“…I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26, NKJV)

Standing at a distance, she gazed at the man’s crucified body, dying on a cross, as her heart pounded in agony. Deep sobs heaved her chest. Her knees began to buckle.

What brought her to the cross? A mother’s love. For this was Mary’s son, dying for the world.

John the disciple, who had leaned upon this Divine Man so many times, stood with Mary, in utter dismay.

What brought him to the cross? Genuine love and deep gratitude.

With John and Mary stood Mary Magdalene, trembling. Tears of grief streamed down her cheeks.

What brought her to the cross? Love, for the forgiveness of the sins in her life, for scripture says, “…Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much.” (Luke 7:47a, NKJV)

Kneeling on the ground at the foot of this Man’s cross, the soldiers cast lots for His tunic.

What brought them to the cross? Their duty and their greed.

Two thieves hung on either side of this cross.

What brought them to the cross? Violation of the law.

Simon the Cyrenian was there.

What brought him to the cross? He bore the burden of the cross to the hill of sacrifice.

The multitude gathered, murmuring to each other.

What brought them to the cross? Anger. Belittlement. Wonderment. Doubting.

The chief priests stood with the scribes, poised in pride and defiance.

What brought them to the cross? They came to mock Him, thinking it all utter foolishness.

What did all these people have in common? They all needed the very thing for which this Man Jesus was dying on the cross: salvation and the forgiveness of their sins.

Some accepted it; some rejected it. Paul later wrote to the Corinthians, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Cor. 1:18)

What brings you to the cross? Love? Gratitude? Grief? Duty? Have you violated God’s Law? Are you bearing a burden? Do you come weeping in pain, sorrow, or loss? Are you emptied of hopes and dreams or feeling lost in your circumstances?

Without the cross, there would be no garden of Easter gladness…to lift you up, to wipe away your tears, to remove your grave clothes of fear and depression. Walk that trail from the cross to Easter’s garden of resurrection. See your Saviour Jesus standing there, waiting for you.

He compassionately whispers your name and says, “Do not wear the grave-clothes stained with the tears of grief. Come into My garden of beauty and I will give you the robe of Easter’s resurrection gladness. Take My Hand and let Me lead you along the path to life everlasting. I will never leave you nor forsake you. I gave My life that you might live eternally with Me.”

Jesus always brings us hope of resurrection as on that first Easter morn. He says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26, NKJV)

Do you believe this? If so, weep no more. May you experience the salvation and forgiveness of the cross, the power of the resurrection, and embrace the risen life in a new way this Easter season.

Question: What brings you to the cross?

“Rejoice greatly, O my people!
Shout with joy!
For look-your King is coming!
He is the Righteous One, the Victor!” 

(Zechariah 9:9, TLB)

 Can you picture the scene? Night unfolds its veil of darkness across the light of day. Shimmering constellations fade as one bright star sets the ebony sky ablaze.

Flocks lie still and serene in the field. Shepherds gather around a flickering fire to dispel the evening’s chill. Only the calming crackle of the fire breaks the silence.

Suddenly, the radiance of an angel of the Lord rips open the night’s veil. The shepherds fall on their faces, trembling. The angel reassures this band of quaking caretakers, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11, NIV)

The darkness erupts into the brilliant glory of a chorus of angels proclaiming, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14, NKJV)

In the distance, a newborn’s cry carries on the cool, night air. The King of heaven has bowed low to enter earth’s time.  Disguised in a suit of humanity he has arrived, just as Isaiah prophesied.

“For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end.”

(Is. 9:6-7a NKJV)

 Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:46-47, NKJV) Are you in agreement with Mary? Maybe your soul is suffering this year. Maybe you have lost a loved one. Maybe divorce has ripped your family apart. Maybe your best friend has deserted you. Maybe your child has committed some crime and is now incarcerated.

Whatever the trial, join in with Mary:

…rejoice at His birth!
…rejoice that He has come to save the world!
…rejoice that He has given you an eternal home!

Let your soul magnify the Lord and let your spirit rejoice in the Babe this season. Rejoice with the rest of the world.

“Jehovah is King! Let all the earth rejoice!” (Ps. 97:1, TLB)

 Take the next step:

Rejoicing sounds great, but how do I do that?
Is your heart heavy tonight? We’d love to pray for you. 
Take a lesson:  Again I say Rejoice!

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon, published in “Mornings & Evenings,” entry for December 25th, AM.
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.

“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14, KJV

Let’s today imagine ourselves in Bethlehem, in company of astounded shepherds and adoring Magi who have gathered to see Him who was born King of the Jews. Together we can sing in faith “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our brother and friend. This is a new opportunity for us adore and admire Him.

Remember first His miraculous conception. It was a thing unheard of before, and unparalleled since, that a virgin would conceive and give birth to a Son.

God’s first promise in the Garden of Eden says “The seed of the woman,” not the offspring of man. A woman sinned in the Garden, but in God’s grace a woman also had the privilege of ushering in the one would will restore Paradise. Our Saviour, although fully human, was in His human nature the Holy One of God. This realization should cause us to reverently bow before the holy Child whose innocence restores humankind to its ancient glory. Jesus is, in fact, our previous, and only, hope of glory.

Remember second His humble parents. His mother is described simply as “a virgin.” Not a princess, or prophetess. Not rich or powerful. What humble accommodations for a new-born king! Yet she could still sing the sweetest songs of praise and was chosen for her faithfulness to God despite her modest circumstances.

Immanuel, God with us … in our nature, our sorrow, our life, our death, and now with us forever. Or rather we are with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and glorious triumph.

Question: God with us … where do you turn when it feels like God isn’t with us, even though we know He is?

Two of my teenage years were spent carrying a tuba in my high school marching band. My mom wanted me to learn to read music, and the choir was full while the band was a tuba-tooter short, so I signed up. Not necessarily what you would describe as a call from God, but it wasn’t a wasted experience either.

I had a date with a twirler.

I learned to paint white shoe polish on school buses.

And I learned some facts about harmony that I’ll pass on to you.

I marched next to the bass-drum player. What a great sound. Boom. Boom. Boom. Deep, cavernous, thundering.

And at the end of my flank marched the flute section. Oh, how their music soared. Whispering, lifting, rising into the clouds.

Ahead of me, at the front of my line, was our first-chair trumpet. He could raise the spirit. He could raise the flag. He could have raised the roof on the stadium if we’d had one.

The soft flute
needs
the brash trumpet
needs
the steady drum
needs
the soft flute
needs
the brash trumpet.

Get the idea? The operative word is need. They need each other.

By themselves they make music. But together, they make magic.

Now, what I saw two decades ago in the band, I see today in the church. We need each other. Not all of us play the same instrument. Some believers are lofty, and others are solid. Some keep the pace while others lead the band. Not all of us make the same sound. Some are soft, and others are loud. And not all of us have the same ability. But each of us has a place.

Some play the drums (like Martha).

Some play the flute (like Mary).

And others sound the trumpet (like Lazarus).

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were like family to Jesus. After the Lord raised Lazarus from the dead, they decided to give a dinner for Jesus. They decided to honor him by having a party on his behalf (see John 12:2).

They didn’t argue over the best seat. They didn’t resent each other’s abilities. They didn’t try to outdo each other. All three worked together with one purpose. But each one fulfilled that purpose in his or her unique manner. Martha served; she always kept everyone in step. Mary worshiped; she anointed her Lord with an extravagant gift, and its aroma filled the air. Lazarus had a story to tell, and he was ready to tell it.

Three people, each one with a different skill, a different ability. But each one of equal value.

From Cast of Characters
Copyright (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2008) Max Lucado
Used by permission

Question: What role would you like to play in God’s band? Has God prepared you for this role? How can you get there?

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:40-42)

It never stops–the vicious cycle of doing things. Running errands, cleaning the house, picking up the kids, putting in extra time on your project at work, studying for another big test. You just keep going and going with no end in sight.

It can even become a pattern in your church life. Helping with prayer meeting, keeping the nursery, teaching Sunday school, visiting the shut-ins, calling last week’s visitors. It goes on and on and on until you’re spending all this time working for the Lord but you’re not spending time on what He desires from you most: your fellowship.

John wanted to share the good news of Christ so others would come to know Him and fellowship with Him. (1 John 1:3, 6) He knew what the most needful thing in his life was.

We need to remember that as well. Mary knew it was better to sit at the feet of Jesus, loving Him and sharing with Him, rather than preparing a five-course dinner like Martha.

To know Him more intimately, we must spend time with Him. Out of this closer relationship, our love for Him grows and we desire to serve Him more.

When Jesus becomes our sole focus, nothing can shake us. If we make fellowship with Him a priority, He will make Himself known to us like we’ve never known Him before.

Questions: Do you typically see yourself as being a “Mary” person or “Martha” person? How can you embrace your nature while at the same time working to appreciate the “other side”?

Do you regret having an abortion? Does God care? Need someone to talk to?

“I believe! Help me with my doubts” Mark 9:24 (The Message).

A good mystery writer leaves the reader panting for more. Works of Dostoevsky, Christie, Sayers, Eco and others fly off library and bookstores shelves faster than they can be replaced. These writers have learned how to introduce and develop characters, plots, circumstances that draw us into worlds far different from our own. We enjoy imagining how we would act or react in similar situations.

The story of Christmas is one of three mysteries of the Christian faith that troubles many. The person and work of the Holy Spirit confounds our understanding. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is another. And it all seems to begin with the “beyond reason” circumstances that started nine months before the events of a starry night in Bethlehem.

In her book A Cry Like A Bell, author Madeleine L’Engle writes that “Had Mary been filled with reason there’d have been no room for the child.” God—being a God who created us as body, soul, mind and spirit—takes the risky step of asking us to trust Him in the midst of mystery. We cannot call upon facts of history to explain the conception of Jesus. Imagination often expressed in poetry may take us to the edge of understanding but leaves us still wondering.

The mystery of Christmas requires something we rational humans find most difficult: faith. Not some brain-numbing step into an abyss, but rather that which is described in the New Testament: “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) This faith is based not on manufactured fact, but rather on active belief in the God who created, loves, sustains and desires intimate relationship with His children.

This God knows that as confusing as mysteries can be, there is a part deep within us that can only be touched by the mystery of God Himself. And so, without knowing each detail of all God’s stories, I read on…panting for more.

Thank you, Father, for being greater than my mind yet for the way you stir my imagination as I choose to trust you. Amen.

Questions: Do you ever doubt that Christmas happened the way it’s described in the Bible?

About the Author Marilyn J. Ehle

Do you feel isolated, hurt or afraid and have no one to talk to?

“I don’t have time for that,” he said. “I get enough Bible preparing lessons for a class I teach.” Then I knew why he had lost his first love for the Lord, and why earthly things were more important to him than heavenly things.

If you are active in your church, do you get so busy doing things “for God” that you excuse yourself from not spending time with Him? Or do you sense this is happening in the lives of others serving in your church? If we serve the Lord in any capacity and aren’t putting Christ first, we lose our proper motivation. Consequently, we fail the Lord in some way!

What Are Our Priorities?

Sometimes I have been appalled at the slovenly way in which many who serve in the church do their jobs! If they came in late for their secular job almost every day, they would be fired. If they were not prepared to do their job properly, ditto. How badly the church has been hurt by those who do not make Him their first priority! God’s Word enjoins us to “do all things decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40, KJV).

At one church where I led the Children’s Sunday School assembly, I noticed that some of the teachers did not attend the opening session. On investigation I discovered that they usually came in late and went straight to their classrooms. One teacher took that time to study her lesson!
Where do priorities enter in here? Maybe it only means getting up five minutes earlier in the morning. Definitely it means giving Christ our best—and cheerfully cooperating with other Christians in service for Him.

The Most Important Time Use

When Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening and learning, while Martha bustled about doing this and that, and constantly serving. Martha became exasperated with her sister, whom she thought was wasting her time and being idle. “Lord,” she finally exclaimed, “Don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to come and help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” Jesus exclaimed, “you are anxious about many things. There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has chosen that good part and it won’t be taken from her” (Luke 10:38-41.).

No matter how busy our days may be, our prime priority should be to “choose that good part.” We do that by setting apart some time each day to spend with our Lord: listening to Him through His Word and His Spirit and talking with Him, sharing our personal burdens and concerns for others.

When we make this time for the Lord, He gives us wisdom to have time for everything that’s important in His sight. Jesus told His disciples to stop worrying so much about mundane things. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33, KJV).

Questions: What are your priorities in life? How much time do you spend with the Lord?

About the Author Muriel Larson

Tired of trying to live the Christian life in your own power?

1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Questions: Are you feeling lonely today? Do you have a bruised heart?

About the Author: The Holy Bible

Luke 2:1-20: The Birth of Jesus

¹In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ²(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³And everyone went to his own town to register.

⁴So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Continue reading at BibleGateway.com

Question: What stands out most to you about Jesus’ birth narrative? Praise God today for the birth of Jesus, the Son of God!

Are you discouraged and feel as if you are all alone? Take this study.

In our rush toward Christmas and the miracle of Bethlehem, we often ignore the humanness of Mary. True, she was singled out and was blessed by a visit from Gabriel who pronounced her highly favored and the recipient of God’s intimate presence. But we note the angel did not say she would be immune to the very normal routine of pregnancy—morning sickness, back pain, sleeplessness.

Can we imagine how older Elizabeth and young Mary spent those three months? Did Elizabeth stroke Mary’s long hair as she bent over with sickness? Did Elizabeth prepare special food to stoke her appetite? Mary would have been experiencing disgrace from her family back in Nazareth. Did Elizabeth wipe her tears while assuring her of God’s grace and unending love?

Angel visits are miraculous but infrequent. During Mary’s first trimester God used the very ordinary words and actions of a willing friend to further prepare her for what lay ahead.

Each of us has a “trimester” in our relationship with God, often more than one. During these times of preparation and waiting, our needs are similar to Mary’s. Even though some may have had miraculous spiritual experiences—perhaps akin to Gabriel’s presence—we must all walk forward within the limitations of our cultures, our families, our specific circumstances. We will need “Elizabeths” to nurture and teach us. We will need the time to learn the pondering process that Mary would need to practice for the rest of her journey.

Three months is just the beginning.

Thank you for the story of Mary that helps me see how you work in all the seasons of my life. Waiting is hard for me, Lord. Help me look forward with faithfulness to the Bethlehems that lie in my future.  Amen.

Questions: How does the story of Mary help you in your spiritual walk? What are some of the ways that Mary might have struggled with day to day living?

About the Author Marilyn J. Ehle