Walnut Creek

Observation: The centurion had only a few passing hours to observe Jesus; in particular, how He suffered and died. The centurion noticed that Jesus responded to His suffering differently than others did. A few moments with Jesus changed how he saw Jesus.

Action: When standing in lines I make it a point to talk with strangers, make them laugh, assist them – be Jesus to them.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Big View: Person of Peace
Small View: Passing Relationships – Permanent Relationships – Preparation – Power

Tammy Vogt
Origins Faith Community – Ontario, Oregon

Observation: Jesus knew they needed a tangible example of what a life of love and service looks like. No task is too menial. No effort to humble. If He did it, we are called to do it as well.
‘…do as I have done for you.’

Action: I encounter all kinds of people in my daily life. I am going to stop, look and listen to see where God is at work and ask myself the question, ‘how can I serve this person’? Just like Jesus.

39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Big View: Person of Peace
Small View: Perception – Permanent Relationships

Jed Matschke
Bethlehem Lutheran – Carson City NV

Observation: Jesus’ disciples were willing to follow Him as people of peace, but they weren’t strong enough to keep up with Jesus in prayer. However, Jesus doesn’t cast blame or cut himself off from them. He reminds them once again of their calling to pray.

Action: Sometimes, the people following me don’t meet my expectations. Instead of acting out of anger or spite when I become frustrated or angry and cutting off these permanent relationships, this week I am going to exhibit that fruit of the Spirit that is patience and call them back to obedience, just like Jesus.

Luke 22:24-3424 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Big View: Person of Peace
Small View: Preparation – Permanent Relationships – Proclamation

Mike McCoy
Vineyard Church – Concord CA

Observation: Jesus – I want to represent you well, especially to the people of peace in my life, but I can’t live up to my good intentions without your help and grace. Jesus, you are showing me that like Peter, I believe I am willing to sacrifice for you. But also like Peter, I need You to pray that my faith and faithfulness doesn’t fail.

Action: My neighbor – a permanent person of peace – and I get to talk every weekend as we take care of our yards. Lord, I believe You have prepared him to hear the good news about Jesus. You have given me the help, faith, and grace I need so I will look for opportunities on each weekend in Lent to proclaim and share our story with him.