DAY 1 – APRIL 25

TITLE: “HE BELIEVED”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: John 20:1-20

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: John 20:1-9

KEY VERSE: “Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.” John 20:8

Though the other disciple arrived to the empty tomb first, Peter was the first to go in. When the other disciple went in and saw the cloth folded up by itself, separate from the linen, he believed. He believed because of what he saw.

Doubt is an issue that each one of us must deal with. Later in this passage, Jesus addressed the issue of doubt with Thomas. Jesus knew the doubts Thomas had. The good news is that the doubts of Thomas did not take away the reality that Jesus is alive. When he appeared before Thomas and the other disciples, He addressed the issue of doubt. Knowing the faith struggle Thomas was having and what he had said, the Lord said, “Here, touch my hands.” The Lord knows our struggles with faith and the doubts we have.

Jesus came to help Thomas work through his faith struggles and doubts. He was saying, “Here, touch me and see that it is I.” If you have questions that are stopping you from experiencing the risen Lord today, the Lord knows about it. Jesus, who knows about your faith struggles and doubts, can help you. The word of God was written with a purpose. The purpose of the word of God is not just to give nice religious stories or information about Jesus. The word of God was given to us so we could touch Him by faith. The purpose is so you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Author, C.S. Lewis wrote, “Believing things 'on authority' only means believing them because you have been told them by someone you think trustworthy. Ninety-nine percent of the things you believe are believed on authority. Every historical statement is believed on authority… we believe them simply because people who did see them have left writings that tell us about them; in fact, on authority.” We can believe Jesus is risen from the dead based on the witnesses and the word of God.

In verse 28, Thomas makes a great leap of faith. He acknowledges that Jesus is God. The evidence is clear. Thomas, who had been skeptical, was now convinced Jesus was truly His Lord and God. Thomas believed in Jesus because He saw Jesus face to face.

Scripture tells of five appearances on the one day and then several more spread out over forty days, but there were many who would not seen Jesus face to face. Jesus makes it clear that many who have not seen Him face to face will believe. Do you believe? Faith is not an end in itself. Faith results in life through Christ. The scripture says, “…that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:15-16.

Do you believe? Take the leap of faith today. Surrender your doubts and live in the reality of the Risen Lord.

DAY 2 – APRIL 26

TITLE: “TEARS”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: John 20:1-20

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: John 20:10 -11

KEY VERSE: “…but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb.” John 20:11

Pastor and author, R.A. Torrey, tells of a young woman in England who, many years ago, always wore a golden locket that she would not allow anyone to open or look into. Everyone thought there must be some romance connected with that locket and in that locket must be the picture of the one she loved. The young woman died at an early age and, after her death, the locket was opened. Though everyone wondered whose face would be found within, inside the locket was simply a little slip of paper with these words written upon it, "Whom having not seen, I love."

Mary was in love with Jesus. Her love was expressed through her tears. She stood outside the tomb crying. There are many things in life that can bring tears to our hearts. And, Mary knew that she could bring her tears to Jesus. You can bring your tears to Jesus today, as well. Tears are a language God understands.

Often you wonder why tears come into your eyes,
And burdens seem to be much more than you can bear.
But God is standing near, He sees your falling tears;
And tears are a language God understands.

God sees the tears of a brokenhearted soul;
He sees your tears and hears them when they fall.
God weeps along with man and He takes him by the hand.
Tears are a language God understands.

When grief has left you low, it causes tears to flow
When things have not turned out the way that you had planned.
But God won't forget you, His promises are true;
And tears are a language God understands.

God sees the tears of a brokenhearted soul;
He sees your tears and hears them when they fall.
God weeps along with man and He takes him by the hand;
Tears are a language that my God He understands.

God weeps along with man and He takes him by the hand;
Tears are a language God understands. (sung by Bill & Gloria Gaither)

DAY 3 – APRIL 27

TITLE: “SURPRISE”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: John 20:1-20

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: John 20:12-16

KEY VERSE: “Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).” John 20:16

A three year old, Nicole, was as anxious for Easter to come as she had been for Christmas to come. She picked out a new dress with a new white bonnet. As she and her dad stopped at the store to buy her a new pair of shoes, she said, “I can’t wait for Easter, Daddy!” He asked her, “Do you know what Easter means, honey?” She replied, “Yes” “Well, what does Easter mean?” In her own sweet, three-year-old way, with arms raised, a smile on her face, and at the top of her voice, she said, “Surprise!”

What better word could sum up the meaning of Easter! “Surprise!” “Surprise! There is still hope.” “Surprise! Jesus is more than a prophet.” “Surprise! Jesus is risen from the dead.” “Surprise! Jesus is alive!”

Mary looked into the tomb through her tear-filled eyes. She saw two angels in white inside the tomb. She later turned around and saw Jesus standing there. However, the scripture says she did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus asked, “Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Not recognizing that it was Jesus, she thought he was the gardener. She said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him” Jesus called her name and “she turned toward him and cried out in Aramiac, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).” She recognized who it was. John 20:12-16.

Surprise! Yes, Jesus is alive. Jesus has conquered death. Peter wrote, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” I Peter 1:3. Surprise, Jesus is alive. He lives, He lives.

I serve a risen Savior; He’s in the world today;

I know that He is living, whatever men may say;

I see His hand of mercy; I hear His voice of cheer;

And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian! Lift up your voice and sing;

Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King!

The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find;

None other is so loving, so good and kind.

He lives, He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart. (Alfred Ackley)

DAY 4 – APRIL 28

TITLE: “GO AND TELL”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: John 20:1-20

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: John 20:17

KEY VERSE: “Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” John 20:17

She was on assignment. Jesus had given her a mission to fulfill and a task to complete. She was to go and tell. Instead of holding onto Jesus, she was to go and tell. Jesus wanted her to communicate the truth of the Risen Lord.

In the gospel of Mark, we read of another man who was sent on assignment. He was a recipient of God’s freeing grace. Bound by demons, the Lord had delivered him. As Jesus was getting into the boat to leave, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Listen to what happened. Mark 5:19 records, “Jesus did not let him, but said, ‘Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’” He wanted to stay with the one who had set him free, but Jesus had a task for him to fulfill.

Both Mary and the man delivered by Jesus had a story to tell. If you have had a life-changing encounter with Jesus, you have a story to tell. Will you tell the story of Jesus and what He has done and is doing in your life? Author S. Briscoe said, “A witness is someone who, by explanation and demonstration, gives audible and visible evidence of what he has seen and heard without being deterred by the consequences of his action.”  Will you go and tell what you have heard, seen and experienced in Jesus?

George Sweeting, in his book, The No-Guilt Guide for Witnessing, tells of a man by the name of John Currier who, in 1949, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison. According to the book, he was transferred and paroled to work on a farm near Nashville, Tennessee.

In 1968, Currier's sentence was terminated and a letter bearing the good news was sent to him. But John never saw the letter, nor was he told anything about it. Life on that farm was hard and without promise for the future. Yet, John kept doing what he was told even after the farmer for whom he worked had died. Day by day, year by year, for ten years, this went on, according to George Sweeting. The good news is that somehow a state parole officer learned about Currier's plight, found him, and told him that his sentence had been terminated. He was a free man.

The story would have been different if no one had ever gone and told him that he was free. The story might have been different if someone had told him sooner that he was free. This man was finally freed because someone delivered the important message. Will you go today and tell others about Jesus?

DAY 5 – APRIL 29

TITLE: “I HAVE SEEN THE LORD”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: John 20:1-20

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: John 20:18-20

KEY VERSE: “Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’ And she told them that he had said these things to her.” John 20:18

Imagine what the disciples must have felt when they heard the news. Their whole world began to change as they heard the personal testimony of Mary Magdalene. She gave a first-hand account of what Jesus had said to her. In Isaiah six, the story is told of another who writes of seeing the Lord. Isaiah said, “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.” Isaiah 6:1.

When a traffic accident occurs, an investigating officer obtains the testimony from those involved – and eyewitnesses when available – in order to reconstruct the events which led to the accident. A testimony in a court of law can make a powerful difference and greatly impact the verdict.

A testimony about what God has done and is doing in your life can be very

powerful. The more Christians share their testimonies and talk about how God has intervened and worked in their lives, the more other people will hear of who Jesus is and what He can do in their own life, as well. A real and personal testimony can inspire others to seek God so they can also know the peace and satisfaction that comes to a person who truly gives their life over to God. As one person pointed out, the Christian faith, nearly 2,000 years old with two billion adherents worldwide, owes its very existence to the power of testimony.

Your testimony can make a difference. Will you prayerfully look for opportunities to tell your testimony today? Take a few moments to reflect on the words of this song by Baynard L. Fox.

I’ll tell the world, that I’m a Christian, I’m not ashamed, His name to bear;
I’ll tell the world, that I’m a Christian, I’ll take Him with me anywhere.

I’ll tell the world how Jesus saved me, and how He gave me a life brand new;
And I know that if you trust Him, that all He gave me, He’ll give to you.

I’ll tell the world that He’s my Saviour, No other one could love me so;
My life, my all is His forever, and where He leads me I will go.

For when He comes, and life is over, For those who love Him there’s more to be;
Eyes have never seen the wonders, That He’s preparing, for you and me

Oh, tell the world, that you’re a Christian, Be not ashamed, His name to bear;
Oh tell the world, that you’re a Christian, And take Him with you anywhere.