EMPTY

John 20:1

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.

The Lord sent His Son to earth for an example of who God is, how His love for us can change our lives and ultimately save us from ourselves.  But we just didn’t get it!  How differently this life could have been!  Jesus was the perfect example for us and still is.  Yet we still don’t get it! Either we give way to Satan or we allow Jesus to rule over our lives.  We know that Jesus left this earth still fighting for us, still being willing to give it all for us.  And then as if that wasn’t enough, He came back to us……

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.  ²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” ²⁴ Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”  But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”  ²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”    ²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”  ²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

We don’t have the ability to physically see Jesus but we do have the ability to know Him through His word.  Study, learn, grow and believe!  Really know Him!

Lord I believe!  I don’t have to see You with my eyes because I have seen You in my life.  I am nothing without You working in me.  “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”.  Lord I pray for my family and friends.  I pray they will believe in You by the blessings in their lives.  Amen!