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  He Is Risen!   Read Luke 24 https://www.biblegateway.com/ passage/?search=Luke+24& version=NLT   Luke 24:11-12- But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.   The women who came the tomb to tend and honor Jesus' lifeless, dead body with ointments were startled to find a different experience. The body of Jesus was not there, and they had an encounter with a couple of angels who proclaimed Jesus' resurrection from the dead. The women told this story to the disciples, but the men who had followed Jesus didn't believe what they were hearing. It seemed far too good to be true. In this gospel Peter was only willing to go investigate, but all of the closest, most committed, male followers of Jesus didn't believe the initial report of these reliable witnesses to the truth.   I do...

    Read Matthew 20 https://www.biblegateway.com/ passage/?search=Matthew+20& version=NLT   Matthew 20:24-28- When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”   As Jesus was preparing Himself and His followers for His death on the cross His closest associates were busy going high and asking for special favors. The ten other disciples were indignant only because John, James, and their mother had beaten them to the punch to ask for such special consideration. We see the disciples engaged in a game of "one-u...

  Read Isaiah 29 https://www.biblegateway.com/ passage/?search=Isaiah%2029& version=NLT   Isaiah 29:13, 19- And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote. The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the Lord. The poor will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel .   In 1 Laodicea 2:4 it says, "Don't humble yourself. Don’t stand out. Hide who you are. Blend into the culture as much as possible. Play it safe. Live out your faith as quietly as possible and so no one can see it.” Of course, I'm joking as this isn't a book of the Bible and there is no verse like this! Isaiah declared there was plenty of evidence of the people he was speaking to of having a significant gap between what they said and what they actually did, a gap between their words and deeds. In order to experience "fresh joy" humility and repentance was re...

  Read 2 Chronicles 32 https://www.biblegateway.com/ passage/?search=2+Chronicles+ 32&version=NLT   2 Chronicles 32:7-8; 24-26 -  “Be strong & courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side! He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people. About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill. He prayed to the Lord, who healed him and gave him a miraculous sign. But Hezekiah did not respond appropriately to the kindness shown him, and he became proud. So the Lord’s anger came against him and against Judah and Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah humbled himself and repented of his pride, as did the people of Jerusalem. So the Lord’s anger did not fall on them during Hezekiah’s lifetime.   In this chapter we see a movement from humility to pride and then back to humility. King H...