April 1 You Are Redeemed

John 20:1-10 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. 2 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!" 3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.

YES! The tomb is empty! Is not this exactly what Jesus told his disciples would happen? But look. They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes. Why did Peter and John not know? Why did they go home? Why not go tell the other disciples? Mary Magdalene had come to tell them. She didn’t go home when she saw the empty tomb. Why are these two disciples from Jesus’ inmost circle eagerly searching for the risen Christ?
    Could fear, guilt and shame have been ruling their hearts? Were they still afraid of the authorities? Likely, Peter felt the deep guilt of denying Jesus. Maybe both men were ashamed they had not been more faithful to protect Jesus when he needed them.
    It’s true, isn’t it? Even when we cannot control events, fear, guilt and shame will quickly intrude into our lives. These binding emotions isolate us from people we love. Tragically, these feelings will keep us “at home” to even avoid seeking Jesus. Possibly, John and Peter thought, “He’s alive. But we don’t want to face him.” I don’t know about their hearts. But I do know we all have felt very unworthy of Jesus. We cannot see that “the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7c) 
    We thank God, then that Jesus would go to these two and the other nine disciples. He lived into his teaching, “I came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10b) The Living Lord sought his lost disciples. He would redeem their fears into faith, their guilt into forgiveness, their shame into joy. Transformed in Jesus’ resurrection, Peter, John and the others will boldly proclaim to a fearful, guilty world, “He is risen!”
    Do you want to live a confident redeemed life with Jesus? Give to Jesus your fears. Hand over your guilt. Bundle up your shame. Jesus will throw them all away. Eagerly, know Jesus seeks you. In turn, seek Jesus each day, ready to receive his tender care.
    Yes, the tomb is empty. Fill your heart with the Lord’s grace and peace. In Jesus’ blood, you are redeemed.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that you have sought after my soul. You have welcomed me into your grace and truth. I love you. You are alive in me, and I rejoice! Amen.