April 2004

Daily Devotionals

Monday 5 April 2004

John 20:4-8

And the two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter, and came to the tomb first; and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. Simon Peter therefore also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he beheld the linen wrappings lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb entered then also, and he saw and believed.

(What was it that John saw which made him believe?

The Greek word that has been translated above as “rolled up” comes from two Greek words meaning “to entwine, ie. wind up in: - wrap in (together).” The face cloth was similar to a large bandage that was wrapped around and around the head of the deceased person so that the entire head and face was covered by the cloth. When John looked at where Jesus had been laid in the tomb he saw that the face cloth was still wound up as if enclosing the head and the linen wrappings were lying where the rest of the body of Jesus had been. It was as if the body of Jesus had simply evaporated out of the burial wrappings.

John was the first person to believe that Jesus had risen. Love gave him eyes to read the signs and a mind to understand. Love can grasp the truth when the intellect is left groping and uncertain. I cannot understand Jesus or help others unless I take my heart to Jesus as well as my mind.)

Tuesday 6 April 2004

John 20:16

Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

(Mary’s grief had blinded her to Jesus and she was looking in the wrong direction. 

I cannot truly meet Jesus until I discover He is alive and His tomb is empty. Christianity does not mean knowing about Jesus – it means knowing Him.)

Wednesday 7 April 2004

John 20:21

Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

(Jesus was God’s perfect messenger because He was perfectly obedient and loving. Jesus needs the church to take His message to the world but the church is dependent upon Jesus for power, authority and for support.)

Thursday 8 April 2004

John 20:29

Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

(God is with me by the Holy Spirit – I can talk to God and find His words in the Bible – this is all the proof I need.)

Tuesday 20 April 2004

John 20:31

… but these are recorded so that you will believe that he is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that believing in him you will have life.

(We believe in Him when we:
1.    commit ourselves to Jesus Christ as our Lord and God;
2.    trust in His death to atone for our sins;
3.    follow Him in the way of discipleship)

Wednesday 21 April 2004

John 21:6

Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get plenty of them!"

(God provides for our physical needs and gives us the power and direction to save others.)

Thursday 22 April 2004

John 21:15

He said to him, "Yes Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs".

(I prove that I love Jesus by loving others. I can guard someone from going astray and can feed the lambs of Christ with the food of the Word of God.)

Friday 23 April 2004

Acts 1: 5

… but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.

(by believing in Jesus I can receive His power by the Holy Spirit to be a new person . The Holy Spirit fills us with courage and with strength.)

Tuesday 27 April 2004

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses.

(The Holy Spirit gives us courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability and authority. Witnessing is showing and telling what God has done for us. My whole life must be a witness to the fact that I know and have met Jesus - so I need to live day to day with Jesus.)

Wednesday 28 April 2004

Acts 1:11

This same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.

(History is moving towards a specific point. I must work hard to share the gospel to others so they will be able to share in God's great blessings.)

Thursday 29 April 2004

Acts 1:14

They all joined together constantly in prayer.

(When I face each new day and each new task  I must pray for God's power and guidance rather than rushing in and hoping for the best.

Joining with others to pray brings special blessings.)

Friday 30 April 2004

Acts 1:24

Lord you know everyone's heart.