Another helpful metaphor for our journey is that of a monastery.

A monastery is a place known for deep intimacy with and dedication to God. However, we often associate it with isolation and escape from the real world and the thick of culture. But the spiritual disciplines teach us how to build a monastery in the midst of our everyday lives. With each practice leaning on the next, they form together a connection of rooms to be explored, and gardens to be tended, and windows and doors to be opened wide. A dwelling place for the Most High God himself.

Saint Teresa of Avila referred to this as the Interior Castle. Brother Lawrence wrote of practicing the presence of God. We are envisioning “mobile monasteries” that don’t seek isolation from the world but engagement with it. Following Jesus has historically nurtured these twin impulses, the monastery and missionary at once, going down into the depths of spiritual maturity and going out into all the world to make more disciples.

One of our favorite professors during our time at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, was the revered Dr. Robert M. Mulholland. Sitting under his teaching in classes, independent studies, and the pulpit of Estes Chapel was a profoundly shaping experience for us, and you will see the evidence throughout this book. In one of those community chapel services, he posed the following question:

“Are you in the world for God? Or are you in God for the world?”

Admittedly, we were forced to pause and sit with the question. As young, idealistic, aspiring activists for the kingdom, we longed to be in the world for God, bringing transformation and making a difference through our work on his behalf. But this beloved professor challenged that unless we began by being in God for the world, all of our well-intended flurry of activity would wither and fade and burn out.

Spiritual disciplines aren’t designed to add more activity to your “being in the world for God.” Instead, they are invitations into being “in God for the world.” They are instruments in God’s hands for crafting a monastery of spiritual intimacy that empowers a missionary life of transformation. The sanctifying transformation within us works its way through us and out of us into the world around us. This growth is not for our own benefit alone. As the once enslaved turned radical abolitionist Sojourner Truth said, “I am the seed of the free, and I know it. I intend to bear great fruit.” In other words, “My freedom is not for me alone, but for the sake of Christ and others. I am a monastery and a missionary. I long to be ‘in God for the world.’”

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Well-Worn Paths

These are well-worn paths, traveled again and again by disciples through the generations. They are like hiking trails into the mystery of God. Mapped out, blazed, maintained by those who have been there before us. The words of the prophet Jeremiah (6:16) call out to us, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’” His first audience ignored this invitation. How will we respond today?

As you begin, ask Jesus to give you courage, discernment, and openness. Ask him to work his transformation in you and through you, like only he can. And then brace yourself for how he answers. The way of Jesus is not marked by ease and leisure and safety. His way is narrow and shaped like a cross. As the honored preacher, professor, and civil rights elder Howard Thurman once said, “The light illumines. But it also burns.” Or in the words of the great kingdom entrepreneur and activist Catherine Booth, “There is no improving the future without disturbing the present.” Prepare to be disturbed by the disruptive power of awakening grace.

After all, that’s what this book is about. It is a book about grace. It is about the practical implications of the world’s most impractical idea. It is about shaking out of our slumber and awakening to the ways God shapes us into the image of his Son, through the cultivating work of the Holy Spirit. It is about exploring the well-worn paths and pioneering trails of discipleship—the ancient and innovative practices of our faith. It is about responding to, walking in, and growing in grace.

Remember, the best time to plant an oak tree was fifty years ago.

The second-best time?

Now. Here. Today.

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Excerpt from Chapter 1 of How to Plant an Orchard: Seven Seeds for Growing in Jesus, by Matt LeRoy and Jeremy Summers (Seedbed, 2026).

In his classic work, Celebration of Discipline, author Richard Foster says, “The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or for gifted people, but for deep people.” That need is timely and urgent. But depth doesn’t happen overnight. It starts slow and small like seeds in the ground. Yet those seeds become fruit and harvest and orchard. The same divine imagination that set this rhythm in nature will patiently cultivate this growth in your soul as well. He is the faithful Gardener who is in this for the long haul. He will skillfully cut away and prune our branches so we might experience the deeper life of abiding in the True Vine. He will teach us how to plant an orchard in our hearts and minds and souls, bearing fruit in our lives for a hungry world to taste.

It’s been said, “The best time to plant an oak tree was fifty years ago. The second-best time is today.” So do not be discouraged by the slow pace of love. Begin today to develop intentional patterns and rhythms of rootedness through the disciplines explored in this book. The centuries have shown the unassuming turned undefeated compounding power of grace over time.

One important warning is to resist the temptation to fall into legalistic or perfectionist ruts, thinking that if we read enough of the Bible each day, pray enough, give enough, do justice enough, then we will create the proper and correlating results. It is vital to understand that the power is not in the acts themselves and certainly not in our performance of them. The power is initiated through God’s own presence in the process. It is his engagement with us that gives meaning to our practice. And in the same way he created us each in his image, yet each uniquely ourselves, he will move and speak and shape us in beautifully diverse ways even as we practice the same common disciplines. Your practice of these disciplines will look like who you are in Christ, not a copy of someone else’s strengths or personality.

Developing rhythms and patterns of discipleship is not the same thing as being trapped in a lifeless cycle or falling into a rut, repeating the same empty motions but moving nowhere. Imagine the rings inside of a tree. With each ring you see the same pattern repeated over and over again for every year of the tree’s lifespan. But what happens with each repeated pattern? The rings expand. It is the same shape every year, ring after ring, but there is a clear outward movement showing the growth that has taken place. As the tree grows stronger and the roots go deeper and the branches reach farther, the rings repeat and expand, season after season. The same pattern, yet new growth. Even though the growth was hardly detected at the time.

The same is true with practicing these pathways of discipleship. Depth doesn’t happen overnight. But as you submit to the Holy Spirit’s work through these rhythms and patterns, your heart, mind, soul, and life will bear the ever-expanding and deepening marks of grace over time.

As with all metaphors, this image has its limits. Growth doesn’t always happen in the same direction, on the same schedule, bearing the same fruit. Some seasons feel more like standing still, or worse, moving backward. But even in these times we trust the intentional and patient work of the eternal God who starts our shared story in a garden under his care (Gen. 1) and who is moving that story toward a restored fulfillment that looks like the bank of a stream lined with deeply rooted and fruitful trees (Rev. 22).

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Excerpt from Chapter 1 of How to Plant an Orchard: Seven Seeds for Growing in Jesus, by Matt LeRoy and Jeremy Summers (Seedbed, 2026).

The Psalms begin with a vibrant image of the life rooted and growing in God. And that seems like a good place for us to start as well.

Psalm 1 is the first of an ancient collection of poems, prayers, and songs that shaped the people of Israel. They express the full range of human emotion and experience. From joy to lament. From anger to peace. From anxiety and mourning to faith and hope and love. And at the opening of the entire anthology stands a picture of the deeply rooted life ready to flourish through these seasons, come what may.

We will hold this image in our minds and souls as we journey together. Allow it to be a picture of our prayer for each other, that we might become deep people, by the cultivating power of the Holy Spirit and the life-giving love of Jesus.

But how? How does a person grow into this kind of life?

Throughout the centuries of Christian history (with roots that reach much further back), followers of Jesus have engaged in ancient and innovative practices often called spiritual disciplines. These intentional rhythms of discipleship, mission, and community have shaped God’s covenant people into what the prophet Isaiah called “oaks of righteousness; a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor” (61:3). Or as the apostle Paul put it in Ephesians 3:17–19, “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” The spiritual disciplines are intentional practices, like roots planting us in the soil of God’s transforming grace, that we may experience and express the fullness of his love.

Of course, we must not fall into thinking that this work of spiritual formation rests on us. That it is somehow our duty to master the disciplines of Scripture, prayer, worship, and justice. Remember, these practices are not the focus. God is. These disciplines are not the end but the means of grace. As we engage these pathways, we humbly submit to God’s work in our lives. We open ourselves up to his awakening grace. Let’s revisit Psalm 1 again with this approach in mind.

Like a Tree Planted . . .

In this psalm, the tree doesn’t prosper because of its own stress and strength. Instead, rooted in the heart and mind of God, the life on the branches is nurtured by the fertile soil of grace. And nowhere does the poet promise that the tree will be protected from the elements—it is exposed to the threatening winds and turbulent storms. Yet the deep roots hold this tree in place.

By Streams of Water . . .

Throughout the Psalms and the full scope of Scripture, the image of water takes on spiritual significance. Rivers and streams often represent the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. And that is what is happening here. The tree standing on the banks draws its life from the stream. The fruit we see above ground is the result of what is happening beneath the surface.

Which Yields Its Fruit in Season . . .

This is an encouraging reminder that life hangs on a rhythm of seasons. In one season, the fruit of growth is out in the open. In another, the signs are not. There will be seasons of light and dark, pain and joy, rapid growth and long stretches of cold stagnation. When you find yourself in a season when growth isn’t coming easily, don’t give up. A new season is not far away. Remember, you don’t burn down the orchard in winter.

And Whose Leaf Does Not Wither . . .

Stay rooted in the heart and mind of the Father through these sustaining spiritual practices. Continue to draw strength from the Spirit’s cultivating work in these means of grace. You will find that God’s awakening grace is always shaping you into the image of Christ for the sake of the world. Though we may experience seasons of drought and confusion with no discernible growth, his Word and grace and love are evergreen. He is always at work, though often beneath the surface. The spring will come again.

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Excerpt from Chapter 1 of How to Plant an Orchard: Seven Seeds for Growing in Jesus, by Matt LeRoy and Jeremy Summers (Seedbed, 2026).

One of my jobs is to connect churches with the mission of World Hope International, a Christian relief and development organization serving in five countries around the globe. Our work focuses on three pillars: Clean Water, Global Health, and Protection (including initiatives that promote education and fight human trafficking). I love being a part of this team and the mission to bring Hope in Hard Places.

Especially when we hear stories like these rolling in over the last few weeks:

• Recently, nearly 100 children and adults have been freed from human trafficking in West Africa and are being cared for by our World Hope team

• Immigration officials, trained by World Hope to recognize the signs of trafficking, have been instrumental in disrupting these plots and rescuing survivors

• Our team members are providing holistic care, including social workers, counselors, food, medical attention, and family tracing

• Even as our local teams in these communities are stretched beyond their current resources, churches and individuals are stepping in to provide desperately needed support

• The journey of healing will be long and heavy, but World Hope will walk each step of the way, offering physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual support to these beloved children of God

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If you are moved to help, here’s how you can join us:

• Pray for the physical, emotional, and spiritual healing of the survivors

• Pray for World Hope team members as they serve the survivors and their families

• Support World Hope through the Hope Fund

• Encourage your church to join the Hope Alliance as an ongoing partner

• Become a Hope Partner as a regular, sustaining supporter of our mission

• Pray for World Hope as we continue to be Hope in Hard Places

1 | Our friends at Seedbed have made it possible to pre-order the book before it releases this Fall.

2 | Here is a look at the cover.

3 | Watch a short trailer:

Here’s a quick refresher on the heart behind it. This book is for disciples hungry for deep lives that are rooted, fruitful, and abiding in Jesus. It explores these seven spiritual disciplines:

• Scripture

• Prayer

• Mission

• Community

• Worship

• Generosity

• Sabbath

Each chapter ends with next steps to explore as an individual or in the context of a larger group. This includes questions for reflection and discussion, along with a key practice or exercise to help you put knowledge into action.

Today, we join Christians around the world in celebrating Pentecost Sunday. It comes 50 days after the Resurrection and 10 days after the Ascension of Jesus. Pentecost marks the moment that the Holy Spirit is poured out on the believers, filling them with the presence and power of the Triune God, and giving birth to the Church of Jesus.

But the term Pentecost (derived from ‘50’) was not coined on that day. It was already an annual Jewish festival with roots in the Exodus story. It is tied to the moment that God’s presence descends on Mt. Sinai, in fire and wind and earth shaking power, as he shapes this new community through his Law.

Of course, the overlap is stunning. Just as the Crucifixion and the Passover collide in past / present / future revelation, Pentecost is on fire with layers of depth for those with eyes to see. As the living presence of the Third Person of the Trinity descends in fire and wind and earth shaking power, he does not stop on a mountain top with Moses. He goes grassroots and street level, filling every believer and sending out his Church as the mission and movement of Jesus.

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THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8 NIV

At his Ascension, Jesus promised, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.”

Put that in the context of those first disciples, eagerly waiting for the fulfillment of that word. It must have been such an encouraging thought to a tiny, eclectic band of outsiders with little influence.

But this wasn’t the kind of power they imagined. Not positional or political. This kind of power came from outside of their own strength and welled up from inside their very souls. This would be a grassroots, underground, radical kind of movement that would push them to the margins and cost them everything. This power would generate courageous generosity for their neighbor and holy love for their enemies. This power would teach them to sing in prison, to rejoice in chains, he would sustain them through persecution, keep them in death. He empowered them to live as both protest against the empire and prophetic vision of the Kingdom.

Jesus goes on to say that when we receive the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be his “witnesses.” That is an interesting word to use. In the context of the original language, as in our own today, this is legal terminology. Picture a court room, not a random stranger handing you a not so clever tract about your impending eternal doom.

The Holy Spirit will empower us to be Jesus’ witnesses. Not the judge delivering the verdict. Not the jury deciding someone’s fate. Certainly not the prosecution. Not even the defense lawyer, tasked with swaying the entire room with your brilliant, airtight, irrefutable argument that answers every doubt and accounts for every question.

We are his witnesses. A witness simply gives an account of personal experience. A testimony. This is what I saw and heard and felt and know. Perhaps I can’t explain it, but neither can I explain it away. And often, it is the personal testimony of the witness that turns the direction of the case. After all of the skilled work of the professionals, the witness becomes the most compelling source of evidence.

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:22-25 NIV

When we are filled with the Spirit, we receive gifts of the Spirit. These gifts are diverse and given with true power for the building of the Church and the advancement of the Kingdom. Are you operating in the supernatural gifting of the Holy Spirit? Have you discovered the unique convergence of your gifts and passions, awakened to new strength and effect through the Spirit?

When we are rooted in the Father, connected to Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul tells us that we will bear the fruit of the Spirit. The branches display the character of the tree. Paul clearly says that we will not all receive every gift of the Spirit. But we should all expect and display every fruit of the Spirit. This is the true sign that his life pulses within us, and is making its way out of us and into the world.

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THE FIRST FRUIT IS LOVE

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

1 Corinthians 13:1-8 NIV

Towering theologians, from the early African Bishop Augustine to the German Reformer Martin Luther, defined sin as the heart turned inward on itself. John Wesley would later describe holiness as the heart turned outward toward God and others. This transformation is only possible through the inner working of the Holy Spirit. It is the journey of sanctification, of being shaped into the likeness of Christ, the process of becoming love.

Do you hunger for more of the Spirit? I do.

I read Wesley’s description of his heart being “strangely warmed,” which happened on this very day in 1738, and I want more of that.

I read how the old revivalists experienced what they could only describe as “waves of liquid love.” I long for that.

But I should never just seek an experience of the Holy Spirit for myself. I should continually be an experience of the Holy Spirit for others. His presence is alive in me and the proof of that is not in mountain top moments, but in everyday acts of love.

We are monasteries, sacred spaces where we cultivate a deep well of intimacy with the Spirit. And we are missionaries, with hearts turned outward in holy love for God and others.

The ‘Wesleyan Revival’ serves as a powerful witness of how God’s mission of holy love is manifested through sharing the gospel, making disciples, and embodying mercy and justice. It is a picture of what happens when you follow Jesus’ Great Commission and Great Commandment to their logical conclusions.

John Wesley was not a systematic theologian, but he was a systematic disciple-maker. His greatest contribution was not in his analysis of theology, but his application of it where it matters most—in the real lives of real people. For this, he is often called a folk theologian. Meaning, of the common people. His theology created biography. He learned from the personal experience of transformation that the Holy Spirit is still active and alive and moving in dynamic power. Wesley had the audacity to believe that the time for renewal is always now and the place for renewal is always here. The accounts of the early church in the book of Acts captured his imagination. He preached and prayed to see the same kind of spiritual renewal, social reform and cultural renaissance in his day.

Next week, one branch of fruit from Wesley’s spiritual family tree will gather in Marion, Indiana for The North American General Conference of The Wesleyan Church. Elected delegates will seek God‘s wisdom, debate pressing issues, and prayerfully discern what’s next. There is a sense that these could be pivotal days as we navigate significant moments on multiple fronts. In preparation, I’m drawn back to Wesley’s ‘Covenant Prayer.’ He frequently used this to express a renewal of commitment. Churches often come back to it at Watch Night services on New Year’s Eve, sealing the year behind and surrendering the year ahead. It seems timely for us here and now. I invite you to join me in praying this over our church together.

I am no longer my own, but yours.

Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will;

put me to doing, put me to suffering;

let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you,

exalted for you, or brought low for you;

let me be full,

let me be empty,

let me have all things,

let me have nothing:

I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things

to your pleasure and disposal.

And now, glorious and blessed God,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

you are mine and I am yours. So be it.

And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.

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RESOURCES

To learn more and engage further, here are a few recommendations:

My friend Mark Swayze adapted Wesley’s Covenant Prayer into a song, Come Like a Fire.

The Radical Wesley: The Patterns and Practices of a Movement Maker by Howard Snyder (Updated edition by Seedbed, 2014). This 45 year old book is a classic exploration of the history with a compelling vision for the present. Thorough, practical, and inspiring.

The Most Excellent Way: John Wesley’s Theology of Love by Joseph Dongell (Seedbed, 2024). From one of my favorite seminary professors and a respected New Testament scholar. This short book is a pocket sized look at the centrality of holy love through the actions, sermons, letters, songs, and theology of John Wesley.

About a decade ago, I wrote the script for a short video on the heart and history of the Wesleyan movement. The creative mind and hands of my friend Caleb Childers brought the story to life.

The book is for disciples hungry for deep lives that are rooted, fruitful, and abiding in Jesus. It explores these seven spiritual disciplines:

• Scripture

• Prayer

• Mission

• Community

• Worship

• Generosity

• Sabbath

Each chapter ends with next steps to explore as an individual or in the context of a larger group. This includes questions for reflection and discussion, along with a key practice or exercise to help you put knowledge into action.

I’ll let you know about the release date when it is finalized and I’ll be sure to invite you to the big release party (aka my family going to Cook Out for a Cheerwine and a milkshake).

Thank you for following Jesus with me through the Gospel of Matthew.

Together, we walked through the 40 days of Lent, plus Sundays and the beginning of the Easter season, totaling 55 days. We traced the Call, Cost, and Commission, which make up the arc of Jesus’ discipleship strategy.

Your encouragement and engagement means more than I can put into words. You sent texts, shared thoughts, emailed prayers, caught typos, and gave your support in so many ways. I’m deeply grateful.

I needed your help to get this done. This has been an idea for several years (many of you have heard me ramble on about it), that grew into a dream, and finally had to find a way out. Sharing the progress day by day with you was the encouragement and accountability I needed for this to become a reality. I hope to turn these 40 daily posts (after plenty of edits and adjustments) into a book and discipleship resource for local churches.

We’ll take a break from the daily posts for a while. I don’t exactly know what’s next, but I’ll still share occasional articles and thoughts from time to time.

Again, thank you. I pray you were challenged and encouraged in your own journey with Jesus. I pray that you take your next brave steps in the call, cost, and commission of discipleship. I pray that you are transformed by and into his holy love. I pray that you will go and make disciples. And I pray that you will grow in grace, step by step, as you continue to follow Jesus.

PRAYER

He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 28:16-20

The Great Commission

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

What stood out to you about this week’s Scripture and reflections? What did you see?

What insights, challenge, conviction did the Holy Spirit stir in you along the way?

Have you embraced the call of the Great Commission?

If so, how? If not, why not?

This week’s active response (Saturday’s post) challenged you to ‘Share Your Jesus Story.’ How did that simple guide resonate with you? Was it helpful?

If so, why? If not, what were the obstacles?

Now, let’s pull back from this week specifically, and reflect on the entire journey through Lent to Easter:

At the beginning of Lent, we asked, “What is your prayer for this journey of Lent? Write it down on paper or in a notes app. Return to it throughout the 40 days of Lent.” How did Jesus respond to that prayer?

What are two or three takeaways for you from this experience of walking with Jesus through Matthew’s Gospel?

What stood out to you the most from the Scripture and reflections over these 40 days of Lent + the first week of Eastertide? What did you see?

What insights, challenge, conviction did the Holy Spirit stir in you along the way?

Which active response (each Saturday’s post) was most helpful to you?

How did the holy love of Jesus transform you?

What is the next step he is challenging you to take in order to Follow Jesus?

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PRAYER

He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 28:16-20

The Great Commission

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Admittedly, sharing the gospel can feel like a daunting and intimidating task. Personality type, social setting, knowledge of Scripture, and confidence to answer difficult questions can all feel like insurmountable barriers. Some of you can feel your anxiety levels rising as you read this even now. So let’s take a deep breath and process this together.

Remember that while all of us are called to share the gospel, each of us are created and gifted uniquely through God‘s creative grace. So the ways that we will carry out this calling will be as diverse as the body of Christ.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:11 that Christ set some apart to be evangelists, for the sake of advancing the mission and equipping the Church. Some have the spiritual gift and amplified empowerment to be an evangelist, and should be unleashed to lead in that capacity. But what does that mean for the rest of us?

Remember, this is not about our performance. The power is not in our gifts or talents or confidence, but is initiated through God’s own presence in the process. It is his engagement with us that gives meaning to our practice. Your practice of sharing the gospel will look like who you are in Christ, not a copy of someone else’s strengths or personality.

Regardless of our level of comfort or giftedness, each of us can share about our personal experience with Jesus. And we are commissioned by Jesus and empowered by the Spirit to do so. Not from a place of obligation or response to guilt. But from a core of love—the transforming holy love of Jesus that sparks in us a love for neighbor.

Here are a few simple steps to remove the fear and infuse courage for everyday evangelists:

1 | Live a Questionable Life

Missional theologian Michael Frost challenges us to ‘live a questionable life.’ In other words, to live the kind of authentic, Jesus-shaped, Spirit-led life that sparks questions. When your life is surrendered to and centered on Jesus, people will pick up on that. Soon enough they will become curious about the source of your peace, strength, and radical love. And they will ask you.

2 | Don’t Be Afraid to Answer

Once your life has sparked the questions, have the boldness to give an answer. If you don’t point to Jesus, they will assume your compelling, intriguing life has something to do with your own talent or winsome personality. Point them to Jesus, the reason for your hope.

3 | Share Your Jesus Story

When you give an answer, you don’t have to know all of the answers. You don’t need a theology degree or apologetics expertise to share your faith. Simply tell them what Jesus has done for you. The most compelling evidence is a transformed life. What is your Jesus story? How has He changed your life? Simply share that. You might try writing this out or journaling about it as a way to articulate this reality. This will not only help you in sharing with others, it will also be an encouragement to remember this yourself.

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PRAYER

He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 28:16-20

The Great Commission

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

REFLECTION

Embracing the Great Commission is a key part of being a disciple of Jesus and is the natural fruit of a growing relationship with him. It is the culmination of this arc of discipleship we have been exploring together. His mission is like a mighty river whose tributaries break out in every direction, yet flow from the same central source. The Scriptures capture a clear trajectory moving outward from the heart of God to the ends of the earth.

SHARE THE GOSPEL

A core thrust of this outward moving mission is our call to share the gospel. Having been transformed by the saving love of Jesus, we are commissioned to share that good news with others. We cannot keep this life-changing grace to ourselves. We must give it away.

The word ‘gospel’ was not invented by the New Testament writers or the Early Church. Instead, they borrowed the already existing term from the vocabulary of their culture, and infused it with new meaning. The word means, ‘good news.’ In the Greek of the New Testament writers it is rendered, ‘euangelion.’ It was often used to describe an official decree or announcement from Caesar and the Roman Empire. For example, after Rome conquered and took control of a new region, those new subjects would receive the ‘gospel’ or ‘good news’ announcement that Caesar was now their ruler, and his peace, often delivered at the end of a sword, would reign over them.

This was rarely good news for those receiving the message. So you can see how subversive and revolutionary it was for the early followers of Jesus to refer to his message as the gospel or the euangelion. The creed of Rome proudly declared, ‘Caesar is Lord.’ While the upstart movement of Christ followers defiantly answered, ‘Jesus is Lord.’ The true gospel stood in direct contrast and critique of the counterfeit gospel of Rome. The good news of Jesus pointed to a Kingdom and King of holy love, promised a deeper hope, and mapped out a better narrow way.

Greek scholar or not, the term euangelion may look familiar to you. It is where we get the well known words evangelism and evangelical. While both of these terms are now loaded down with cultural and even political baggage, let’s resist that corruption and reach back to the New Testament roots. Evangelism is not about scare tactics or combative rhetoric or persuasive sales pitch techniques. It is simply sharing the good news of Jesus. Evangelical does not describe a voting bloc driven by partisan politics. To think that the transcendent Kingdom of God can neatly fit inside a particular wing of one political party is flat out blasphemy. Evangelical should be reserved for a person who lives the good news and walks in the way of Jesus. Anything other than that is a gross distortion of the idea.

PERFORMANCE VS. PRESENCE

Admittedly, sharing the gospel can feel like a daunting and intimidating task. Personality type, social setting, knowledge of Scripture, and confidence to answer difficult questions can all feel like insurmountable barriers. Some of you can feel your anxiety levels rising as you read this even now. So let’s take a deep breath and process this together.

Remember that while all of us are called to share the gospel, each of us are created and gifted uniquely through God‘s creative grace. So the ways that we will carry out this calling will be as diverse as the body of Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:11 that Christ set some apart to be evangelists, for the sake of advancing the mission and equipping the Church. Some have the spiritual gift and amplified empowerment to be an evangelist, and should be unleashed to lead in that capacity. But what does that mean for the rest of us?

Remember, this is not about our performance. The power is not in our gifts or talents or confidence, but is initiated through God’s own presence in the process. It is his engagement with us that gives meaning to our practice. Your practice of sharing the gospel will look like who you are in Christ, not a copy of someone else’s strengths or personality.

ALWAYS

Jesus promises that we will not be alone in this work. His last words to his disciples in Matthew’s Gospel are, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” And Scripture promises that God will empower this sending out mission through the Holy Spirit himself, filling and equipping us with his power and gifts.

He will be the source of our strength. He will be our wisdom, prompting us when we should speak up and helping us discern how to share the good news in a way that is fit for the person and moment. He will be our courage, nudging us forward when we hesitate, feel afraid, or doubt ourselves. He will be our helper, going ahead of us and moving in the hearts and minds of people before we even think of sharing with them.

We aren’t asking him to join us in our work, but we are joining him in his work that has already begun. He is the one who convicts, convinces, and sparks change. He will be our comfort, ministering to us when we feel discouraged, rejected, and insufficient in our efforts. And of course, he will be the source of the Fruit of the Spirit growing on our branches, pointing people to the compelling beauty of Jesus.

How do we share the Gospel? What practical steps can we take? We will explore that in tomorrow’s post, offering a simple outline for sharing our Jesus story with others.

MAKE DISCIPLES

In the Great Commission, Jesus calls those first disciples to make more disciples, who would make more disciples, and on and on. This ripple effect of transformation has continued across the centuries, from one disciple to the next, multiplied again and again, finding its way to us.

There are endless strategies and approaches for making disciples. Programs, catechisms, books, classrooms, institutes, Bible studies, retreats, organizations, church planting initiatives, and more have been created to equip disciples to multiply. And many of them have been wildly fruitful. I celebrate these efforts, famous or unknown, explosive or fledgling. And I encourage you as you dream up the next great idea. But through all of the trending curriculum, changing technology, and time-tested wisdom, one core truth persists: discipleship is about following Jesus, on mission, in community.

This brings us full circle, back to where we started together:

FOLLOW JESUS

This is all about Jesus. First and foremost. Plain and simple. Beginning to end.

The Gospel of Matthew shows us how Jesus lived. It depicts how he interacted with everyone from the religious elite, to the political powers, to the margins of society. It tells how he called a surprising band of disciples to follow him and how he shaped them into a community. Matthew collects and recounts Jesus’ revolutionary teachings and astonishing miracles. This Gospel gives an eyewitness account of his journey to the cross, his victorious resurrection from the dead, and his ascension to the right hand of God.

The Gospel of Matthew also records Jesus’ world changing method for making disciples. So, over the 40 days of Lent and now into this season of Eastertide, we have been leaning into this compelling account of what it looks like to Follow Jesus.

Throughout the narrative arc of this Gospel we have seen a simple pattern of discipleship essentials emerge:

1 | The Call: “Come, follow me” (Matthew 4)

This initial invitation into discipleship has not changed. Discipleship begins with embracing salvation from Jesus. But it continues with living for Jesus. In one of his most famous, and arguably most controversial teachings about life in the Kingdom of God, Jesus gives us an image of a narrow gate and a narrow road (Matthew 7:13-14). It is interesting that he ties these two images together into one.

Jesus is the narrow gate by which we enter into salvation.

But Jesus is also the narrow road of discipleship.

We do not simply step through the gate. We walk with him along the road. A moment of salvation opens up into a lifetime of discipleship to Jesus. To follow Jesus is to walk in his teachings, abide in his love, and become like him.

2 | The Cost: “Take up your cross” (Matthew 16)

In a scandalous challenge, Jesus tells his followers that to follow him, they must lay down their lives and take up the cross. The Gospels make clear that this way of life will be costly.

Discipleship calls for full surrender to God’s will.

It is to die to self and live for the King and his Kingdom.

There is no sidestepping this part of the journey.

In fact, we even see it right at the outset of calling his first disciples. It says that when Jesus called them, “they dropped their nets and followed him.” This is significant because they were fishermen by trade. The nets represented their profession, their source of income, their way of life. From the the very beginning, would-be disciples have been confronted with the cost of following Jesus.

What will your response be?

3 | The Commission: “Go make disciples” (Matthew 28)

Discipleship to Jesus is like an orchard. To be vibrant and alive, an orchard requires roots that go deep in personal relationship with Jesus. But there are also fruitful branches that reach out in mission. And each apple on every branch is bursting with hidden potential for exponential growth beyond itself. Anyone can count the number of seeds in an apple. Who can count the number of apples in a seed? With some patience and determination, you can count the number of apples in an orchard. Who can know the orchards in an apple? In the same way, it’s impossible to calculate the impact of a disciple who makes disciples.

Every believer becomes a disciple, every disciple lives on mission.

The full arc of discipleship includes embracing our part in multiplying the mission.

Once again, we find this future embedded in the calling from the outset. To those same fishermen who left their nets behind, Jesus casts a compelling vision of what is ahead. “I will send you out to fish for people.”

The full arc of the discipleship journey is foreshadowed in the Call of Matthew 4, is tested in the Cost of Matthew 16, and is sealed in the Commission of Matthew 28. To Follow Jesus requires embracing the Call, Cost, and Commission of Discipleship.

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PRAYER

Jesus,

We have followed you

on this journey,

from the Call,

through the Cost,

to the Commission.

As you send us out

to share the gospel

and make disciples,

empower us

with your presence,

always.

RESPONSE

What stands out to you about today’s Scripture and reflection? What do you see?

Have you responded to the Great Commission of Jesus?

If so, how? If not, why?

Do you know how to share the gospel with someone?

If so, what is your approach? How would you describe your experience?

If not, why? What are the largest obstacles you face?

Do you know how to make disciples of Jesus?

If so, what is your approach? How would you describe your experience?

If not, why? What are the largest obstacles you face?

How do you respond to this description of discipleship as the Call, Cost, and Commission? Does this resonate with you? Why or why not? Where are you on this journey with Jesus?

PRAYER

He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 28:16-20

The Great Commission

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

REFLECTION

In the overflow of his Resurrection life, Jesus gives his disciples the Great Commission, sending them out to spread the good news and make more disciples. This vision of new life passing from one person to the next in the context of relationship reveals the genius strategy of Jesus. In the seed and soil of this commission, we find the exponential multiplication of Kingdom fruit potential.

Today, I’m breaking from our pattern once again, and sharing an unconventional post. The hope is that it communicates the potential hidden in the Great Commission. It might be a stretch for you. Sharing it is definitely a stretch for me. Below is a children’s story I wrote around a decade ago. It is a simple poem inspired by a couple of factors.

First, it’s inspired by the image of the orchard as a metaphor for discipleship, and I wanted to capture that. Roots going deep, branches reaching out, fruit and seeds, a collection of trees in community.

But foremost, it’s inspired by my Grandmother, Christyna LeRoy Trivett, affectionately known by most as Maw Maw. I remember visiting her father’s farm several times when I was a kid. I can recall the steep hill, the barn with loft, and a row of apple trees along the path. I think I remember the family gathering there for a good view of fireworks on July 4th. I remember everyone feeling sad when the siblings decided to sell it. I’m not sure how accurate the details are. I imagine they are skewed and out of proportion, but the memories seem clear in my mind.

The story grew from there. She is certainly a stirring image of a deeply rooted and richly fruitful life. This is dedicated to her.

THE ORCHARD IN THE APPLE:

A Parable of Possibility

.

I’ve heard the story told

Of a golden hearted girl

Her father’s farm was her most

Treasured place in all the world

.

It sat high above the town

On an old Kentucky hill

With his hands in the soil

He would toil, tend, and till

.

She loved to explore

The open fields and ancient woods

Where the elm and the oak

And the sycamore stood

.

Blazing new trails

Through the uncharted wild

Dancing in the creeks

With the wisdom of a child

.

Picking buttercups and dandelions

And honeysuckle bloom

Catching fireflies and ladybugs

And caterpillars too

.

She climbed up in the loft

Of the barn filled with hay

To watch the sun set

At the close of every day

.

She cherished every field and fence

As far as she could see

But her favorite part of all?

Her father’s apple trees

.

.

He shared wisdom as they walked

Beneath branches green and red

She held on to his hand

And to every word he said

.

If you want a sturdy tree and crop

Then darling, you should know

The best time to plant

Was a long time ago

.

But dear, do not lose heart

And hope, do not give way

The next best time to plant

Is now, here, today

.

For you cannot hope to grow

What you never do begin

You must plant now

What you hope to harvest then

.

Buried here beneath the dirt

Another seed of truth

A tree can only grow, of course

As strong as her roots

.

Come the roaring rain and wind

Come the bitter cold

Though bend and sway, she won’t give way

Trust the roots will hold

.

Embrace the reasons seasons change

And in between, remember

The barren branch will bloom again

Don’t burn the orchard in winter

.

.

She climbed the limbs to find for them

The best the tree could bear

With his trusty pocket knife

He sliced them each a share

.

He said, Inside of this Apple

What is it that you see?

Right there in the core

You can count the little seeds

.

And what, do you think,

Those seeds will grow to be?

Another apple, two or three?

Possibly even a tree?

.

The potential of what’s possible

Is wilder and wider

This one little apple

Has an orchard here inside her

.

When deep in the ground

You bury this seed

Prepare for the harvest

You cannot yet see

.

She planted all those lessons

And that place down in her heart

A reminder that small

Is a good place to start

.

As she grew she saw the truth

Wasn’t just for trees

That girl became an orchard

Full of possibilities

.

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PRAYER

He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 28:11-20

The Guard’s Report

¹¹ While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. ¹² When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, ¹³ telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Great Commission

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

REFLECTION

There will always be two stories.

In today’s passage we see the contrast between the competing narratives: the Guard’s Report and the Great Commission.

Verse 12 says that when the religious leaders heard the guard’s report, they “devised a plan.” They had already devised multiple plans concerning Jesus. And they kept being forced to revise them and create new ones.

CALCULATIONS

They made calculations based on what they had seen in the past. Other figures had claimed to be the Messiah, attracted followers, and sparked uprisings. When these leaders were struck down, the followers scattered and the movements dissolved. This Jesus movement, they were certain, would follow the same pattern.

They were correct on some fronts. The calculations about the followers proved to be spot on. The disciples did, in fact, scatter when Jesus was taken out. But when it came to their calculations about Jesus, well, they were just a touch off the mark.

When Jesus defied their expectations and complicated their plans, they created a cover story, convincing the guards to spread a conspiracy. “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”

HOLES IN THE STORY

But there are a lot of holes in the story created by the religious leaders:

• The disciples were clearly terrified. They scattered at the first threat of trouble. Do we believe they would risk the same fate as Jesus to steal the body?

• Later, something did give them the courage to face death for the cause of Jesus. What was it? Would they die for what they knew to be a lie?

• Roman guards did not fall asleep on the job. They would pay dearly, sometimes with their own lives, for such a failure.

• If they did actually fall asleep, how did they know how the body went missing? How could they know it was the disciples?

AN EMPTY TOMB

There are a lot of holes in this conspiracy. But to me, the most glaring thing is the fact that the story exists in the first place. The story only exists because the tomb is empty. The conspiracy was created to explain away the fact that there is no body in that grave.

There has always been skepticism and criticism surrounding the claim of the resurrection. That is not an invention of modern scholarship, the enlightenment, or scientific advancement. People in Jesus’ day were not stupid. They knew that dead people did not come back to life. The fact persists that a story was created because a tomb was empty. No empty tomb, no need for a story to explain it away.

THIS IS NOT A GHOST STORY

The existence of an empty tomb is crucial to Christian theology. Not just because it speaks of resurrection, but articulates a very specific kind of resurrection. The empty tomb tells us that the resurrection of Jesus is not just a spiritual experience, but a physical, bodily phenomenon. This is not a ghost story. This is not about his “spirit” living on in the work that he started. This is not about keeping his memory or mission “alive” after his death. Jesus, who was actually born in flesh and blood, actually lived in flesh and blood, actually died in flesh and blood, was actually raised from the dead in flesh and blood.

This is crucial to our understanding and experience of Christianity. It is also crucial to our understanding and experience of ourselves. It declares that humanity will one day be restored to fullness—not just our spirits, but our bodies as well. We are not throw aways, disposable and doomed for destruction. We are rescued daughters and sons of the king, redeemed for our own future of restoration and resurrection.

Even so, Easter is not just about an empty tomb. It is about a risen Jesus.

The empty tomb is one piece of evidence. The resounding proof of Easter is a risen Jesus who is alive and well within us.

THEN THE ELEVEN

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.”

Eleven is a haunting number.

It is a stark reminder of Judas’ betrayal and death. He is no longer among the disciples.

And yet, it is a hopeful number.

It is haunting because it is 11 instead of 12.

It is hopeful because it is 11 instead of 10.

This reminds us that Peter’s denial of Jesus did not permanently separate him from the Kingdom community of Jesus. Redemption is still possible for him. And what a redemption it turns out to be.

EVEN DISCIPLES DOUBT

“When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.”

This small detail is weighed down with grace. It is a reminder that even disciples doubt. In the Kingdom of God, there is always room to wrestle with your questions.

Jesus didn’t flinch at the cross. He’s not afraid of your questions. He overcame death. He can handle your doubt.

CONSPIRACY VS. COMMISSION

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

There will always be two stories.

In today’s passage we see the contrast between the competing narratives: the Guard’s Report and the Great Commission.

The way of Jesus is the counter narrative, the grassroots movement that continues to defy expectations and shock the world with its upside down script and customs of a different kind of Kingdom.

One story is a lie, one is the Truth.

One involves a bribe, one is a commission.

One promises money to keep them quiet and safe from the consequences. One warns, “This will cost you everything.”

One says, “Let’s keep this to ourselves.” One says, “Go tell the whole world.”

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PRAYER

Jesus,

Empower me,

through the strength of your resurrection,

to live out your Great Commission.

RESPONSE

What stands out to you about today’s Scripture and reflection? What do you see?

What holes do you see in the conspiracy about the disciples stealing the body of Jesus? Do you find this story plausible? Why or why not?

Even disciples doubt. What doubts do you have about Jesus? About the resurrection? About the Christian faith?

Do you feel freedom and safety to express these doubts to God? Why or why not?

What is your response to the Great Commission of Jesus?

Have you embraced this calling? If so, how? If not, why?

PRAYER

He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 28:1-10

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

² 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. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

REFLECTION

The Resurrection is the Victory of Love.

And in the aftermath of Easter, we are still reveling in that triumph.

After all, Easter is more than a day. It is a season. Just like Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and stretches through a 40 day journey to Good Friday, ‘Eastertide’ is a season in the Church calendar that begins on Easter Sunday and follows a 50 day journey through Ascension Day to Pentecost Sunday.

While we won’t extend our journey together for the next 50 days, we will spend the next several days reflecting on the power of the resurrection and the Victory of Love. Today we will continue to focus on a few key lines from Matthew 28:1-10.

“There was a violent earthquake…”

This is the fourth mention of an earthquake in Matthew’s Gospel. That is a sign for us to pay attention when we see it. For him, this is a factual description of actual events, of course. But it is more. It is also his symbol for what the reality of Jesus is bringing into the world.

Jesus is a seismic shift. Jesus is the epicenter of the New Creation and Kingdom that God is unleashing. The cross and the resurrection are inaugurating the upending of the world that we are witnessing. They are breaking down the old ways and cracking open the new. And now you and I are the aftershocks of this earthquake in our communities, families, churches, schools, and workplaces.

Jon Meacham gives a compelling description of the resurrection as seismic shift and epicenter of the new reality. He is one of my favorite historians and authors. He writes beautifully about figures and events that have shaped the soul of America, from FDR and Winston Churchill’s wartime friendship to the freedom visions of Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and John Lewis. (Shout out to my amazing friend, Tim Kirkpatrick, who has blessed my mailbox with surprise signed copies of his books on multiple occasions.) Perhaps my favorite project of his is a short, but elegant devotional work called, The Hope of Glory: Reflections on the Last Words of Jesus from the Cross, where he writes:

“He is not here...”

Jesus is full of surprises. They went to look for him where they last left him. He was sealed, safely contained, boxed in. But then, the news: He’s not here.

Jesus is always faithful, but never predictable. He never changes, but he is always changing us. Forever the same but ever new. This is not a stagnant God encased in stained glass, bound to the page, entombed in stone. He is on the move.

To follow Jesus is to change.

Change doesn’t always equal growth.

But growth always requires change.

My friend Silas was one of the brightest minds and deepest souls in our Bible Study. His insights were even more poignant when considering the long and broken road of his life. He was in and out of homelessness, navigating the cycles of his addiction, breaking free from a past of using and selling drugs. One day I called Silas’ phone and got his voicemail. I’ll never forget his message. It said:

You’ve reached Silas’ phone.

I’m making some changes in my life.

If I’m not answering your call, you might be one of those changes.

The resurrection changes everything. And if you are following Jesus, you will be one of those changes.

“He is risen…”

“He is risen” is a compact creed.

Christian theology in three simple words.

We do not honor Jesus as a martyr who died for a worthy cause. We worship him as the Son of God, who became flesh and blood, fully human and fully divine, once dead and now very much alive, Savior of the world.

He is the long awaited King who proclaimed and acted the Kingdom into existence, who marched toward the cross to give his life as a sacrifice for sin, who embraced death in order to wrestle it into submission and defeat. He conquered sin on the cross and overthrew death in this Resurrection.

The Apostle Paul said if Christ is not raised, then our faith is in vain.

But because he is raised, our hope is indestructible.

This is the morning that pierces the night, that rolls back the darkness like a stone. This is the Good News that rings out through the ages like the echo of an empty tomb.

“Afraid yet filled with joy…”

I’m still stuck on this phrase we touched on yesterday. The women who receive this message from the angel are described as “afraid yet filled with joy.”

I love that there is a stubborn kind of realism in these words. The Gospel narrative refuses to deny the confusion and chaos caused by the resurrection. It is honest about the facts. It takes into account the threats of the guards, authorities, and mobs and yet still there is this defiant joy that can only come from the overwhelming love and overcoming resurrection of Jesus.

While I’m on a roll quoting favorite authors, I can’t leave out Wendell Berry. He is a wise farmer / poet / novelist from Kentucky. I’m moved by these lines drawn from his poem, Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front:

To deny and to defy are not the same thing.

Pride and fear deny.

Hope and joy defy.

To deny is to ignore the facts.

To defy is to practice resurrection

by being filled with joy,

though you have considered all the facts.

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PRAYER

Jesus,

Transform me through

the Victory of Love.

Teach me me to live in the tension of

“afraid yet filled with joy.”

Help me to practice resurrection

in every area of my life.

RESPONSE

What stands out to you about today’s Scripture and reflection? What do you see?

What does it mean when we say, “he is risen” is a compact creed? Why are three small words so essential to Christian theology?

Why do we refer to the resurrection as the Victory of Love? How does that language resonate with you? Confuse you? Bother you? Inspire you?

What does it mean that the women at Jesus’ tomb are described as “afraid yet filled with joy”? How you ever experienced that tension? Describe your experience.

Matthew’s Gospel speaks of a violent earthquake at the tomb of Jesus. What does that mean? What does it represent?

How will you be the aftershock of that earthquake in your community, family, workplace, school, or church?

What are your first steps? And the step after that?

PRAYER

He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 28:1-10

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

² 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. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

REFLECTION

He is risen.

He is risen indeed.

And this changes everything.

If the cross was the Catastrophe of Love, then the Resurrection is the ‘eucatastrophe.’ This term was invented by one of my favorite authors, J.R.R. Tolkien. Of course, he is widely known for creating Middle Earth, The Lord of the Rings, and all of the mythology tied up in it. But he was also an Oxford Professor, contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary, and respected philologist. Philology is the study of language, or more to the point, the love of words. And that love shines through in this invention. By adding the Greek prefix, ‘eu-’, which means good, to the word catastrophe, which means downward turn, Tolkien captures the stunning joy that is found in the Resurrection. He explains this in a letter to his son Christopher:

This eucatastrophe, this Great Reversal, turns the entire story on its head and changes the way we see everything.

The Resurrection changes how we see God.

He is not a God whose glory is in the past, whose best days are behind him.

He is just getting started.

And this is what the future looks like.

The Resurrection changes how we see Jesus.

Yes, we acknowledge him as a brilliant teacher. But he is more.

Yes, we recognize that he is a revolutionary leader. But he is more.

Yes, we marvel at his moral example. But he is more.

Yes, we remember him as a faithful prophet. But he is so much more.

There is no category for the kind of figure he is in history. And the resurrection charges everything he ever said with a new kind of weight. It proves we can believe in and bank on every word that ever came out of his mouth.

All of Christianity hangs on this moment.

Christianity is only as true as the resurrection.

Christianity is only as real as the resurrection.

Christianity is only as alive as Jesus.

The Resurrection changes how we see the Holy Spirit.

This shows what he is capable of and what he wants to do inside of us. And that, I think, should make us nervous. But it should also charge us with a fresh kind of courage. He is putting to death the old and broken ways and resurrecting us as a new creation.

The Resurrection changes how we see salvation.

Central to our faith is the cross. But the cross is not the end of the story. Jesus laid down his life as a sacrifice for our sins. But he also picked it up again in the most emphatic way.

His death is our forgiveness. His life is our freedom.

We are forgiven for our old ways of living and given a new way to live.

We are honest about sin’s effects, reach, consequences. But we proclaim that the victorious grace of Jesus is stronger than the power of sin.

The Resurrection changes how we see our own circumstances.

When your faith is rocked and everything seems empty and worthless, we remember how the disciples felt on Saturday. When addictions choke the life out of us and hold us prisoner in an endless cycle, we remember there is one who was strong enough to break even the hold of death. When our marriages are crumbling and collapsing, our families broken and on their last breath, we remember the God who has a résumé of resurrection. When we lose someone we love, we grieve and mourn, yet we hope because in the new reality of resurrection, death no longer gets the last word. When the cards are stacked against us, the system conspires against us, everything everywhere works against us, we remember that there is One who is for us.

The Resurrection changes how we see the world.

In the Creation story, God finishes his work on the sixth day and rests on the seventh day. His work is complete. The same happens here. On Friday, the sixth day of the week, he says, “It is finished.” He then lays in his tomb on the seventh. But as we hit dawn on the first day, it is not only the beginning of a new week. It is the beginning of a new world.

The Resurrection changes how we see power.

“Mary Magdalene and the other Mary” were nobodies in the eyes of society in that culture and time. Women did not hold places of influence and power in this Middle Eastern, patriarchal culture. Tragic as it is for us to consider, the testimonies of women were not even permissible in court. Yet they become the first witnesses and preachers of the resurrection. The linchpin moment of Christian doctrine is trusted to people whose testimony was not deemed valid in court.

The resurrection creates unlikely witnesses and gives influence and voice to those seen as powerless. “I have no position or power” is not an excuse. It is precedent.

I love the contrast here between the guards and the women. The hardened, trained, killing machines of the Roman government are so afraid when they see the angel and witness the stone rolling away, they become like dead men. But the same angel greets the unarmed women, holding no position or power, with, “Do not be afraid.” It says they run with the message, “afraid yet filled with joy.”

The so called strong ones collapse like dead man in fear.

The so called weak ones receive the news of the resurrection life and are infused with joy that turns into courage.

The Resurrection changes how we see our failures.

Suddenly, Jesus appears to the women. They fall down to worship him, in reverence and love. He says, “Greetings. Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers…”

What an incredible word of hope. The disciples are hiding in fear, as well as shame. They are crushed by the death of Jesus, but also by their own failures. When he needed them most, their courage and faith collapsed under the weight of the moment. Promises unraveled into denials and escape.

Yet here, with his first words, he speaks with affection and tenderness, with a strong covenant friendship and family bond that even their denial could not break. My brothers.

His victory overcomes our failures.

This “sudden happy turn” in the story which “pierces you with a joy that brings tears" changes everything. The hope of Easter breaks out from behind the stone and floods the night with dawn, the long defeat of Lent is swallowed up in the ‘eucatastrophe’ of Resurrection.

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PRAYER

Jesus,

Thank you for the hope of Easter,

for the power of the resurrection,

and the change that it brings

to… everything.

RESPONSE

What stands out to you about today’s Scripture and reflection? What do you see?

What are one or two concrete ways that Easter has changed you? How would you describe that change?

Of all of the changes we discussed in today’s reflection, which one resonated most with you? Why?

How would you describe this year’s journey through Lent to Easter? What did you learn along the way? How did Jesus change you in the process?

PRAYER

He is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed!

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 28:1-20

The Resurrection of Jesus

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

² 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. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Guard’s Report

¹¹ While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. ¹² When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, ¹³ telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Great Commission

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Today we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus! His sacrificial death on Friday’s cross has opened up into Sunday’s victory over the grave. This is the essential defining moment for Christianity, the hinge of world history, and the day that changes everything for you and me. Let’s reflect on the meaning together.

What stands out to you about today’s Scripture and reflection? What do you see?

What does the Resurrection of Jesus mean to you and for you? What is your testimony about the power of Easter?

Take note of the characters and their actions in this passage. Who is present? What are they doing? Is any of it surprising or challenging? How do the dynamics and responses differ between the different people?

“Mary Magdalene and the other Mary” are named as the first witnesses and evangelists of the Resurrection. When was the last time you shared this good news about new life in Jesus? Is there someone you need to share with this week?

What is your next step to carry that out? And what about the next step after that? And the next?

Pause today to thank Jesus for the victory of his resurrection. He has conquered sin and death, he has won new and eternal life for us. How will you say thank you? A personal prayer? A meal with your friends or family? An old Easter hymn? Writing a new song, poem, journal entry, or post? Serving someone to meet their tangible needs? The possibilities are endless. But choose one way and worship the victorious Resurrected King.

Happy Easter!

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PRAYER

Jesus,

We have walked with you through this Gospel,

along the road of discipleship.

We have witnessed your miraculous strength,

your brilliant teaching,

and your way of love.

And now, our journey with you

takes a downward turn.

We will still follow you,

on this way to the cross.

Amen.

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 27:57-66

The Burial of Jesus

⁵⁷ As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸ Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. ⁵⁹ Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, ⁶⁰ and 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 and went away. ⁶¹ Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

⁶² The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. ⁶³ “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ ⁶⁴ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

⁶⁵ “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”⁶⁶ So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

On Saturdays during Lent, we have been setting aside this day to engage with an active response. We have paused our normal weekday pattern and put our growth into practice.

We have engaged with various practices, from our GROW guide to reading Scripture, our PRAY guide for the Lord’s Prayer, how to develop Christian community, and a challenge to practice forgiveness. I hope they have been simple, helpful tools that you can continue to use and even share with others.

But today is different. It is the day after Good Friday, often called Holy Saturday in Christian tradition. And frankly, it is an odd and difficult day. Yesterday, we remembered the sacrificial death of our Savior, Lord, and Friend on the cross. This Catastrophe of Love is the catalyst for our salvation. Tomorrow, we will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, joining in with believers around the world to welcome the joyous hope of Easter Sunday.

But again, today is different. It is odd and difficult. It stands in the ‘in between’ place of the sorrow of Good Friday and the triumph of Easter Sunday. For the disciples, this was a day of disorienting pain and crushing despair. It is fitting to acknowledge and even embrace that.

So, on this Holy Saturday, our action step is not really an action at all. It is a challenge to contemplate the cross. Resist the temptation to rush ahead to the joy of tomorrow. Sit in the ‘in between’ of today. Imagine the response of the disciples. Envision the shadow over the city. Remember the sacrifice of Jesus, what he endured, what it means for you. Contemplate the cross.

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Holy Week follows Jesus through his final days and to the cross. The gravity of the moment calls for a change of pattern. This week, our Scripture passages will be longer and my reflections will be shorter. I encourage you to change your pace, if needed, and move slowly through the Gospel’s eyewitness account of the events of Holy Week.

PRAYER

Jesus,

We have walked with you through this Gospel,

along the road of discipleship.

We have witnessed your miraculous strength,

your brilliant teaching,

and your way of love.

And now, our journey with you takes a downward turn.

We will still follow you,

on this way to the cross.

Amen.

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 27:11-56

Jesus Before Pilate
¹¹ Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

¹² When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. ¹³ Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” ¹⁴ But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

¹⁵ Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd.¹⁶ At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” ¹⁸ For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.

¹⁹ While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dreambecause of him.”

²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

²¹ “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

²² “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

²³ “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

²⁵ All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”

²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

²⁷ Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. ²⁸ They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, ²⁹ and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.³⁰ They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. ³¹ After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

³² As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. ³³ They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).³⁴ There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. ³⁵ When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. ³⁶ And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. ³⁷ Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

³⁸ Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁹ Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” ⁴¹ In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ⁴² “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴ In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus

⁴⁵ From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. ⁴⁶ About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

⁴⁷ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ⁴⁹ The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

⁵⁰ And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

⁵¹ At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split ⁵² and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³ They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

⁵⁴ When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

⁵⁵ Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. ⁵⁶ Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

REFLECTION
The cross of Jesus is the pivot point of salvation.

And as it comes into view, he does not shrink back. He sets his face toward the cross and walks with resolve to his death and our life.

Our liberation comes to us through the triumphant suffering of Christ. As the pioneer drags his cross down the way of sorrows, he carves a path of victory. Each step he stumbles toward death is a strike at sin and shame. Each drop of blood a Red Sea parting.

I often grapple with the question, “If God is love, why would He allow suffering?”

That is a fair question.

Worthy of the wrestle.

But on Good Friday there’s another that brings a deeper mystery.

“If God is not love, why would He suffer for us?”

The words “Love your enemies” sound radical enough from a Teacher on a hillside. But seeing them embodied by God on a cross?

That’s a revolution.

PRAYER

Jesus,

Thank you.

Amen.

RESPONSE

There is only one response to the catastrophe of the cross. We receive it, we embrace it, and we are more grateful than we can ever say.

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Holy Week follows Jesus through his final days and to the cross. The gravity of the moment calls for a change of pattern. This week, our Scripture passages will be longer and my reflections will be shorter. I encourage you to change your pace, if needed, and move slowly through the Gospel’s eyewitness account of the events of Holy Week.

PRAYER

Jesus,

We have walked with you through this Gospel,

along the road of discipleship.

We have witnessed your miraculous strength,

your brilliant teaching,

and your way of love.

And now, our journey with you takes a downward turn.

We will still follow you,

on this way to the cross.

Amen.

SCRIPTURE

Jesus Arrested

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” ⁴⁹ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

⁵² “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³ Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶ But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin

⁵⁷ Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. ⁵⁸ But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

⁵⁹ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. ⁶⁰ But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

Finally two came forward ⁶¹ and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

⁶² Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” ⁶³ But Jesus remained silent.

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

⁶⁴ “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. ⁶⁶ What do you think?”

“He is worthy of death,” they answered.

⁶⁷ Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him ⁶⁸ and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”

Peter Disowns Jesus

⁶⁹ Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.

⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

⁷¹ Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁷² He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

⁷³ After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”

⁷⁴ Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

REFLECTION

Betrayed with a kiss from one of his own.

Arrested by a mob with swords and clubs.

Denied by the man who said he would die for him.

Falsely accused by the religious experts and leaders.

Framed for blasphemy for telling (and being) the Truth.

“Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, ‘Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?’”

But do not be dismayed. In the thick of what looks like the utter end, Jesus is in complete control. They have the swords and clubs and mob. They have the schemes and conspiracies. They have the political and religious power, pulling the levers and executing injustice. But Jesus is in control. Just look again at his words:

52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”

He sees the story and where it will turn. He is the author. He is the director. He is the lead role. The Protagonist is driving the story.

One more note for today. To see Jesus in this scene, in contrast with all the forces moving against him, I’m jolted back to our exploration of the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount (see Day 11).

Read them again in light of today’s Scripture:

Matthew 5:3-11

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

That describes Jesus! He is not just preaching it, he is showing us how to live this out. And here is an excerpt from the reflection on the entry from that day (Day 11):

The Beatitudes of Jesus stand against the systems and critique the power structures of this world. Admittedly, these seem more poetic than practical. Taking these words at face value seems reckless, at best.

But where is the power, really? Which is the true ‘show of strength.’ Who actually seems intimidated, threatened, and afraid?

This is what the Beatitudes are like. A cause that has no hope of succeeding. Yet, somehow, against all odds, the future belongs to those who will follow in the better narrow way and awaken the imagination of those who can’t see it yet. Jesus is inviting you to become a picture of the Beatitudes in the culture, time, and place in which you live.

I’m struck by how true Jesus is to his own words (not surprised, but struck, pierced, moved), under the most tragic of circumstances. He is the image of the Kingdom. These are not mere ideas or ideals. They are a Person, who lives them out to the brutal end.

PRAYER

Jesus,

As the events of Holy Week unfold,

We see you surrounded by chaos,

Engulfed in the gathering storm,

Yet in complete control.

We respond with awe

And renewed trust.

Amen.

RESPONSE

What stands out to you about today’s Scripture and reflection? What do you see?

What reactions and responses are stirred up by this passage? Emotions? Commitments? Questions?

Walk through the Beatitudes listed above (Matthew 5:3-11), line by line. Connect each one to Jesus’ actions, posture, and words in today’s Scripture text. Record or share any observations or surprises about what you found.

Jesus is in control, despite the tragic circumstances surrounding him. How does this relate to your own life? Your chaos? Your fears? Your loved ones?

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