Reading the Bible aloud can be dangerous. When you hear your own voice speaking these timeless words, when you sense God’s presence beneath, around, and through them, when you wish you could ignore the truth, yet desperately need to believe—then reading his Word into the silence just might undo your plans to resist what God is saying to you.

I remember the day I first discovered this verse—two verses, really, yet all one sentence—while reading Scripture aloud to a group of friends at a Bible study. I was so moved that I ended up weeping. Can it be true, Lord? Do you love us that much?

Many years later I received a letter from a woman whose experience mirrored my own: “That verse changed everything for me. I sobbed so hard, my heart burst open. God moved in and caulked the broken places. He was there for me and has been there for me every day, every moment since.”

Amen, and then some.

Perhaps you are stronger than we are, and can recite this passage without your throat tightening or your eyes watering.

Go ahead, beloved. Read this aloud. We’ll wait for you.

I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Nothing. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love.

For those of us who’ve done everything in God’s creation to ignore him, offend him, or deny him, these verses offer incredible hope.

We’re not too late. We’ve not gone too far. We didn’t blow it completely.
God is on our side. God loves us still.

Let’s get started.

I am… Romans 8:38

This is not the great I AM, not the Lord himself. This is the apostle Paul speaking. He uses “I am” in fifteen verses just in Romans. If that sounds like an ego run amuck, take a look at just two verses.

• “I am not ashamed of the gospel” (Romans 1:16). Only Paul could make that statement about himself, so “I am” fits the bill here. (This verse also makes me teary. Such boldness, such conviction.)
• “What a wretched man I am!” (Romans 7:24, which is not among our Top 20 faves). Only Paul could make such a confession. And I’m right there with him. What a wretched woman I am! No question. A blooming mess.

I really need to hear the assurance that’s coming next. You too?

…convinced that… Romans 8:38

Paul is “sure” (CEV); in fact, he’s “certain” (GNT); indeed, he’s “persuaded” (ASV). Truth be told, the man is “absolutely convinced” (PHILLIPS), and “beyond doubt” (AMP).

All right, then. If Paul’s in, I’m in, because Paul’s only in if God’s in.

God is definitely in. This promise is so big, this truth is so huge, it could only come from the Creator himself.

Not to give away the happy ending, but the list that follows includes all the things that might be able to separate us from the love of God. But they don’t. They can’t. And they won’t. Ever.

…neither death nor life,… Romans 8:38

While you’re on Planet Earth, you’re dressed head to toe in God’s love. When you go to Heaven, you will still be garbed in God’s love. “Nothing living or dead” (MSG) can get between you. Not even the living dead. (Sorry, zombies.)

Paul understood that “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21), because either way, you are with God.

…neither angels nor demons,… Romans 8:38

“Neither messenger of Heaven nor monarch of earth” (PHILLIPS) can interfere with your relationship with God. They are imposing creatures, to be sure. But not strong enough to separate you from the One who loves you.

As it happens, angels are called to protect us: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11).

But demons or “dark spirits” (VOICE) are bent to destroy us: “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour“ (1 Peter 5:8).

Yet, “the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised” (Joshua 23:10). Neither the enemy or his minions can get through God’s shield of love. Even the angels, bright and shining as they are, cannot steal our gaze away from our Beloved.

…neither the present nor the future,… Romans 8:38

The things we’re dealing with right now may seem like greater fears than death or demons. Yet God assures us that we can stop worrying about ”what happens today or what may happen tomorrow” (PHILLIPS), that we can give up fretting over “things impending and threatening” (AMP), that we no longer need to lose sleep over “anything in the present or anything in the future” (GW).

God already knows what your future holds, and it is good. Guaranteed.

When you find yourself slipping back into the habit of worrying, fretting, tossing and turning, remind yourself, “God has this!” He truly does, dear one. Truly.

…nor any powers,… Romans 8:38

What sort of “forces” (GW) are we talking about here? “Hostile powers” (HCSB), “spiritual powers” (EXB), even “the powers of hell” (NLT). Powerful powers, then.

Still, “no force whatever” (KNOX) is going to drive a wedge between our heart and God’s.

How can we be certain? Because Jesus is seated at God’s right hand “with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him” (1 Peter 3:22). They have to go through him to get to you. And that’s not going to happen.

Paul is convinced. I am convinced. How are you doing?

…neither height nor depth,… Romans 8:39

I’ve always found this phrase stirring, perhaps because it sounds so expansive, reminding us “how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:18).

Since his love stretches so far, we’ve no need to live in fear of “a power from on high nor a power from below”  (PHILLIPS). Those  “powers in the sky.” and “powers in the depths” (EXB) are held at bay by his love.

Can they separate us from God? They “cannot!” (NLV)

…nor anything else in all creation,… Romans 8:39

I love this. Paul has covered the spiritual universe like a blanket, yet he adds one more layer of comfort for us, just to be sure. “Nothing else in all the world” (WE), not “any other thing that is created” (CEB) is clever enough, strong enough, or patient enough to end our relationship with God that he has ordained.

…will be able to separate us… Romans 8:39

God’s commitment to us is far more lasting than a marriage vow. Not “’til death do us part,” since even death won’t separate us. “Absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love” (MSG), and nothing ”shall be able to part us” (WYC).

…from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39

Love, love, love.

It’s all because of him, “because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us” (MSG). This is how God showed us his love, ”revealed in the Anointed, Jesus our Lord” (VOICE).

Cara, one of our sisters who chose this verse, admitted, “When I feel weak and useless, I rely on this reminder that my connection with God is sustained not by my feeble attempts to seek him but by his stunningly powerful love.”

Well said, Cara. If I were going to pick one verse among our 20 to memorize, it would be this one. Tissues, please.

I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Now it’s your turn

Can you recall a time when Romans 8:38-39 spoke to your heart, lifted your spirits, or got you through a tough patch? Take a moment to share your experience, knowing it will truly encourage others. Just add your response under Post a Comment below.

Next week, we’ll hop back to the Old Testament and unpack #14 of the verses you love. It’s short, but definitely encouraging. Can’t wait to find out what God has in store for us!

Your grateful sister, Liz

On Tour, On Facebook, On Twitter, On Pinterest, On Flickr

P.S. If you could use a God Has This! bracelet, you’ll find them online at Gulf Coast Blessings.

If you’re independent, in a hurry, and like to be in charge, this week’s favorite verse just might push a few buttons. (I confess, my hand is up.) If you’re a team player, happy to wait your turn, and don’t care who gets credit, then plaster a smile on your face, because you are going to love every word.

Our verse starts in the middle of a sentence, so we need to step back a verse or two (okay, three) to reach the beginning of the passage.

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6

Such wonderful sentiments. Joyful. Hopeful. Paul is writing to the saints in Philippi, and he’s off to a great start, assuring them he gives thanks to the Lord whenever they cross his mind.

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3

How many Christian greetings cards include this verse printed inside? Tons, right? With good reason. “I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you” (HCSB) is a tender word of encouragement, both to give and to receive.

So simple, really: When I think about you, I thank the Lord.

In case I haven’t mentioned it lately, that’s the absolute truth, beloved.

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy…” Philippians 1:4

Paul is using very inclusive phrases that most writers are cautioned to avoid. Taken at face value, all and always would mean he prays for every single one of them and every time he does so “with gladness” (GNV) and “delight” (AMP).

So, no whining about their weaknesses, no asking God to fix them, no complaints about their stewardship. Paul insists that praying for them makes him “happy” (CEV).

Oh dear. I’m thinking not all of us in ministry are quite so generous.

Sometime last century my husband and I met with a pastor before the Sunday morning service. We assumed we were gathering to pray for our time of worship. Instead the pastor spent a quarter hour grumbling about his congregation, running them down by name. No wonder his flock was dwindling each week! My heart ached for them, and for him too. Bitterness is a hard weed to pull out, once it takes root.

In good soil, though, joy flourishes. This week a letter appeared in our mailbox from a minister who wrote, “Of all the things I do in my role as pastor, the most important and humbling task is my call to pray for God’s people. It will be my honor to lift your name before the Lord in prayer during the week of May 12.”

Wow. That’s what Paul was talking about. All. Always. Joy.

“…because of your partnership in the gospel…” Philippians 1:5

What sort of partnership are we talking about here? “Sympathetic cooperation and contributions” (AMP). Okay, so going along with the program, yes? And coughing up some cash. Shekels. Denarii. Mites. No ministry, large or small, can function without financial support.

But the partnership Paul is clearly more excited about is their mutual “furtherance of the gospel” (ASV), and the ways these Philippians have “shared in proclaiming the Good News” (CJB).

Yes, yes, yes. To minister as a team. To sense God’s Spirit moving among you, working through you, accomplishing his will. To know you are partnering with like-minded people for a cause far greater than yourselves. It’s thrilling beyond description.

“…from the first day until now,…” Philippians 1:5

These people were quick. From “day one” (OJB), when Paul showed up talking Jesus, the believers in Philippi embraced the truth and shared his vision. Right away they told others. Ushered friends and neighbors into God’s Kingdom. Participated in a hands-on kind of way.

Easy to see why Paul prays for them with joy.

And don’t worry about the words until now. These churches have been going strong “right up to the present” (MSG), with no sign of slowing down.

Because of all of the above—all the prayers, all the joy, all the fellowship—Paul can proclaim this week’s key verse without hesitation.

…being confident of this,…” Philippians 1:6

Confident is one of those words that can lean in the wrong direction. Not merely certain, but arrogant, prideful, overbearing, and egotistical. Paul doesn’t go there. He’s simply “convinced” (AMP), he’s “persuaded” (EXB), he’s “sure about this” (CEB).

”There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind” (MSG), he tells them. He planted healthy seeds and has watched them sprout. He sees evidence of their growth. His confidence isn’t a feel-good thing; it’s based on fact.

Truth is, we can’t accurately measure our own spiritual growth. We know our flaws too well, and realize how far we have to go. If someone who has watched our walk with the Lord—a pastor, a teacher, a parent—says, “You’ve really grown,” we may find that hard to believe.

Believe. Trust. Be at peace.

“…that he who began a good work in you…” Philippians 1:6

Of course, “God is the one who began this good work in you” (CEV). This desire to partner with other believers. This eagerness to share the gospel. This willingness to give of our resources. God alone “has inspired this generosity in you” (KNOX).

At the start I mentioned that, for those of us who are independent, in a hurry, and like to be in charge, this verse might sting rather than soothe. The “good work” God began in us might include making us less self-sufficient and more dependent on others. Less rushed and more relaxed. Less likely to lead, more likely to follow.

In other words, it may feel like God is breaking us down, rather than building us up.

Count on it.

The me-me-me, go-go-go approach to life is of no use to God. Pliable, flexible, adaptable—that’s what he’s going for. Those who come by those qualities naturally may find it easier to welcome God’s firm discipline and loving correction.

For the rest of us, there’s a great deal of “Ouch!” and “Not that, Lord!” and “Good grief.” It’s okay. We’re getting there. Like Paul says, be confident. God isn’t finished with any of us yet.

“…will carry it on to completion…” Philippians 1:6

God’s work in us “will continue” (AMP), and he won’t quit until it’s “perfection” (KNOX). What a relief! I’ve never finished any project I thought was truly complete. I’d love to redo every speech I’ve ever given, every book I’ve ever written, every song I’ve ever sung.

But God will “go on developing it” (PHILLIPS), he will “stay with you to complete the job” (CEB), he won’t “stop in mid-design but will keep perfecting you” (VOICE).

We may not notice the changes, may not be able to measure the truth taking root in us, the strength of our branches, or the sweetness of our fruit. Just as well. That’s all God, not us. It’s his work, not our work. His doing, not our doing. Only God “will keep it growing” (CJB) until it’s time for the harvest.

“…until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

Does this mean a specific day? Yes, it does. It’s the very day, the very hour when “Christ Jesus returns” (CEV), “the final day of judgment and reward” (EXB), “the day when Jesus Christ comes again” (ERV).

God is going to continue his redeeming work in us “right up to the time of His return” (AMP). The perfectionist in me loves this. This isn’t the final package. We’re not stuck where we are. He is still pruning, shaping, fertilizing. He won’t walk away from us, leaving us to finish the work.

That last splash of water, that last snip of his shears will come at the moment of his Son’s return. He will “bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” (MSG).

See why we love Philippians 1:6? It’s all God, all good, and all done when he says it is.

As Kathleen shared, “When I get down on myself for failing in my walk, I remember this verse, and that I’m a work in progress. Thankfully, Jesus is not going to give up on me, no matter what. He is for me, and it doesn’t get any better than that!”

You are so right, my sister. He is for you, with you, and at work in you.

And all the people of God said “Whew…”

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:4-6

Now it’s your turn

Paul is quite confident that God will continue his good work in those whom he loves. Are you fully convinced? What evidence have you seen in the life of someone close to you (maybe really close, like yourself), assuring you that God is still watering, pruning, fertilizing, as he has from day one until the day he’s done?

To share your thoughts, click on “The 20 Verses You Love Most” at the top of your email, which will take you to my website blog. Then add your response under Post a Comment at the bottom. Thanks so much for giving us a glimpse of your heart.

Next week, we’ll linger in the New Testament and unpack #15 of the verses you love. It’s actually two verses—fifty words in all—yet a single, powerful statement that has changed many lives, including my own. Can’t wait to explore it with you!

Your sister, Liz

On Tour, On Facebook, On Twitter, On Pinterest, On Flickr

Some of us like to keep things simple. “Just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.” Especially if we’ve messed up, we want a list showing us how to fix what’s broken. One, two, three. Check off each one, and we’re done.

God gave his people a short to-do list like that, tucked among the pages of Micah—a small book full of big themes. Big, bad themes, actually. The coming judgment. Weeping and mourning. False prophets and dishonest leaders. Guilt and punishment. Misery and desolation.

Oh dear. Hard to believe we plucked a favorite verse out of all that. But we did.

Is there any good news in this post? Any hope of redemption? Count on it. In the meantime, to quote Bette Davis in All About Eve, “Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.”

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

In the 8th century B.C., “The word of the Lord…came to Micah” (Micah 1:1), a minor prophet from Moresheth in the hill country south of Jerusalem.

The role of a prophet is to speak God’s truth, even when it hurts, and it usually does. When Micah prophesied, idolatry was rampant, spiritual lethargy was pandemic, and justice and fairness were nowhere to be found.

Sound familiar?

At the start of this chapter, God takes the bench, gavel in hand: “For the Lord has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel” (Micah 6:2). After the charges are outlined, the chapter ends with a stiff sentence: “Therefore I will give you over to ruin and your people to derision” (Micah 6:16).

Our verse this week is a stern reminder of what God’s people were supposed to be doing, but weren’t. Let’s see if our generation is doing any better.

He has shown you,…

Yes, he certainly has shown us. Throughout Scripture, God has “made it plain” (MSG) what he expects of us. We have “already been told” (CJB). We are without excuse.

Nonetheless, I keep making excuses.

Lord, I would do more for others, if I had enough energy to spare.
Lord, I would be more generous, if I could be sure where the money goes.
Lord, I would spend more time in your presence, if I wasn’t so busy.

And on and on and on. Groan.

…O mortal,…

That’s a phrase we don’t toss around very much. O mortal. In the Bible it’s seldom used as a compliment, since “God is greater than any mortal” (Job 33:12). Job gives mortals a sound thrashing, describing us as “full of trouble” (14:1), “vile and corrupt” (15:16), “a maggot—a human being, who is only a worm!” (25:6). Eww.

Unlike our immortal God, mortals are “men and women” (MSG) who will die. God declares, “Return to dust, you mortals” (Psalm 90:3). Our mortality, our fragility, our finality—all are abundantly clear.

God is not-so-gently reminding us that the life of mortals is “like grass…the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more” (Psalm 103:15-16). See those gravestones? Can you read the names? Right. No more.

…what is good.

That’s what God has shown us: “what goodness is” (ERV), “what is good in His sight” (VOICE). Not good by our definition; good by God’s definition.

My standard of “what is good” is all over the map. I compare one behavior to another, instead of comparing everything I do with God’s goodness. I end up with actions that are “pretty good” and “not so good” and “kinda good” and “good enough.”

No, Liz. Good is what God says is good: himself.
In fact, Jesus said, “No one is good—except God alone” (Mark 10:18).

Why do we insist on making up our own rules, when God has already laid down the Law?

And what does the Lord require of you?

This is where we really get in trouble. We prefer to go with the bare minimum. That’s what the Israelites were doing during Micah’s time: asking for the cut-to-the-chase list of “what Adonai demands” (CJB), “what the Lord really wants” (NET). We’re right there with them: we want to know “how to live, what to do, what God is looking for” (MSG).

As long as his requirements are manageable. As long as we don’t actually have to change…

To act justly…

That’s the first of the three items on God’s list. “See that justice is done” (CEV), he tells us. “Be fair to other people” (ERV). “Do what is right” (NLV).

Sounds easy enough. Be fair, play nice, do random acts of kindness. Is that it?

No. We need to think bigger. Think broader. Think how to “promote justice” (NET) in every corner of the world we touch. Some people I know excel at this. They volunteer, they give away their time and talents and resources, they reach out to the least of these, and find themselves touching the hem of Christ’s garment.

When we worry about everybody getting a share, instead of making sure we keep our share, we show the world a God who loves the poor and lifts up the humble and embraces the broken. We show them Jesus.

I would give myself no better than a C-  for “act justly.” I have so far to go. Embarrassingly far.

…and to love mercy…

I’m breathing easier on this one. “Love grace” (CJB)? You bet. “Love being kind to others” (EXB)? With all my heart. “Let mercy be your first concern” (CEV)? I’m in, let’s go.

Except my willingness to extend mercy, grace, kindness, and compassion to others eventually runs out. Like a switch being flicked off, I’m suddenly out of juice. Out of patience, out of energy, out of time.

The Word says, “You must love others faithfully” (NIRV), but I say, “Can I pass on this one, Lord? Can you find someone else to love her? Someone who isn’t weary of doing good?”

Some days I might earn a B+, even an A-  for my grace-giving ways. Alas, there are too many other days when I avoid rather than approach, when I duck my head instead of extending my hand. D-  kind of days.

No getting around it: another C.

…and to walk humbly…

A handful of words, yet rich with meaning. “Walk” is the translation we find most, yet “live” (NCV) and “obey” (ERV) help us move beyond the physical act of walking and get what God is really saying. Step by step, we’re to live a life that’s holy, set apart. Follow his lead and love others. Put feet to our faith.

And do it humbly, God reminds us. Like a child who knows he is a child, and so depends on his parents. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word” (Isaiah 6:2).

I’m trembling, all right. Yes, I’m walking with God, but humbly? I don’t dare give myself a grade on that one, though I fear it would pull down my C average even farther. And if we’re not grading on a curve, then I’m failing altogether.

Is there any hope, for any of us? You bet.

…with your God.

I promised we would find redemption at the end of this post, and here it is. He is with us—by our side and on our side. He is yours, he is mine, he is ours. And he is God, the “True God” (VOICE), the “one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:6).

We may fail, but God never fails. He is with us. He is our God.

After the prophet Micah thoroughly chastised God’s people, he ended his final chapter praising the Lord for his grace.

“Who is a God like you,
who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
but delight to show mercy.
You will again have compassion on us;
you will tread our sins underfoot
and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18-19

Read the last line aloud and let the truth of it sink in. Into the depths of the sea. That’s where God has hurled all your failings, all your mistakes, all your poor grades as a believer, all your iniquities, all your sins. All of them.

Why do we go deep sea diving and insist on dragging back to shore those things that God has already taken care of for us?

Thanks to God’s mercy—and through his power alone—we can not only know what is good, but also do what is good. Rather than simply memorize this verse, we can act upon it. Wow, Lord. Just. Wow.

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

Now it’s your turn

I went into this week’s study with fear and trembling, knowing that Micah 6:8 was surrounded with words of judgment. I feared if I revealed the big picture, God’s mercy might sink from view.

Instead, the Lord showed us that everything he requires of us has already been accomplished. His justice, his mercy became a finished work on the cross. Humility is what happens when we see ourselves for what we truly are: broken, sinful, needy. And see God for who he truly is: powerful, loving, merciful.

Of the three things God asks of his people, which one seems the hardest for you? How might that change if you trusted the Holy Spirit to do it through you?

• act justly
• love mercy
• walk humbly

I hope you’ll share your thoughts below under Post a Comment. Your honesty and vulnerability are a precious gift to your sisters and to me.

Next week, we’ll move back to the New Testament and unpack #16 of the verses you love. Might it be the one you voted for?

Your sister, Liz

Fear can stalk us, linger in the shadows, track us down, paralyze us. Sometimes our fears are nameless, faceless. And sometimes we know exactly why we’re afraid, and who or what we dread most.

Yet God says throughout his Word, “Do not fear.” Can we really live unafraid?

This week’s verse helps us understand a legitimate source of fear, and the permanent solution God offers. Get a steak knife, beloved, because this is some serious meat!

But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1

How I wish this verse began with, “This is what the Lord says.” We could dive right in and not look back. We could start with the good news, the happy ending, and not worry about what came before—the bad news, the unhappy beginning.

The problem is, our verse starts like this:

But now,…

“And now” (DRA) or “Now this” (EXB) softens the blow, but either way, it’s clear something important came just before our chosen verse.

The last half of the previous chapter—that is, Isaiah 42:18-25—is all about being spiritually lost, utterly deaf, and stubbornly blind to the things of God.

The words in those verses are strong, uncompromising. The kind that make you wince. “You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen” (Isaiah 42:20).

Ouch.

We don’t usually choose such verses as our go-to favorites. They convict, as they’re meant to. They make us see ourselves as we really are. And because of that, they are a generous gift from the Holy Spirit.

We need to know we’re lost before we can celebrate being found.
We need to understand we’re deaf before we can truly hear.
We need to realize we’re blind before we can rejoice at being able to see.

So, the Lord made it plain to his people: “Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see!” (Isaiah 42:18)

Why would a loving God speak so bluntly? Because genuine love means helping the person you care about grow.

We can’t grow if we don’t allow the Gardener to prune away the dead branches. And we can’t bloom where God has planted us if we don’t let him examine our unhealthy roots and fertilize them with his Truth.

The Amplified Bible sums up the phrase But now like this: “in spite of past judgments for Israel’s sins.”

Are you thinking, “Hey, I’m not Israel”? If you belong to God, you’ve been grafted in with his people Israel (Romans 11). Be grateful, Paul says, and pay attention. Though this message from the prophet Isaiah was aimed at God’s people exiled in Babylon after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 587 B.C., the truths found here are for all God’s people in all generations, including ours.

Go ahead, Lord. We’re listening.

…this is what the Lord says—

Anytime we spot this phrase in Scripture—it shows up more than 300 times—our hearts are meant to stir with anticipation.

“Here is a message” (KNOX), we’re told, so let’s “listen to the Lord” (NLT) and “see” (VOICE) what he has for us.

…he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:…

Oh, that Jacob. What a troublemaker! A fraternal twin, he entered the world “grasping Esau’s heel” (Genesis 25:26), demanding to have his way from birth. No wonder Jacob means “Supplanter,” “Schemer,” “Wrestler,” “Finagler,” “Deceiver.”

And yet, God loved Jacob. Stayed by his side. Told him, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go” (Genesis 28:15), right after Jacob stole his brother’s inheritance.

Then, after wrestling with him, God changed Jacob’s name, as further proof of his mercy: “You will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel” (Genesis 35:10).

“Deceiver” became “Triumphant with God.” Wow.

That’s the God we’re talking about here, the One who created Jacob the person, then fashioned Israel the people. Whenever we see “the God of Jacob,” it’s a reminder of what a grace-giving Lord we serve.

Now, the good news you’ve been waiting for.

“Do not fear,…”

If what we fear is punishment for our sins, God says, “Be not afraid” (YLT).
If what we fear is a life of insignificance, God says “Fear not” (ASV).
If what we fear is losing our relationship with him, God says, “Don’t be afraid” (CJB).
If what we fear is the hell we deserve instead of the heaven we long for, God says, “You must not fear” (LEB).
If what we dread is illness, sorrow, or death, God says “Do not thou dread” (WYC).
If what we fear is loneliness, God says, “You have nothing to fear” (VOICE).
If what we fear is losing anyone or anything dear to us, God says “Be not afraid” (YLT).

“…for…”

Forgive me for pausing on so small a word. But it’s the hinge on which everything swings.

Perhaps a better translation is “because” (EXB, GW, NCV). The Lizzie Revised Version would phrase it, “Here’s why you have nothing to fear.” It’s the reason we’re looking for, the explanation we’re hoping for, the answer to why our deepest fears can be banished forever.

“…I have redeemed you;”

Ah. Because of his mercy and grace and salvation and redemption. That’s why we can put aside our fears: it’s a finished work.

And look how personal God’s promise is! “This is for you,” he says again and again. “I have rescued you” (CEV), “I saved you” (ERV), “I have reclaimed you” (GW), “I have ransomed you” (NLT), “I have bought you and made you free” (NLV).

What have we done? We’ve messed up, big time, as Isaiah 42 makes abundantly clear. Deaf, blind, lost.

What has God done? Paid the price. Redeemed us. Bought us back. The Wycliffe Bible puts it, “I again-bought thee.” Like purchasing something, only to have it stolen from your home, then discovering it at a yard sale, and buying it a second time.

That’s how precious you are to God. He redeemed his own creation.

“…I have summoned you by name;…”

Still on that personal note, God says, “I have called you by your name” (AMP). Called is one of those delicious words with a dozen meanings. You can be called on the phone, called out of a meeting, called on to speak, called to a certain career, called on the carpet, called away, called back, called a coward, or called to order.

Here, we’re called or summoned by a name that God has chosen for us. “I named you” (ERV), he reminds us, and he has “given thee the name thou bearest” (KNOX). “I have called thee by thy shem” (OJB), the Hebrew word for “name.”

And what is that name? His.

“…you are mine.”

Your name is I Belong to Almighty God. Your name is I Am the Lord’s Servant. 

“You are Mine!’” (NLV) God says, and “you belong to me” (CEV). Young’s Literal Translation is simply this: “thou Mine.”

We are his, forever. It’s more sacred than a marriage vow, more lasting than any family name. It’s the ultimate promise from God.

Easy to see why so many of us love this verse:

But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1

Now it’s your turn

Several times in preparing this study I’ve had a sheen of tears in my eyes. These phrases are so powerful, particularly the last two lines, which I committed to heart years ago and often include in my messages.

Of these four assurances from God, which one speaks to you, and why?

• Do not fear
• For I have redeemed you
• I have summoned you by name
• You are mine

Kindly share your thoughts under Post a Comment at the bottom.

I try not to chime in too often—it’s far better if you encourage one another—but you can be sure I read and appreciate every word you post.

Next week, we’ll spend time with a lesser-known Old Testament prophet, as we unpack #17 of the verses you love. I’m learning so much, and pray you are too!

Your sister, Liz

Are you worried about something? Nervous, troubled, fretful, stressed? You’ve come to the right place, because the Lord is here.

As our scene opens, Jesus is speaking privately with his disciples, his closest followers and friends, comforting and encouraging them as his crucifixion draws near. He has already washed their feet, warned them a betrayal was imminent, and predicted Peter’s denial.

The Lord’s words are intended for us as well. Later in the book of John, Jesus tells his heavenly Father, “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (John 17:20-21).

So, you in John 14 really does mean you, beloved.

Here is the message Jesus offers, meant to calm his disciples’ anxious hearts—and ours.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3

Jesus says, “Do not be worried and upset” (GNT) and “Don’t get lost in despair” (VOICE). To think, he’s facing death on the cross, yet is concerned about us! Our mental and emotional health matters to him. He cares about our thoughts and feelings. He wants us to live in peace—his peace.

Each verse in this passage from John 14 is rich. Your favorite—and our focus this week—is the middle verse.

“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” John 14:2

If you’ve always pictured God’s house as an enormous estate with manicured lawns and endless hallways leading to spacious rooms, get ready for a new view of your heavenly home.

“My Father’s house…”

We could break down each of these words separately, but since this same phrase appears elsewhere in Scripture, we’ll look at all three words at once. (Oh my, can she do it?!)

When Jesus comes to the temple in Jerusalem and finds people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, as well as exchanging money, he drives them away, shouting, “Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”” (John 2:16)

In the midst of his righteous anger, Jesus calls the temple—an earthly place of worship built by Herod—“my Father’s house.”

Now in John 14 this phrase, found in many Jewish sources as well, takes on a greater meaning. It’s the heavenly place where the Father lives. It’s also where Jesus will live after his resurrection, and where we who are the children of God will live forever.

It’s his Father’s house, and it’s our Father’s house. It’s home. Not our temporary earthly home, but our permanent heavenly home.

“…has many rooms;”

Most scholars agree on the idea of abundance, of many. There’s “plenty of room for you” (MSG); in fact, “room to spare” (CEB).

This translation suggests individual “rooms;” others prefer the word “homes” (AMP), and some, “dwelling places” (GNV).

But it’s the older translation of ”mansions” (KJV) that started believers down the palatial path, singing, “When from the dust of death I rise To claim my mansion in the skies.”

Hmm. If you won’t mind, we’ll take a quick look at the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin words, just to help us sort things out.

In Hebrew, me’onot means “dwelling places, permanent residences, homes” (OJB). In Greek, meno means to “remain” or “abide,” used forty times in John’s Gospel. And in Latin, mansio, means “a traveler’s resting place.”

But as centuries passed, the English word mansion took on a new meaning—a grander one—leading to a materialistic view of heaven that Jesus never intended.

Robert Gundry cautioned, “Not mansions in the sky, but spiritual positions in Christ.” That’s where our future lies.

And in that deeply spiritual sense, “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home” (NLT).

“if that were not so,…”

“If that weren’t the case…” (CEB), Jesus says, putting aside any question of it not being true, all the while speaking to our doubt.

I confess, there have been fleeting moments over the years when I’ve questioned everything about my beliefs, including heaven. Can it all be true? Can God’s Word be trusted?

You know the answer. I do too. But it’s okay to raise questions, to ask for wisdom, to seek assurance, to wonder aloud, to examine our faith. Jesus can handle our doubts and fears. “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:22).

“…would I have told you…”

It’s in question form in this translation. In others, it’s a statement: “I would not tell you this if it were not so” (GNT).

Either way, Jesus is gently reminding us that he always speaks the truth. Always. This promise is built on the infallible nature of his Word and the undeniable depth of his love.

“…that I am going there…”

Jesus assures his disciples, “I am going away” (AMP), by which he means he is assuredly bound for heaven, and therefore going to die. He has told his disciples this many times in many ways. But because they don’t want to hear it, they ignore it.

Aren’t we the same way? Pretending death doesn’t exist, or that it’s so far in the future, we don’t have to think about it?

I have no fear of death, for one reason: Jesus has gone ahead of us. He has opened the door to heaven. And he is ready to welcome us home.

“…to prepare a place…”

Matthew Henry wrote, “Heaven would be an unready place for a Christian if Christ were not there.” So right. But he is there. Getting ready for each of us.

Can you imagine it? Can your mind stretch far enough to grasp this? Jesus will “make arrangements for your arrival” (VOICE), will “prepare a home for you” (KNOX).

All the while he is in heaven Jesus is thinking of us, and laboring on our behalf.

And he know exactly how many rooms will be needed. None of this “no room at the inn.” He is fully prepared for you, and knows the hour of your arrival.

We have no such guarantees In the earthly realm. I once called ahead to a hotel in Nashville, just to be very sure my room was waiting for me, since I wouldn’t arrive until eleven at night. “Oh yes, Mrs. Higgs,” the desk clerk said. “We have a room for you.”

But when I showed up at the front desk an hour later, exhausted and ready for that big, comfy bed, I was told by the very same clerk. “Oh no, Mrs. Higgs. We don’t have a room for you.”

I tried to sound very professional, even with a lump in my throat. “Are you sure? Can you not find one little room?” He could not.

Jesus is far more trustworthy than any hotel chain, any concierge, any front desk clerk. When he says he will “get a room ready for you” (MSG), you don’t need to call ahead. Your room is waiting.

“…for you?” John 14:2

Yes, for you. A reminder of how personal, how individual Jesus is in his care of every believer who was, and is, and is to come.

On earth we are strangers in a strange land. Heaven is our true home, and our dwelling place is with him. Such a blessed assurance! No wonder this verse is one of your favorites.

“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” John 14:2

Now it’s your turn

If you’ve always pictured yourself living in a grand, heavenly mansion, how does the biblical truth of simply living where Jesus lives sit with you? What will it take for you to rest in that knowledge?

Kindly add your response under Post a Comment at the bottom…and bless you for doing so.

Next week, we move back to the Old Testament for # 18, the first of four verses you love from the book of Isaiah. Thanks so much for studying the Bible with me!

Your sister, Liz

After tallying nearly 1,000 of your favorite verses, we have a Top 20 list that may surprise you. It includes 11 verses from the Old Testament, and 9 from the New, with 4 verses from a certain OT book (not Psalms), and another 4 from a particular NT book (not John).

By summer’s end we’ll reach your # 1 choice, at which point I’ll gladly post them all. This week, we’ll consider # 20, which often stretches in both directions to capture an even bigger picture:

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; 
great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23

It’s the middle one, verse 22, that you loved most: the Source of our hope, the Source of our strength, all wrapped up in “God’s loyal love” (MSG).

Among last week’s comments, our sister, Jodie, shared what this passage has meant to her:

“During the most challenging season in our faith, as I battled in prayer for my husband’s life to be spared and for our 3 little boys to be able to grow up with their daddy, I clung to Lamentations 3:22-23. His love was unfailing in its grip on us, His mercies were literally new every. single. morning. as my husband experienced the Healer’s touch over the 16 days he was in a coma and the 16 more that it took to leave the hospital, and His faithfulness was {and is} GREAT as He continues to use that difficult season for HIS glory and our good!!”

Such a testimony to God’s faithfulness. Let’s unpack this week’s verse and discover what Jodie already knows.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail. Lamentations 3:22

Because of…

Why do we have hope? “It is because of” (NLV) God and it is “through” (NKJV) God. We can’t survive apart from him. We might breathe, eat, sleep, work, but we can’t live without him.

Those of us who have tried and failed know it is only because of God that we’re still here. And “it is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus…” (1 Corinthians 1:30).

With God, why and who lead to the same answer.

…the Lord’s…

It s “Jehovah’s” (ASV), yet he is willing to share it with us. It’s “God’s” (VOICE), yet he generously gives it away. It’s the one thing we need, yet can’t bring ourselves to ask for. It’s the free gift “of Adonai” (CJB), yet bought with a price.

What is it? You know.

…great love…

The beautiful Hebrew word hesed is also translated “lovingkindnesses” (ASV), “faithful love” (CEB), “steadfast love” (ESV), “unfailing love” (GNT).

We use the word love so freely. We love our cars, our pets, a funny video we saw on YouTube.

Hesed is another kind of love altogether. It’s how God defines and demonstrates love to his people.

When he faithfully blesses those who’ve done nothing to deserve it, that’s hesed. When he fulfills a promise that costs him dearly, that’s hesed. When his Son hung on the cross for our sins, that was hesed in its fullest expression.

How wide and long and high and deep are “the kindnesses of Jehovah!” (YLT)

…we…

I know, silly to pause for such a little word, especially when it’s always translated the same way. Just we. Still, it’s worth asking who we might be.

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,…” (John 3:36). That’s we. The ones who have faith in Jesus. The ones on whom God is merciful. John’s words continue, “…but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” (John 3:36).

Oh dear. We didn’t choose any favorite verses about God’s wrath, though there are 180+ mentions of it in Scripture. We’d much rather hear about God’s lovingkindness, his hesed—and I’d much rather write about it too!

So, it seems, would God, especially when he is speaking to his people. This series of hope-filled verses are included in the book of Lamentations, which mourns the destruction of the first Holy Temple and the exile of the Jewish nation. In the midst of grief, God’s love prevails. In the midst of sorrow, joy.

For we who trust in the mercy of God, he offers good news.

…are not consumed,…

There’s something almost frightening about the word consumed. Like a great monster grinding us between its teeth. Without God’s love, we would be “wiped out” (GW), “completely destroyed” (NIRV), “extinguished” (KNOX).

But we are not consumed, God’s Word assures us. We are “still alive” (ERV).

…for…

We’ve come full circle, back to “because” (ASV). To why. To who. To God, most “certainly” (CEB).

Could the whole of the Bible be summed up in the words, God’s love?

…his compassions…

They are plural, multiple. Not a one time thing, but an endless outpouring, for which I am beyond grateful.

Every time I go to the Lord, begging his forgiveness for the same failings, the same stupidities, the same sins. I almost hold my breath, fearing he might whisper, Enough, Liz. I don’t want to hear it.

But that’s not what he says. Not the God of hesed. “His mercies” (ESV), “his commiserations” (DRA), “his merciful doings” (WYC) flow over me like living water. Flow over you, beloved. Flow over us, over we.

God saved the best, the most encouraging words for last.

…never fail.

Those mercies, that fountain of grace, will “never stop” (NCV), “never end” (NET), “never cease” (NLT). Never is a word that leaves no room for discussion. No room for fear either. God’s lovingkindness is “never limited” (GW) and he is “never weary” (KNOX).

God keeps reminding us of this, hoping we will finally grasp it: “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8).

This day, this morning, when his mercies are new once again, may this truth wash over you afresh: you are loved.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail. Lamentations 3:22

Now it’s your turn

If you’ve ever clung to the truth of this verse during a time when you sorely needed God’s compassion, perhaps you might share what you learned through the process. Simply add your thoughts under Post a Comment at the bottom…and bless you for doing so.

Next week, we move to the New Testament for # 19. It’s a red-letter verse, a question posed by Jesus. Please join us. And bring a friend.

Your sister, Liz

What is the one verse that nourishes and sustains you, year in and year out?

You know the one. Your life verse. Your mission statement. Your word from the Lord. The verse you’ve memorized, posted on a bulletin board, stitched onto fabric, written below your signature.

I know it’s hard to narrow it down to one, when “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Every word is vital, every verse serves God’s purposes.

Still, might you choose just one? Not a long passage or a cluster of verses: just one?

I’ll go first, then invite you to add the one verse you love most under Post a Comment below. After tallying your responses here (and on Facebook and Twitter), I’ll compile our Top 20, then begin a weekly countdown, unpacking each verse with care.

By summer’s end, we’ll not only know what all 20 verses are, we’ll know them, inside and out. No book to buy, no homework to do. Simply join us each Wednesday, and you’re good to go.

First, a wee smile. I wanted just the right image for this week’s verse, so I searched on “2 Corinthians.” And I got this:

Right. Two Corinthian columns. Exactly what I had in mind. LOL.

Instead, here’s one of the Bibles on my desk, as we spend a moment with the verse I love most. Maybe it’s one of your favorites too.

2 Corinthians 5:17 was the first verse I memorized in February 1982 as a brand-new believer. Season by season, whatever the translation, these powerful words have become even more alive to me than the first time I read them with tears in my eyes.

Listen now for God’s gentle voice: This phrase. This word. This is for you.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: 
The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

The verse has no more than 20 words, yet it contains at least 8 huge truths and, in some translations, an exclamation point or two.

I’m in.

Therefore…

Big word in Scripture, therefore. Shows up 442 times in the NIV.

Or, maybe you prefer ”wherefore” (ASV), “so then” (CEB), “for” (NLV), “it follows” (KNOX), “what we see is” (MSG), or “this means that” (NLT).

All good.

Therefore is a summary kind of word, taking into account all that comes before it. This portion of the letter to the church at Corinth is about reconciliation. About being Christ’s ambassadors. About looking at one another through a new lens.

Therefore says, “Because of that, consider this.”

…if…

If is an open door, full of possibilities and overflowing with hope. Jesus often used this word in his teaching: “if you have faith” (Matthew 17:20) and “if you knew the gift of God” (John 4:10) and “if you remain in me” (John 15:5).

If makes us stop and ask the question: Who is this verse meant for? Am I invited?

…anyone…

Anyone means “Yes, this verse is yours to claim” or “Have a seat. This verse may belong to you.”

Anyone definitely includes you.

Whether we’re talking “whoever” (GW) or “any man” (ASV) or “any person” (AMP) or just “any” (DRA), the door to eternal life is open, and the Lord himself is beckoning us forward. “Heaven, anyone?”

…is…

I know, I know. “Is, Liz? You’re going teach me something about the word is?”

You bet. It’s the pivotal word in this verse. Either you is or you is not a follower of Christ. Though we are ever growing in our faith, there is still a defining moment for each of us.

And that moment is defined by God, not by us.

When Jesus asked Peter, “Who do you say I am?” and Peter responded, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” the Lord didn’t congratulate Peter for being wise or making a good decision. Instead, Jesus told him, “This was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 16:15-17).

Peter made his confession of faith by God’s power alone.

I AM says that I am. Not the other way around.

See why is is such a big deal?

…in Christ…

Some translations give this little word in a bit more muscle: “belongs to” (CEV), “united with” (CJB), “joined to” (GNT), “believes in” (NIRV). But it’s the One in whom we live and move and have our being that matters, which is why the word in cannot stand alone.

We are in Christ. No one and nothing else. He is also resides in us, by way of the Holy Spirit, but first and foremost, we are in Christ.

“The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1
“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22

There are tons more to choose from, but you get the idea. The rest of 2 Corinthians 5:17 depends on the Lord’s work in us, now that we live in him.

…the new creation has come…

God doesn’t just clean us up, fix us up, straighten us up. He recreates us in the image of his Son. He starts from scratch. He makes us new.

In Christ we become “a new being” (GNT), “a new person” (NLT), “a new creature altogether” (AMP). In Christ we get “a fresh start” (MSG).

What does that look like in real life? There are as many answers as there are people.
For me, a changed life three decades ago looked like this:

I stopped drinking alcohol and started making real friends.
I stopped using drugs and started reading the Bible.
I stopped sleeping around and started going to church.
I stopped running away and started putting down roots.
I stopped pretending I had all the answers and started asking God for answers.

Through it all, God loved me. That was the realization that undid me, in the best sense of the word. It shattered my misconceptions. It trampled my pride.

God didn’t just rock my world; God blew my world apart, then rebuilt it from the ground up.

…The old has gone,…

Truly, it has. On the days when you feel as if the roof is sagging and the walls are caving in, be confident of this: “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

Some of us start well, but run out of steam. God is both a starter and a finisher.

Along the way stuff from our old lives must be pried from our stubborn hands and cast aside. Old habits, old ideas, old lies.

My inclination is to tuck such things in the deep recesses of a drawer, just in case I need them. Just in case I miss them.

God has a better plan. He makes certain those old things have truly “gone away” (CEB), that “the old way of living has disappeared” (GW), and “the past is forgotten” (CEV).

Gone means gone. History. Out of sight, out of mind, out of reach.

Gone means good riddance. Really good.

…the new is here!

This translation uses an exclamation point to grab our attention. But the Greek word idou in this verse is often rendered “behold” (ASV), “look” (CEB), “see” (NRSV), or the one that’s the most fun to say, “Lo!” (WYC)

Getting rid of the old would be exciting enough, yet God also brings in the new. A new gift, a new talent, a new calling.

I was working at a radio station when God turned my world right side up. I could never have imagined speaking at conferences or writing books or teaching the Bible. I was quite happy hiding in my studio.

But God said, “Behold, the fresh and new has come!” (AMP) God said, “A new life has begun!” (NLT) God said, “New things have arrived!” (CEB)

What is God saying to you, beloved? What new thing has he brought to your doorstep?

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: 
The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Now it’s your turn

Kindly share your one favorite verse below under Post a Comment. If you’d like to include why it’s your favorite, go for it.

Looking forward to learning more about you and the verses you love this spring and summer!

Your sister, Liz

The first Easter. There are no white lilies in pots wrapped in dark green foil, no baskets full of chocolate and jelly beans, no brightly colored eggs scattered across the lawn, no stuffed bunnies tucked beside a child’s pillow.

This is the real Easter. An empty tomb. A risen Christ.

Last time we visited the garden tomb with Joanna, two Marys, and Salome. Now John will walk us through these daybreak scenes again, focusing on just one woman.

Some have painted her a harlot, but the Bible never calls her that. Even her seven demons are dispatched in half a verse (Luke 8:2). Mary of Magdala is a faithful follower of Jesus, mentioned by name fourteen times across all four gospel accounts.

On this Easter morning we’ll find out why.

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb… John 20:1

Love pulls her through the still-dark streets of Jerusalem. Hope tugs at her skirts and urges her feet forward. Devotion propels her toward the tomb, pushing aside her fear.

…and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running… John 20:1-2

The Greek verb tells us she’s being driven by a powerful emotion, anxious to tell the disciples what she and other women have discovered. She’s also smart enough to go to the top of the pecking order.

…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!” John 20:2

Who are “they”? Angels? Roman authorities? Grave robbers? Mary is too distraught to be more specific. She only knows her Lord is missing.

We’re thinking, “Didn’t she hear the angel say, ‘He is risen’?” Yes, but hearing the truth is one thing. Believing the truth is something else again.

Whatever her motives and emotions at this point, Mary Magdalene is concerned enough, and persuasive enough, that Peter and the “other disciple,” John, run with her back to the garden tomb.

Peter and John see the empty grave, but no Jesus; the strips of linen, but no Jesus; a weeping woman, but no Jesus.

Then the disciples went back to their homes, John 20:10

Not Mary Magdalene. She lingers behind, alone. There is a time for shared grief, and there is a time for solitude. And sorrow.

Mary stood outside the tomb crying. John 20:11

Oh, Mary. After watching him suffer on the cross, now she must face the sad truth that someone has taken his body. Her heart is as vacant and gaping as the empty tomb before her. She who loves much, weeps much.

As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb… John 20:11

You’ll remember how low the entrance is, no more than three feet high. John and Peter saw strips of linen. Mary sees a great deal more.

…and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. John 20:12

Two angels this time. Yet Mary isn’t trembling in fear or falling to her knees. She’s too busy weeping. Is it any wonder the word maudlin comes from Magdalene?

The angels address her—not by name but by gender—and speak directly to her sorrow.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” John 20:13

Emotionally, Mary is still at the cross. This brave woman, who left demons in her wake years ago only to find herself conversing with angels, wants nothing more than to prepare his body properly. Even that humble task has been denied her.

Now listen to the cry of her heart. Her words are personal, and her devastation clear.

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” John 20:13

It’s the same message she told Peter and John, with one important difference. My Lord. So intimate, in the best sense. Jesus is not only her Savior; he is also her friend.

Oh, Jesus, that we might see you in the same way. Our dearest companion. Our truest friend.

Crushed in spirit that morning in the garden, Mary stares at the emptiness that looms before her. Can no one help?

At this, she turned around… John 20:14

At…what? Has Mary heard something? Felt something? Or does she sense the presence of someone behind her?

…and [she] saw Jesus standing there,… John 20:14

Our hearts stop. He is risen! He is risen indeed!

…but she did not realize that it was Jesus. John 20:14

Groan. How can she not see this is the man she’s followed closely for years? Is it the tears in her eyes, clouding her vision? The shadowy darkness at that hour? Or has he changed so completely?

Perhaps Jesus is holding back his identity, giving her time to absorb the truth. Later this very day Jesus will appear on the road to Emmaus with two unnamed disciples, who are “kept from recognizing him” (Luke 24:16). Several verses later we learn, “their eyes were opened and they recognized him” (Luke 24:31).

It seems the One who closed them also opened them. He’s the very same One who is keeping Mary in the dark a few heartbeats longer.

“Woman,” he said,… John 20:15

Bless you, Jesus. His first spoken word, meant for all his daughters. An assurance that he sees us, values us, that we matter to him, that we count for his Kingdom.

Woman. A term of respect. The very word he used when speaking to his dear mother. Woman.

“…why are you crying?” John 20:15

A moment ago the angels asked that same thing. Why? It’s not a chastisement, but a word of encouragement. You have no need for tears, Mary. Not any more.

Jesus has a second question for her.

“Who is it you are looking for?” John 20:15

Is the Lord admonishing her for not recognizing him? Making her feel less than faithful, less than worthy? Not our Jesus. The work of a Savior is not to belittle, shame, and ridicule. He comes and finds us where we are and calls us unto himself.

And Jesus likes us to vocalize our needs. Once when he met a blind man, Jesus didn’t simply brush away the man’s disability. He asked him, “‘What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see” (Mark 10:51).

Precisely what our girl Mary Magdalene needs—eyes to see who is standing right in front of her.

Thinking he was the gardener,… John 20:15

He isn’t larger than life, then, or shining like the angels, and he is definitely not a dead man.

Mary is too grief-stricken to be frightened. Not by angels and not by a man who looks like a groundskeeper. Besides, he might be able to help her. It’s worth asking one more time.

…she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” John 20:15

When we’re burdened with grief, we often assume the whole world is up to speed on our suffering, knows what we’re going through, won’t ask foolish questions, won’t place unnecessary demands on us, and above all will know what we need.

Mary no doubt assumes the gardener has been there all along, has heard her brief chat with the angels, and knows which body she’s looking for. She turns back toward the empty tomb, hiding another spate of tears.

Dry your eyes, sweet Mary! The next words you hear will change your world, and ours, forever.

Jesus said to her, “Mary.” John 20:16

Her name. He speaks her name.

Of all the people in all the world Jesus might have revealed himself to in this sacred hour, he has chosen Mary Magdalene. A woman with a devilish past. A woman from a town with a tarnished reputation. A woman, period. A woman!

She turned toward him… John 20:16

The Greek verb for “turned”—strapheisa—means she changes her course of action, not merely the direction she’s facing.

Mary spins around so fast, the hood of her tunic falls around her neck, leaving her bareheaded and breathless. She’s imagined him dead. Here he stands, very much alive. Alive!

…and [she] cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). John 20:16

Not just anyone’s Teacher. Hers. Some scholars translate it, ”My great Master” or ”My dear Lord.” However you put it, the personal tone comes through loud and clear.

Not only does Mary see the Risen Lord in all his splendor. She also sees herself reflected in his eyes and hears his voice speak her name. In discovering Jesus this happy morning, her own identity in him is sealed for all time.

Jesus knows your name as well, beloved. Do you recognize his voice? Can you hear in his words all his love for you, his hopes for you, the future he has planned for you? You can be sure, if he is calling your name, you belong to him forever. Put away doubt and shout with Mary, “My great Master! My dear Lord!”

Mary throws herself at him, clasping his robe, so grateful to have not only found him, but found him alive.

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me,” John 20:17

Oh dear. We can see by her expression how hard this is for Mary. She’s always been able to minister to him, touch him, anoint his head, bathe his feet…

Let go, Mary.

Not just let go of his clothing; she must also let go of her old definition of who Jesus is. He’s not merely her friend and teacher: he’s a risen Savior for all mankind, for all time.

Furthermore, he has places to go and things to do.

“…for I have not yet returned to the Father.” John 20:17

At the moment Jesus is caught between two worlds. The Son of God is about to become the Son of Heaven once more. Mary Magdalene is the first to see him in this sacred, transitional state. The very garden air is shimmering with the miraculous.

Just as God chose Mary of Bethlehem to bring the baby Jesus into the world, so God has chosen Mary of Magdala to bring news of the risen Christ to the world.

“Go instead to my brothers and tell them,…” John 20:17

These are two direct commands—”go” and “tell.” No wonder Mary Magdalene has to release her hold on on him. She, too, has places to go and things to do.

God seldom selects the obvious person for ministry. He sends whomever he pleases wherever he chooses. Clearly he trusts this woman, this former demoniac, to spread the news and get the story straight.

Why? Because she is faithful. Mary Magdalene was at the cross, at the burial, and at the empty tomb earlier that morning. When others wandered off, she waited. When others were afraid, she stayed.

Who better than Mary to take this news to the disciples from Jesus?

“I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” John 20:17

She’s caught him in the process of returning. The Greek word—anabaino—means “to go up, to ascend, to arise.” Jesus is heaven bound, returning to his Father and our Father, to his God and our God.

The woman who turned toward him in mere acknowledgment, then turned away in disappointment, then turned toward him again with a shout of joy, now must turn away once more and proclaim his message. Jesus tested her self-control with “Touch not;” now he’s testing her obedience with “Go tell.”

She passes both tests with flying colors.

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: John 20:18

Half a mile, a brisk ten-minute walk to Jerusalem proper, and Mary is there.

Is your heart quickening with anticipation, like mine? A woman is about to make the single biggest announcement in world history. As Paul said, “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Corinthians 15:14).

Bold with confidence and infused with awe, Mary Magdalene tells the world the good news:

“I have seen the Lord!” John 20:18

With her own eyes, she saw him. With her own ears, she heard him. With her own hands, she touched him.

It’s a testimony, a threefold validation. Not “I know about” or “I heard about” or “I read about.” No, Mary can say this because it’s the gospel truth: “I have seen the Lord!”

The lesson of Easter morning is meant for all of us who call him Teacher and Lord: “Go” and “tell.”

Go and tell the guy who delivers your mail. Go and tell the hygienist who cleans your teeth. Go and tell the women in your Bunco group. Go and tell anyone who will stand still long enough to listen. Male, female, young, old, tell them.

When you love God, you cannot not go and tell.

The question isn’t your gift or your calling. The question is, do you love him with a boundless love welling in your soul? Do you look upon his face with endless gratitude shining in your eyes? Do you take risks and give generously of everything that matters to you because of your matchless devotion to him?

Is Jesus the Lord of your life?

Then together let’s speak aloud the words Mary Magdalene proclaimed this Easter morning, and keep saying them until the whole world hears the happy news: “I have seen the Lord!”

Now it’s your turn

How I have loved walking through this sacred season with you and The Women of Easter! With Resurrection Sunday in view, I hope you’ll consider this question:

• Jesus could have chosen to reveal himself to anyone that sacred morning, but he chose a woman, he chose Mary Magdalene. How does that truth speak to you at a personal level?

If you have a moment, kindly post your comment below.

I’ve been reading and rejoicing in each word you’ve written, intentionally holding back, letting you minister to one another. Your love for God’s Word, and your encouragement and compassion for one another, is a joy to behold.

This week’s post was drawn from the pages of Unveiling Mary Magdalene, a book very dear to my heart because of everything the Lord taught me during the writing process. If you’ve enjoyed this series, you might find the book meaningful as well.

On April 3 we’ll begin an all-new study that will carry us through the spring and summer, “The 20 Verses You Love Most.” I cannot wait to unpack one of your favorite Scriptures each week.

May you celebrate the resurrection every day with joyous abandon: He is risen indeed!

Your sister, Liz

When Jesus takes his final breath on Friday afternoon, his followers lose all hope. Although the Lord promised them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19), they see only the here and now—a tragic death of a 33-year-old man. They cannot grasp what is soon to come—the glorious resurrection of their Lord and Savior.

Jesus repeatedly told his disciples this was going to happen. He also showed them how resurrection was possible by raising Lazarus in Bethany, the widow’s son in Nain, and the daughter of Jairus in Capernaum.

Yet, even when the evidence cannot be denied, the most faithful among us miss the truth.

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” John 11:25

Why didn’t they believe you, Lord? Why didn’t they trust your words? 

Because we believe only what we can understand or explain. Because we trust God’s Word only when we agree completely with what it says.

Help us take the leap of faith that Easter requires, Lord. Help us believe.

It is Friday evening now. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary have just left the Lord’s tomb, which Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus sealed shut.

Though Nicodemus anointed the Lord’s body with seventy-five pounds (!) of myrrh and aloes (John 19:39), the women want to do their part. But not tonight. The sun is setting and the Sabbath is about to begin.

Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. Luke 23:56

How the waiting must grieve them. Wanting to visit his tomb, wanting to pay their respects, wanting to anoint his body with “some sweet-smelling spices for his burial” (CEV).

We’re still picturing the large stone that Joseph of Arimathea rolled in front of the Lord’s tomb, and wondering how the women hope to get inside to anoint their Savior.

But they are not thinking about obstacles. They are thinking about Jesus.

In the meantime, our sisters rest, wait, and count the hours until the Sabbath ends the next evening at sundown.

Finally, the women are free to make their move.

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome… Mark 16:1

Oh yes, we’ve met these women before: Mary Magdalene, who was once demon-possessed; the woman Matthew calls “the other Mary,” who bore two sons, Jimmy and Joe; and Salome, the mother of Zebedee’s children.

Apparently these generous women didn’t think they had sufficient oils and ointments on hand, so off to the night market they went.

…bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Mark 16:1

Every English translation uses the word “bought” or “purchased,” so it’s clear they went shopping. In modern Jerusalem, when the Sabbath ends, the shops open again for a short time. So in ancient Jerusalem, one would find a market selling silks and embroidered fabrics, another offering fruits and herbs, and a third displaying an assortment of spices.

Now that they have enough “sweet ointments” (GNV) and “fragrant spices” (LEB) to anoint his body, the women return home to sleep as best they can.

The sad news? These faithful souls still think they will find a dead body in that tomb tomorrow morning.

The glad news? They are determined to care for the Lord. They have not forgotten him, not abandoned him, and definitely not denied knowing him.

Dawn is coming. And with it a brand new day.

Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb…Mark 16:2

The hour is described in great detail. It was “very early in the morning” (WE), “just as the sun was coming up” (CEV). The first hint of daylight has barely appeared along the eastern horizon, and already our women are out the door.

We’ll learn later from Luke that Joanna also joined the Marys and Salome. Only now do the women express that concern you and I have had since they started preparing all those spices.

…and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” Mark 16:3

Clearly they know they can’t handle this Herculean task themselves. ”Who will move the stone for us?” (ERV) they wonder.

Who indeed? The large, flat disks are rolled along a downward groove cut into the ground in front of the tomb. Such a design makes the stone easy to roll into place, and almost impossible to move. Almost.

In a morning full of miracles, here is the first one.

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. Mark 16:4

Make no mistake, it’s “exceeding great” (ASV), “a huge stone!” (CEV) Four to five feet in diameter and perhaps a foot thick, it was far too heavy for even four women to roll away.

But no stone is too big for God.

Matthew describes how this miraculous move occurred…

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. Matthew 28:2

Sounds like the earth shook when the rock rolled, and well it might have! The quake was “strong” (NCV), “severe” (NET), and “powerful” (NIRV).

By the time the women appear, the angel has chosen somewhere new to sit: inside the burial place.

As they entered the tomb, … Mark 16:5

Very brave indeed, these women. Archaeologists believe the entrance to be no more than three feet high, and little more than two feet wide. The women must enter in a posture of humility—bending, bowing.

They are prepared to find a body, fragrant with myrrh. They are not expecting an angel, dressed in white.

…they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side,… Mark 16:5

Never mind the white terrycloth robe hanging on your bathroom door. This is more like a “long, stately, sweeping robe of white” (AMP). It’s angelic, alright. And blindingly bright.

His appearance was like lightning… Matthew 28:3

Lightning isn’t gentle. It’s startling, frightening, and yes, electrifying. If you’ve always thought of angels as cherubic, think again. “He was vibrating with light” (VOICE). Oh my. “Shafts of lightning blazed from him” (MSG). Oh my.

The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. Matthew 28:4

Their job is to guard a dead man’s tomb, yet they are the ones who “trembled” (CJB) and “fell into a dead faint” (NLT).

As for the women, they’re still standing, but barely.

…they were alarmed. Mark 16:5

Like a wind-up clock waking them out of a deep sleep, they’re alarmed, all right. More to the point, they’re “struck with terror” (AMP), “panic-stricken” (GW), and “completely taken aback” (MSG).

Some people might have run for their lives. Not Mary Magdalene, the other Mary, Joanna, and Salome. However afraid they might be, they show reverence and bend lower still.

In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground,… Luke 24:5

Will this lightning-white being speak? Or will he strike them dead? With their “faces to the earth” (GNV), the women cannot see. They can only trust.

No wonder heavenly messengers often begin their conversations with the same comforting words.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid,…” Matthew 28:5

The words, “Fear not ye” (KJV), are meant to calm their fast-beating hearts. Do they exchange glances in the murky light of the tomb? Do they slowly inch their hands toward one another, if only to bolster their strength? Though the angel has said, “There is nothing to fear” (MSG), it’s not easy to stop trembling once you start.

The angel’s next words are a statement, not a question. He knows why they’ve come. He knows Whom they are seeking.

“You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.” Mark 16:6

Let there be no mistaken identity at this vital moment. His name is Jesus. He hails from Nazareth. And he is the one who was “killed on a cross” (ERV), who was “executed on the stake” (CJB), who was “hanged on the Tree” (OJB).

His death is emphasized, so his victory over death will be magnified.

“He has risen!” Mark 16:6

This truth changes everything. Everything. 

His heavenly Father “has raised him to life” (CEV). Hallelujah! God be praised! He who was dead is now alive forever!

Do the women lift their heads, then lift their arms in spontaneous praise? Or are they too stunned to move, listening to the angel’s words in silent awe?

“He is not here. See the place where they laid him.” Mark 16:6

Surely they must look up at the angel’s invitation, “You can see for yourselves that the place is empty” (MSG).

The benches around the inside walls of the tomb are indeed vacant. No body. No Jesus.

Thanks be to God!

Luke’s Gospel includes a parting reminder from the angel, who like the Lord himself, makes the most of a teachable moment.

“Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:…” Luke 24:6

Only a week ago they traveled south with Jesus from Galilee, bound for Jerusalem. Within days palm branches and hosannas gave way to cruel, short whips made of tiny lead balls and sharpened sheep bones tied into strips of leather.

Oh yes, the women remember. What was it Jesus said?

“The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.” Luke 24:7

Jesus knew. He knew. From the beginning he understood how this Holy Week would unfold. His followers did not understand, not then. They are beginning to now.

Then they remembered his words. Luke 24:8

We’d be wise to do the same. To recall his words, to search them often, to commit them to memory. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). It isn’t just a good idea, it’s a God idea. It’s Life inside us, and it sends Death packing.

Speaking of travel, the angel has an assignment for Mary, Mary, Joanna, and Salome.

“Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead…” Matthew 28:7

“Run fast” (NLV)? Not a problem. These women are anxious to be gone. But “tell his followers” (ERV)? Not as easy. “We saw an angel! The tomb is empty! He is risen!” Would the disciples believe them without proof? After all, the women had yet to see their risen Lord.

Meanwhile, the angel has one more truth to proclaim.

“He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” Mark 16:7

No hanging around the empty garden tomb, then. With the angel’s words ringing in their ears and resounding in their hearts, they’re now women on a mission, fueled by the assurance, “You shall have sight of him, as he promised you” (KNOX).

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. Mark 16:8

The Greek words describing their state of mind have them “overcome with terror and dread” (CEB), “confused and shaking” (CEV), “distressed and terrified” (GNT), “trembling but ecstatic” (CJB).

We get the picture. Flipped out. Who wouldn’t be?

Still, their feet are moving, and their path is certain.

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy… Matthew 28:8

Oh yes, we can see it: “frightened and yet very happy” (CEV), “their hearts filled with awe and great joy” (PHILLIPS). Here they come, their eyes wide, their skin flushed, as they hurry through the early morning streets of Jerusalem, almost tripping over their tunics in their eagerness to reach the disciples and tell them the news.

When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. Luke 24:9

That’s “the eleven apostles and the other followers” (ERV), the most faithful of his disciples. We hear our sisters breathlessly spilling out the events of the last hour. I wonder if they left behind their ointments, like the Samaritan woman left behind her water jar? They certainly have no need for burial spices now.

He is alive! He is alive!

It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. Luke 24:10

At least four named women took off running this morning, and have returned with an extraordinary story. How I wish I could tell you the disciples welcomed the news with open ears and open hearts. Alas, that’s not what the Bible tells us.

But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Luke 24:11

You read that right. “The apostles didn’t believe a word of it” (MSG), certain what the women were saying was “an idle tale” (AMP), “utter nonsense” (CJB). “a feigned thing” (GNV), “madness,” (WYC)—truth was, the apostles “thought they were making it all up” (MSG).

Well, I never. What sort of Easter morning is this? It’s the real one, beloved, full of disbelief, fear, and confusion.

Can this resurrection story be true? Has a dead man really walked out of his tomb?

People are still seeking answers to those questions. That’s why Peter wrote, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).

What the disciples need is a risen Savior. What they need is Jesus, standing before them, with his nail-pierced hands.

Fear not. He is waiting in the garden for the one woman of Easter who is not afraid to return to his empty tomb in search of the Truth.

Now it’s your turn

For those who shared a comment last week about whether or not you could have joined the women at the cross, God bless you for your honesty.

This week, I hope you’ll consider this question:

• How do you know that Jesus rose from the dead? What proof or assurance would you offer people who, like these disciples, are not yet convinced?

If you have a moment to share your thoughts, please do so below under Post a Comment. I read and appreciate each one, and am grateful when you take time to encourage one another.

Next week, we’ll return to the tomb on Easter morning and follow Mary Magdalene on her world-changing mission. God bless you for joining us.

The waving branches of Palm Sunday have long been stilled.

It is Friday now.

Only the deepest kind of love could bring the followers of Jesus to “The Place of the Skull,” to Golgotha.

We hear the women’s plaintive cries, and see their sorrowful expressions. Their beloved Lord has been sentenced to die by crucifixion. Nothing, it seems, can be done but wait and watch and weep.

Many women were there, watching from a distance. Matthew 27:55

We don’t know how many women; “numerous” (AMP) or “quite a few” (MSG) doesn’t tell us much. Nor do we have any measure of how “afar off” (KJV) they might be.

What matters is, they are here.

They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Matthew 27:55

These first-century sisters have done all they could—“ministering to him” (RSV), “helping him” (CJB). The Greek word is diakonousai, from the same root as the word deacon. They’ve been serving the Lord Jesus, caring for his physical needs, supporting him financially, anointing him with oil of spikenard, listening to him teach.

Now all they can do is stand by him. This too is a sacrifice, however small in comparison. It is one thing to attend a funeral. It is quite another to be present when a loved one is in agony, struggling to take his final breath.

Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. Matthew 27:56

“Among them” means this is not a comprehensive list. Only the notable persons are mentioned. Mary Magdalene has pride of place among the women—here, and eight other times in the Gospels. She is likely the oldest, and their respect for her is evident.

As for the second Mary, “the mother of James and Joseph” (GNT), she is elsewhere called “the other Mary” (not much help, when there are seven Marys in the New Testament!).

We learn from Mark’s gospel that the mother of Zebedee’s sons is named “Salome” (Mark 15:40). No, not that Salome, the dancing daughter of Herodias. This is a different, older Salome, the “mother of the Zebedee brothers” (MSG), known as “James and John” (ERV).

They’re not alone, these three named women. All around them are dark-eyed, olive-skinned sisters, gazing at the cross from beneath their linen head coverings, no longer able to contain their grief.

Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. Mark 15:41

We can almost hear the mournful song, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they nailed him to a tree?”

Yes. They are here. They are present. They are faithful.

They’ve not deserted their Lord, as many have. Even though their tears cannot cleanse his wounds, the women are here. Even though their prayers cannot staunch his bleeding, the women are here.

The crucifixion is the single greatest expression of love ever seen by humankind. As Catherine of Siena wrote in the fourteenth century, “Nails could not have held God-made-Man fastened to a tree, had not love held him there.”

Pierced with words, pierced with nails, pierced with the pain of our sins, Jesus hangs before us.

Do you see him, beloved?

Undone, yet determined to be there for him, several women draw closer.

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. John 19:25

When an enemy of the state is crucified, it’s dangerous for family and friends to tarry nearby, lest they receive the same punishment for their support.

How brave these women are, risking death to behold his sacrifice!

Could I risk so much, Lord? Could I stand so close?

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son….” John 19:26

Oh, Mary. I can’t begin to imagine how she must feel, she who carried the Son of Man in her womb, then watched him grow up from innocent childhood to innocent manhood. Her baby boy. Her dear son.

…and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:27

How those words must comfort Mary. Her son has not forgotten her, not even now, in the depths of his suffering.

When the sun is at its zenith about noon, the land grows suddenly dark, as though creation itself is hiding its face from the holy passion of the cross.

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. Matthew 27:45

This is no solar eclipse—nature’s sleight of hand when the moon covers the sun—since in an eclipse, the sky turns to twilight, not total darkness, and lasts mere minutes.

Three hours of darkness in the middle of the day. And not just in Jerusalem: “the whole earth was dark” (CEB).

People begin running back to the safety of their homes, filling the air with frightened whispers. Roman soldiers grip the handles of their weapons, squinting into the murk. The curious crowds who followed Jesus through the streets now thin to the faithful few.

When the end comes, the curtain of the temple tears in two from top to bottom—a work of God, not of man, who would start at the bottom of the fabric and tear upward. The earth shakes, rocks split, tombs open, the dead are raised to life.

No wonder the centurion guarding Jesus is terrified, even as he speaks the truth.

“Surely he was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:54

He surely was. And he surely is.

While most of the crowd “beat their breasts and went away” (Luke 23:48), our sisters remain.

But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. Luke 23:49

That’s what these women do: they stand. They don’t crouch in fear, they don’t turn their backs, they don’t slump on the ground in defeat, and they assuredly don’t walk away. They stand.

God calls us to do the same. To stand. To believe. To wait. To trust.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 

Help me stand, Father. Help me be like these women.

After the darkness eases and the light of a late spring afternoon returns to the skies over Golgotha, someone of influence steps forward.

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Matthew 27:57

In a single sentence we know his name, his town, his allegiance to the Christ, and the health of his investment portfolio. A prominent member of the Council, wealthy Joseph took his request straight to the top and “went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body” (Mark 15:43).

He’s come now with Nicodemus, who has brought a fragrant offering—a mixture of myrrh and aloes, fit for a king.

Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. John 19:40

Once the Lord’s lifeless body is anointed and wrapped, the two men carry him to a proper resting place.

At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. John 19:41

Every detail matters: the new, never-before-used tomb means the Lord’s flesh will not come in contact with anything corrupt.

His body, now a fragrant sacrifice, is safely laid in a tomb, thanks to the generosity of Joseph of Arimathea.

[He] placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb… Matthew 27:59

The stone is not intended to keep Jesus in, but to keep undesirables out—wild animals, grave robbers, soldiers.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb. Matthew 27:61

Here they sit “in plain view of the tomb” (MSG), their gazes glued to the huge rock that stands between them and their departed Lord.

They have little time left before the sun sets and the Sabbath starts. According to Eastern tradition, the Sabbath officially begins in the last minutes of twilight when a black thread and a white thread appear the same color—gray.

At last, the women trudge homeward as the Law requires, their steps heavy, their hearts heavier still. They can do nothing but wait through the next day as the Sabbath unfolds, counting the hours until they can return to his tomb, if only to hold vigil. If only to be there.

Now it’s your turn

Two questions I hope you’ll consider:

• Could you have joined the women that Friday and watched the Lord suffer and die on the cross? Why or why not?
• How does their courage speak to you, twenty centuries later?

If you have a moment, please share your thoughts under Post a Comment at the bottom of this page. Bless you for doing so!

And if you wish to spend more time with The Women of Easter, you might find my book, Unveiling Mary Magdalene, helpful. Several observations in this week’s post were drawn from those pages.

Next time, we’ll gather fresh spices and join Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, as they hurry toward the tomb…