Jesus Devotional - Day 28
Day Twenty-Eight
Jesus: Real, Relevant, and Radical!
A Dream in a Tomb
Matthew 27:55(NLT) And many women who had come from Galilee with Jesus to care for him were watching from a distance. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James and Joseph), and the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee.
Matthew 27:59-60(NLT) Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. 60 He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. 61 Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching.
Mark 15:40-42(NLT) Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph), and Salome. 41 They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come with him to Jerusalem were also there.
Mark 15:46-47(NLT) Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth. Then he took Jesus’ body down from the cross, wrapped it in the cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus’ body was laid.
Mark 16:1(NLT) Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body.
Luke 23:49(NLT) But Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.
Luke 23:55-56(NLT) As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. 56 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.
John 19:25(NLT) Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene.
Jesus was and is simply beyond description. No matter how eloquent or lofty, there are no descriptions that fully capture who Jesus is. His love is endless. His grace is unmatched; His patience, endearing; His beauty, breathtaking. He is indescribable, irresistible, and incomparable. As that old spiritual song says, “Oh, Lord, it is hard to be humble when you are perfect in every way...” Yet, there is no one more cloaked in humility than Jesus. He is the Perfect Man. Is it any wonder that He was loved so deeply, especially by the women?
Don’t miss this incredible fact: all of the gospel writers tell us that the women were there from the beginning to the very end. Don’t let your mind jump ahead to Jesus’ death and resurrection. Don’t rush straight to Sunday. Stay with me a little longer and look with fresh eyes at Friday night and Saturday. Consider, if you can, from the perspective of the largest group of Jesus’ disciples that was actually present—the women. We have several names, including many Marys, such as Jesus’ mother, His aunt Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Salome. Both Matthew and Mark mention that there were many other women; women who traveled with Him, supported His ministry, and followed Him.
Jesus treated women with dignity, respect, and value. He did not relegate them to the back of the line or pigeonhole them regarding their role. He valued them like no other man they had ever met. We see this throughout the gospels. When He heals a woman who was bent over for 18 years, the Pharisees throw a fit because it was the Sabbath. Jesus calls her a daughter of Abraham to the delight of the crowd and the chagrin of the religious leaders. The longest recorded conversation between Jesus and another person is Jesus talking to a woman; not just any woman, a Samaritan. Jews and Samaritans had a deep loathing for each other. No self-respecting Jewish Rabbi would give any Samaritan the time of day, and a Samaritan woman, on top of that — “Oy Vey!” To make matters worse, Jesus is the one who initiated the conversation.
He allows a woman with an issue of blood to touch Him; that was a big no-no. He first ignored a Canaanite woman, but she persisted in following Him. Then, He teases this Syrophoenician woman about being a puppy under the table and that bread belongs to the children. She responds right back and says, “The dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table.” He stops and marvels at her faith, then heals her daughter. Listen to what Luke writes in Luke 8:1-4(NLT). “Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, 2 along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; 3 Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.”
Don’t view this with Western eyes. How extraordinary is it for men and women to travel together? You must recognize how unique and revolutionary this was at the time! Jesus heals them, delivers them, and then travels with them. Luke mentions these women traveling with Jesus by name, and on top of that, they support Him financially! Hello! Women generally did not travel with men; they were told to stay home. Jesus had men and women traveling, studying, and doing ministry together. He even had them pay the bills, including a woman named Joanna whose husband worked for Herod—the same Herod who was trying to kill Jesus. Pay attention to what Luke writes in this often-cited passage and see if you can recognize how revolutionary this Rabbi truly was. Luke 10:38-42(NKJV) “Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.” This is usually the verse we use when we talk about not being too busy like Martha and to be more like Mary. But there’s a phrase we should not overlook: “Mary who also sat at Jesus’ feet.” “To sit at someone’s feet,” meant to be someone’s disciple. Paul used the same phrase when referencing his discipleship under Gamaliel. Acts 22:3(NKJV) “Then he said: 3 ‘I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.”
No wonder Jesus was seen as a radical. I don’t know if the church of today has ever caught up with the way Jesus treated women. No wonder they were the first and the last at the tomb and the cross. It is difficult to wrap your mind around the depth of their loss. The scene at the cross wasn’t just the faithful few; it was, in Mark’s words, “many other women.” They had hopes. They had expectations. They had dreams. Now, all their hopes and dreams lay dead in a tomb.
Have you been there? When something you so desperately wanted and needed suddenly comes to a crushing halt, the only thing left is a gut-wrenching disappointment. You have nothing left, not even a flicker of hope, because all you relied on is gone. All that is left in its wake is a sense of duty. These women watch closely as Jesus is embalmed and laid in the tomb. It’s Friday night; the dream is dead. What’s left is simple devotion to a “Man” who changed your life. You thought, you hoped, you held your breath, but now you can only sigh, shrug your shoulders and wonder, “What now?” Because of your love for this radical Rabbi, you are going to pay Him a final act of respect. The men had their turn, and you watched them hurriedly do what needed to be done, but tomorrow, you will return and do it right. You will come back to the grave, you will anoint His body, not to change the outcome but simply to show your love.
Friday is a very tough day. Maybe you feel the pain that these women experienced. For you, it has been Friday for a long time. Sure, you’ve had moments of reprieve, but you still feel like you're stuck at a “dream in a tomb.” Maybe it’s a relationship. Maybe it’s a marriage, and the only reason you’re still around is out of duty. You have no hope that things will ever change, so you just go through the motions, but the pain is always there. Maybe it’s a loss of some kind. Whatever it might be for you, I want to encourage you with these simple words: Don’t stop, keep moving forward. Do what needs to be done. Learn from all these women at the cross and the tomb. Listen to their voices. You will hear them say: “Prepare what needs to be prepared, even if you think it won’t change the outcome.” You have to leave the outcome in the hands of the “One” who is laying in the tomb. You might think, “But wait; there’s only death in the tomb.” When you see a tomb, God sees a womb. Just get ready, be patient; the “Seed” has to die before it can live...
Prayer:
Jesus: Real, Relevant, and Radical!
A Dream in a Tomb
Matthew 27:55(NLT) And many women who had come from Galilee with Jesus to care for him were watching from a distance. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James and Joseph), and the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee.
Matthew 27:59-60(NLT) Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. 60 He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. 61 Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching.
Mark 15:40-42(NLT) Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph), and Salome. 41 They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come with him to Jerusalem were also there.
Mark 15:46-47(NLT) Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth. Then he took Jesus’ body down from the cross, wrapped it in the cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus’ body was laid.
Mark 16:1(NLT) Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body.
Luke 23:49(NLT) But Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.
Luke 23:55-56(NLT) As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. 56 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.
John 19:25(NLT) Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene.
Jesus was and is simply beyond description. No matter how eloquent or lofty, there are no descriptions that fully capture who Jesus is. His love is endless. His grace is unmatched; His patience, endearing; His beauty, breathtaking. He is indescribable, irresistible, and incomparable. As that old spiritual song says, “Oh, Lord, it is hard to be humble when you are perfect in every way...” Yet, there is no one more cloaked in humility than Jesus. He is the Perfect Man. Is it any wonder that He was loved so deeply, especially by the women?
Don’t miss this incredible fact: all of the gospel writers tell us that the women were there from the beginning to the very end. Don’t let your mind jump ahead to Jesus’ death and resurrection. Don’t rush straight to Sunday. Stay with me a little longer and look with fresh eyes at Friday night and Saturday. Consider, if you can, from the perspective of the largest group of Jesus’ disciples that was actually present—the women. We have several names, including many Marys, such as Jesus’ mother, His aunt Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Salome. Both Matthew and Mark mention that there were many other women; women who traveled with Him, supported His ministry, and followed Him.
Jesus treated women with dignity, respect, and value. He did not relegate them to the back of the line or pigeonhole them regarding their role. He valued them like no other man they had ever met. We see this throughout the gospels. When He heals a woman who was bent over for 18 years, the Pharisees throw a fit because it was the Sabbath. Jesus calls her a daughter of Abraham to the delight of the crowd and the chagrin of the religious leaders. The longest recorded conversation between Jesus and another person is Jesus talking to a woman; not just any woman, a Samaritan. Jews and Samaritans had a deep loathing for each other. No self-respecting Jewish Rabbi would give any Samaritan the time of day, and a Samaritan woman, on top of that — “Oy Vey!” To make matters worse, Jesus is the one who initiated the conversation.
He allows a woman with an issue of blood to touch Him; that was a big no-no. He first ignored a Canaanite woman, but she persisted in following Him. Then, He teases this Syrophoenician woman about being a puppy under the table and that bread belongs to the children. She responds right back and says, “The dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table.” He stops and marvels at her faith, then heals her daughter. Listen to what Luke writes in Luke 8:1-4(NLT). “Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, 2 along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; 3 Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.”
Don’t view this with Western eyes. How extraordinary is it for men and women to travel together? You must recognize how unique and revolutionary this was at the time! Jesus heals them, delivers them, and then travels with them. Luke mentions these women traveling with Jesus by name, and on top of that, they support Him financially! Hello! Women generally did not travel with men; they were told to stay home. Jesus had men and women traveling, studying, and doing ministry together. He even had them pay the bills, including a woman named Joanna whose husband worked for Herod—the same Herod who was trying to kill Jesus. Pay attention to what Luke writes in this often-cited passage and see if you can recognize how revolutionary this Rabbi truly was. Luke 10:38-42(NKJV) “Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.” This is usually the verse we use when we talk about not being too busy like Martha and to be more like Mary. But there’s a phrase we should not overlook: “Mary who also sat at Jesus’ feet.” “To sit at someone’s feet,” meant to be someone’s disciple. Paul used the same phrase when referencing his discipleship under Gamaliel. Acts 22:3(NKJV) “Then he said: 3 ‘I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.”
No wonder Jesus was seen as a radical. I don’t know if the church of today has ever caught up with the way Jesus treated women. No wonder they were the first and the last at the tomb and the cross. It is difficult to wrap your mind around the depth of their loss. The scene at the cross wasn’t just the faithful few; it was, in Mark’s words, “many other women.” They had hopes. They had expectations. They had dreams. Now, all their hopes and dreams lay dead in a tomb.
Have you been there? When something you so desperately wanted and needed suddenly comes to a crushing halt, the only thing left is a gut-wrenching disappointment. You have nothing left, not even a flicker of hope, because all you relied on is gone. All that is left in its wake is a sense of duty. These women watch closely as Jesus is embalmed and laid in the tomb. It’s Friday night; the dream is dead. What’s left is simple devotion to a “Man” who changed your life. You thought, you hoped, you held your breath, but now you can only sigh, shrug your shoulders and wonder, “What now?” Because of your love for this radical Rabbi, you are going to pay Him a final act of respect. The men had their turn, and you watched them hurriedly do what needed to be done, but tomorrow, you will return and do it right. You will come back to the grave, you will anoint His body, not to change the outcome but simply to show your love.
Friday is a very tough day. Maybe you feel the pain that these women experienced. For you, it has been Friday for a long time. Sure, you’ve had moments of reprieve, but you still feel like you're stuck at a “dream in a tomb.” Maybe it’s a relationship. Maybe it’s a marriage, and the only reason you’re still around is out of duty. You have no hope that things will ever change, so you just go through the motions, but the pain is always there. Maybe it’s a loss of some kind. Whatever it might be for you, I want to encourage you with these simple words: Don’t stop, keep moving forward. Do what needs to be done. Learn from all these women at the cross and the tomb. Listen to their voices. You will hear them say: “Prepare what needs to be prepared, even if you think it won’t change the outcome.” You have to leave the outcome in the hands of the “One” who is laying in the tomb. You might think, “But wait; there’s only death in the tomb.” When you see a tomb, God sees a womb. Just get ready, be patient; the “Seed” has to die before it can live...
Prayer:
- Pray and let go of your pain to the Lord.
- Ask Him to strengthen your resolve and give you the courage to stay strong during the “Friday” you are in.
- Pray to the Lord to help you discern the true enemy of your faith and to intercede for those who have hurt you.
- Pause for a moment and thank the Lord for His comfort and love.
- Pray for others you know are hurting, and be an encourager to them.
Posted in Jesus Devotional