JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Matthew 28:9.
After Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb of Jesus, they encountered an angel who announced that Jesus was not in the tomb and had risen from the dead. He sent them on their way to tell this good news to the disciples of Jesus.
As they hurried away from the tomb, suddenly Jesus met them, saying “Greetings.” They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
Jesus was glorified at His resurrection. There was a pattern here. The eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Jesus would worship Him, and then Jesus would tell them to spread the good news of His resurrection.
This is the calling of His followers today-to worship Jesus and be a light that tells other people that He is alive and able to save us from sin.
This Light Reflection inspires us to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with faith, worship, and testimony in the Year to Shine.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to remember the empty grave.
Second Timothy 2:8 tells us to “remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.” Paul the Apostle noted, “This is my gospel.” Jesus is our source of good news too when we belong to Him through faith. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the reason for our victory over sin, death, and the pressures of this world.
Jesus told His followers the night before He died, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Even though we face temptation, turbulence, and the trials of life, we have much reason for optimism. Jesus is alive today. We do not worship a dead Christ, but the risen Christ. Because of that, we have a living hope that outshines the brilliance of the sunlight and endures forever.
Take the daily challenge to remember the empty grave and the reason for our hope on the journey of faith.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on John 20, verse 1.
“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.”
Peter Marshall is quoted as saying, “The stone was rolled away from the door, not to permit Christ to come out, but to enable the disciples to go in.”
What did they find when they went into the tomb? Peter and another disciple saw strips of linen lying there and the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. But there was no body. John 20, verse 8 records that the disciple who reached the tomb first saw and believed when he went inside. The biggest piece of evidence to make the case for the resurrection of Jesus was what was missing at the tomb of Jesus when the stone was rolled away. Jesus’ body was missing, but He later appeared to His disciples alive. Jesus told His followers in John 14:19, “Because I live, you also will live.”
Jesus is our source of Good News, leading us to a place of faith and resurrection hope in the Year of Vision.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines Jesus as the Risen Lord.
According to Matthew 28:5, the angel said to the women who had come to the tomb of Jesus, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen just as he said, ‘Come and see the place where he lay. Then go and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.”
This is the invitation for us today-come and see the empty tomb. Investigate the claims of the resurrection. Note that the body of Jesus is missing. Examine the boldness of those who witnessed His resurrection to boldly proclaim the Gospel. Then, go and tell the good news of this event, because it fills the believing heart with hope. Jesus told His followers in John 14:19, “Because I live, you also will live.”
Knowing Jesus as our Risen Lord is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason To Believe is the empty tomb.
Peter Marshall once said, “The stone was rolled away from the door, not to permit Christ to come out, but to enable the disciples to go in.”
The fact that the stone was rolled away gave Jesus’ followers the opportunity to see the folded grave clothes. They saw with their own eyes that the body that had been laid in the tomb three days earlier was now missing. The meaning of the empty tomb can be summed up in the message that the angel gave to the women who came to Jesus’ gravesite on the first day of the week.
He said, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has risen from the dead.”
The empty tomb is not a reason to be filled with fear. It is a reason to explore the claims of the resurrection. It is a reason for celebration, awe and wonder. It is worthy news to share with others.
The meaning of the empty tomb is a reason to believe in God’s good news.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment of Celebration reflects on the empty tomb.
On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached a sermon that persuaded 3,000 people to come to faith in Christ. It was a moment when he preached the Gospel. In that sermon, Peter said in Acts 2:32, “God raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.”
This happened fifty days after the crucifixion of Jesus. If opponents wanted to prove Peter wrong, they could have pointed people to a tomb where they placed the body of Jesus. But the stone had been rolled away, and the tomb was empty. The empty tomb tells us that Jesus has defeated death and conquered the grave. He leads His followers to eternal life, not a mortal end. Jesus told His disciples in John 14:19, “Because I live, you also will live.”
The empty tomb of Jesus is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the comeback of Jesus.
Two men were walking along the road to Emmaus wearing somber faces. They had hoped that Jesus would be their redeemer, but after the events of the past few days, their hopes had faded to disappointment. Suddenly, Jesus showed up and started walking and talking with them. After they recognized Jesus later, their spirits were lifted, and they went to tell His disciples, “It is true! The Lord has risen.”
Suppose you were watching a sporting event with a friend who cheered on the same team, and you turned off the TV because your team fell so far behind. Then, imagine finding out the next day that your team scored a stunning come-back victory. You would probably text your friend to share the good news.
Jesus made the greatest comeback of all time when He rose from the dead. It looked bleak on Friday, when Christ was nailed to a cross, and the disciples were scattered and distressed. It looked like the enemies of Christ had prevailed, but Jesus would not stay silent in the tomb. He came back from death, and emerged victorious over death and sin. His triumph renews our hope every day and fills us with so much joy that we want to tell others about the greatest comeback in history.
The comeback of Jesus from the grave is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
