Devotions

In John 20, we read the story of Mary Magdalene, who epitomizes the Bride whose heart is totally given to Christ. Apparently a woman of means, she ministered to the needs of Jesus with love and affection along with the other Mary’s in his life. She did this out of sheer gratitude, for the Bible says Jesus had cast out seven demons from her (see Luke 8:2).

As far as the world was concerned, Mary Magdalene was not an intellectual, and when the male disciples discussed deep theological things, she probably kept her thoughts to herself. Women of that day rarely spoke openly of spiritual matters in the presence of men. But Mary had something these learned intellectuals did not have — yes, something even deeper than Jesus’ disciples. She had a revelation!

“On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb” (John 20:1). Mary had gone to the tomb very early in the morning, while the others were still asleep. When she found the tomb empty, she ran to find Peter and John, but after a while, when they saw that Jesus was no longer there, they went back to business as usual (see 20:2-10).

But not Mary! She wept as her spirit cried, “This world is intolerable without Jesus! I can’t go home without knowing where he is.” She was determined to stand there, gazing into the tomb, until her breaking heart was satisfied. “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him” (20:13).

Mary would not let go. Her devoted heart could be satisfied only by Jesus — he was her life! And sure enough, her devotion brought a wonderful revelation. While the other disciples rested in their homes, Mary had a visitation of the divine, seeing things nobody else could see — because her heart was given to Jesus (see 20:11-17).

The New Testament is so exciting — it shows us that Jesus was the exact representation of the Father and when we see Jesus, we see exactly what God is like. So full of love, grace, mercy, power, truth and righteousness! The Word of God tells us that we have taken on his divine nature because of the presence of Jesus in us.

“His divine power has granted us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world” (2 Peter 1:3-4).

Can you imagine living a life without ever experiencing fear or terror at night? Or shame, guilt, condemnation, or a sense of unworthiness? What would your life be like with no stress or anxiety? Just think of it — and then grasp the truth that you are free from the bondage of these things because of who you are in Christ.

We are meant to live like Jesus. When we sin, it grieves the heart of the Father, of course, but the Holy Spirit convicts us and when we repent, Jesus forgives us and breaks every chain! We may not be walking in total victory at all times, but we are “pressing toward the prize” because Jesus dwells in us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14).

The death and resurrection of Jesus are central truths of our Christian faith. The miraculous resurrection of Jesus gives assurance to Christians that he really is the Son of God. 

“Jesus said to [Martha], ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’” (John 11:25-26). And my question for you is, do you believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life?

It is common practice at Easter to sing songs that proclaim the glorious resurrection of our Savior. Lyrics such as, “He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!” ring out in traditional Christian churches across our land as voices are lifted in exuberant praise.

Again we are preparing our hearts to bow before him and rejoice in his victory over death. My former crusade soloist Dallas Holm composed a classic Easter song entitled Rise Again that contains the lyrics, “Yes, I’ll rise again! Ain’t no power on earth can tie Me down. Yes, I’ll rise again! Death can’t keep Me in the ground.” But Dallas ends the song with these words: “Yes, I’ll come again. Come to take My people back.”

Jesus defeated the power of sin and death and because God raised Jesus from the dead, we, too, have reason to believe that we will be raised to live in God’s presence forever. Because he lives, we shall live with him!

During this wonderful season, we should do more than look back on the triumphant event of Christ’s coming out of the tomb. While that is enough to make us rejoice with full hearts, we also have the hope of being united with him in heaven forever — a truth that is not easy to grasp. As the Holy Spirit gives us revelation, may we allow hope to grip our hearts and renew our anticipation of living with him eternally. 

I believe the greatest devotion of the Christian is practiced on the front lines, in the heat of battle, with fires raging all around. In fact, I know many believers whose devotion has been strengthened in the midst of hectic activity and spiritual warfare. They don’t have to be on a mountaintop to love him with a whole heart; they don’t need to live in some isolated village to yearn for his coming. They have learned to love Jesus as passionately during their drive to work as when they are in their prayer closet.

Beloved, your sense of Jesus’ nearness to you cannot depend on your feelings. When you feel down, depressed and blue and do not have time to seek the Lord, the devil will flood you with feelings of guilt and unworthiness. You may think Jesus has left you and is saying, “I’ll come back when you have time for me.” But the nearness of Jesus is maintained by faith! It has nothing to do with your feelings.

When someone is pushing or shoving you on the subway or in an elevator, just whisper to him, “Oh, God, I believe by faith that you are here, very near to me. Protect me, Lord. Keep me and don’t let the junk of the world seep into my system.”

Those who truly love him yearn for his company, no matter how hectic things get. Devotion to Jesus means trusting him alone for every need — body, soul and spirit. When you are suffering in your soul, run to Jesus — do not seek answers from any other source. 

The Bride of Christ will be comprised of those who have given up trying to find help, solace, comfort or satisfaction from anything on this earth. They have learned to depend wholly on the One they love to fully satisfy their every hunger and thirst. Stay passionately in love with Jesus — and trust him to manifest himself in his fullness to you.

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44).

The Bride of Christ is to live in continual, joyful expectation of his imminent return because he may come at any moment. Jesus warned, however, that in the last days evil ministers will infiltrate the Church in an effort to put the Bride to sleep. They will attempt to take away her heart of love for her Bridegroom by claiming, “[The] Master is delaying his coming” (24:48).

This gospel is preached by men who do not want to pay the price of obeying Christ’s commands. They have sinful habits and lead double lives, so naturally they do not want Jesus to come back. Therefore, they have concocted their own doctrine to justify their continuing in sin. The Bible says that those who claim Jesus has delayed his coming are “evil servants” (see 24:48).

Beloved, do not let such teaching persuade you. It leads to awful worldliness and results in the fading of any motivation for holy living, of any passion for Jesus. Some compromising Christians say, “Why should I live expecting him to come if I’m going to die a normal death? I can do as I please and live it up — partying and carousing! And, like the thief on the cross, I’ll cry out to him just before I die, ‘Lord, have mercy!’”

I encourage you to look for his coming! If you are a part of the Bride of Christ, you will be so homesick for your Lord that you won’t be able to wait to see him! You will cry out, “Lord, I am ready for your return. I know you’re near — I can sense it — and I can hardly wait to see you. My heart cries out within me, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom is coming.’ Even so come, Lord Jesus!”