Thursday, April 3 — Psalm 43, Exodus 38; Matthew 27:45-56
CLICK HERE FOR THE READINGS
S (SCRIPTURE): Matthew 27:50-52
50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52 and tombs opened.
O (OBSERVATION): Jesus physically dies (the breath/spirit has left his body). In this event some earth shattering events take place, the temple curtain is torn in two (as Jesus promised), earthquakes take place, rocks split apart and tombs opened. This is resurrection.
A (APPLICATION): We talk about Jesus' death as if it were just part of the everyday. So often, in christian circles we allude to this event by mere mention. But reading this text today, what an earth shattering event. Maybe a better way to make the imagery clearer is to think of all the TV visualization surrounding the zombie apocalypse. Tombs being opened is a recognition by Matthew to acknowledge death no longer has power. But that event too is not a easy event. Recent events of natural disaster give evidence to the earth shattering (sometimes literal) nature of what happens when the earth shakes, rocks slit, and tombs are opened. I have never experienced an earthquake, a hurricane, a mudslide, or the opening of tombs but there are enough earth shattering events or kairos moments that put me in touch with what this might look like for the day of Jesus' death....they are very real!
God provides an early opening for what is to come. By Jesus death we have a glimpse of resurrection.
P (PRAYER): Lord, as you breathed your last, the world was experiencing a turning. Help us turn toward you in the earth shattering events of our lives.
CLICK HERE FOR THE READINGS
S (SCRIPTURE): Matthew 27:50-52
50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52 and tombs opened.
O (OBSERVATION): Jesus physically dies (the breath/spirit has left his body). In this event some earth shattering events take place, the temple curtain is torn in two (as Jesus promised), earthquakes take place, rocks split apart and tombs opened. This is resurrection.
A (APPLICATION): We talk about Jesus' death as if it were just part of the everyday. So often, in christian circles we allude to this event by mere mention. But reading this text today, what an earth shattering event. Maybe a better way to make the imagery clearer is to think of all the TV visualization surrounding the zombie apocalypse. Tombs being opened is a recognition by Matthew to acknowledge death no longer has power. But that event too is not a easy event. Recent events of natural disaster give evidence to the earth shattering (sometimes literal) nature of what happens when the earth shakes, rocks slit, and tombs are opened. I have never experienced an earthquake, a hurricane, a mudslide, or the opening of tombs but there are enough earth shattering events or kairos moments that put me in touch with what this might look like for the day of Jesus' death....they are very real!
God provides an early opening for what is to come. By Jesus death we have a glimpse of resurrection.
P (PRAYER): Lord, as you breathed your last, the world was experiencing a turning. Help us turn toward you in the earth shattering events of our lives.
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