simplelife

We've come to the end of John's gospel and the end of the Easter 2025 blog.  So what happens after the resurrection? On the first day of the week, Jesus has met Mary Magdalene. Yet the disciples are skeptical of her eyewitness account. Then  Jesus approaches the disciples in a personal and loving way , affirming that he is alive and that he still cares about them. Now they have a story to tell -> Good News for the whole world. This will spread and transform history. The resurrection of Jesus will render public sacrifices and temple rituals obsolete. The disciples will be persecuted and sent into foreign lands. And history will mark the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as a pivotal event. What a gracious way to give his followers purpose and next steps. Jesus tenderly speaks his peace and comfort over the shell-shocked disciples. He gives them hope and an assignment: go tell everyone what you have experienced, in the power of the Holy Spirit. On the evening of that fi...

Jesus has died and been buried. The Sabbath has come and gone. I can't imagine what the disciples are feeling as they perform the rituals of the holy day of rest. All their expectations of Jesus as Messiah are dashed and their future is grim. Jesus is dead. Yet they keep the laws of the Sabbath day. Early the next morning, the women go to the tomb with spices ... but the grave is empty and the corpse is missing. The heavy stone in front of the tomb has been rolled away. Mary runs to find the disciples with terrible news: the body of Jesus has disappeared! Their hopes are washed away. There are 4 scriptural accounts of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Typically for eyewitnesses, they emphasize different parts of what is happening. Click on any of the links to read more. Matthew (the disciple who used to be a tax collector) emphasizes the kingdom of God in his writings. Mark (traveling with Peter and familiar to the early Church) records action and events. Luke (the belo...

Jesus really dies. His death is brutal, carried out by experienced soldiers who know how to execute criminals. At the time, there is no doubt that his crucifixion is effective and final. Here's how the eyewitnesses remember it. (John 19:16-42) Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.  Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).  There they crucified him, and with him two others – one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read:  jesus of nazareth ,  the king of the jews .  Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.  The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, ‘Do not write “The King of the Jews”, but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.’ Pilate answered, ‘What I have wri...

When the Pharisees and other national leaders take Jesus to the Roman governor, they are looking for the worst punishment they can inflict, a cruel and painful death . Here are the details, from  John 18:28-19:16: Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.  So Pilate came out to them and asked, ‘What charges are you bringing against this man?’ ‘If he were not a criminal,’ they replied, ‘we would not have handed him over to you.’ Pilate said, ‘Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.’ ‘But we have no right to execute anyone,’ they objected.  This took place to fulfil what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die. > This is hardly a trial that seeks justice. Rather, it is a conspiracy to execute someone who threatens the power base and status quo. The reli...

The apostle John records one of the strangest events in human history. God is betrayed by his inner circle, one of his best friends, and those responsible to fairly enforce the law he has given Israel. Each time I read this, I am gripped by the injustice of it. Jesus has warned Judas and Peter that they will fail him. He knows what lies ahead. Neither his mock trial nor the desertion of his disciples will take him by surprise. Here's how John tells the story (18:1-27):  When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.  So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked...

Jesus prays for 3 things in John 17. First, for himself. Then for his disciples. Then for those of us who will come into his Family. He doesn't pray for his own exaltation, but that God himself will be glorified through his obedience. After Jesus said this, he looked towards heaven and prayed:  ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.   For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ' Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.   I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.   And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.' > Could you pray as Jesus prayed? Do you bring God glory by finishing the world He has given you to do? > Then Jesus prays for his disciples, knowing that they need divine help and comfort. He lets his d...