Sermon Notes; a Daily Devotional

Matthew 28:3&4 "3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men." We remember the first Easter; the Sunday morning that changed everything, forever! In the predawn hours Mary Magdalene and the other Mary approached the tomb to complete the burial anointing of Jesus’ body. Before they get there a great earthquake struck. This was not a natural disaster, but a supernatural sign. When the earth quakes, everyone pays attention! An angel descended from heaven, rolled back the massive stone to reveal the empty tomb to the world. In today's verses we read more about the angel's awe-inspiring, supernatural appearance. His countenance (or overall appearance) was "like lightning", signifying the radiant glory and power of God. This is not a mere physical description but a symbol of divine presence, reminiscent of God's manifestation at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16) and prophe...

Matthew 28:1&2 "1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it." We celebrate Easter: Jesus has risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Easter is a glorious event celebrated in churches worldwide. It commemorates the Sunday morning that changed everything. In the predawn hours after the Jewish Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary approached the tomb to complete the burial anointing of Jesus’ body—an act left unfinished because of the Sabbath. Before they arrived, a dramatic event occurred: a great earthquake. This was not a natural disaster, but a supernatural sign. An angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled back the massive stone sealing the tomb, and sat upon it in triumph. The angel did not roll the stone ...

Luke 23:50-53 50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: 51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid." We have journeyed through Holy Week. The readings have shown the eternal contrast: everlasting punishment for the unrighteous and eternal life for the righteous. This judgment applies to all nations and is based on actions that reveal the authenticity of our faith. Jesus connected this to His teaching on humility and selfless generosity, revealing God’s heart for the marginalized and vulnerable. When He walked among us, Jesus lived and died as one of us, marginalized and vulnerable.  Jesus was treated like a vicious criminal—tort...

Luke 14:12-14 "12 Then said He also to him that bade Him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. 13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: 14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." In our study this week we saw the eternal contrast: everlasting punishment for the unrighteous and eternal life for the righteous. This judgment applies to all nations and is based on actions that reveal the authenticity of our faith. It does not teach salvation by works, but shows that genuine faith naturally produces deeds of love and charity. This truth stirs us to express Jesus’s selfless love through service to others—the visible proof of loving God by loving our neighbor. Today’s passage from Luke gives an earlier teaching of...

Matthew 25:44-46 "44 Then shall they also answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto Thee? 45 Then shall He answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." In this prophecy, Christ returns as King in glory, sits on His throne, and separates the nations like sheep from goats. The righteous “sheep” showed genuine compassion to the needy—often unaware they were serving Jesus Himself. He radically identifies with the vulnerable. The “goats,” however, hear the terrifying words: “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire.” Their neglect of the suffering revealed their rejection of Christ. Like the sheep, they are shocked, having never realized that failing to help “the least of these” was failing Him. The pass...

Matthew 25:41-43 "41 Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took Me not in: naked, and ye clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me not." In this prophecy of Christ’s return, the King appears in glory, sits on His throne, and separates the nations like sheep from goats. The righteous “sheep” showed genuine compassion to the needy, often unaware they were serving Jesus Himself. He radically identifies with the vulnerable: “the least of these my brethren.” In contrast, the “goats” hear the terrifying words: “Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire.” This pronounces eternal separation from God. The fire, prepared for the devil and his angels, represents the final, unending punishment for those who align with Satan’s rebellion through unrepent...