Luke 1:8-10 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the LORD and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
 
ZECHARIAH is a priest in Israel. Zechariah and his division are on duty at the temple in Jerusalem for one week a year. The priests used the lot, a Spirit-guided process of discerning whom God is choosing for his work. God had commanded Israel to distribute the land by lot (Numbers 26 and 34). Our LORD’s purpose was to guarantee an equitable distribution of the land. God had long before chosen Zechariah to go into God’s presence. There he would burn incense and offer prayers for his people. To be so close to God should cause one to quickly bow down in fear and reverence. God had ordained Zechariah to this position on that day, and he obeyed.
    Do you know God has ordained you to be a priest? The apostle John writes to the early church this stunning description of Jesus’ transforming power: Revelation 1:4-8 John,To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,  5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
    What does it mean to be a priest to serve God in Jesus’ church? Here are some thoughts: The Old Testament priests offered animal and crop sacrifices. We do not offer these, but we are to offer our lives as living sacrifices to Christ. We must sacrifice our desires, to instead, put him first in our lives. We sacrifice and offer our time and gifts to strengthen Jesus’ church. We sacrifice money to give to God for his purposes. We may be called to give space in our home to welcome strangers, give food to feed the unknown, offer clothes to cover the naked, and speak words to comfort the afflicted.
    Perhaps most of all, our priestly duty as a Christian is to intercede in prayer for all. We pray for our pastors, our church, our neighbors, our family, our nation, our leaders and our world. A priest in Christ models Jesus, who is our great High Priest (See Hebrews 7.)
    Zechariah dutifully honored God with his body, faithful to his “lot in life”, the privilege of serving God. He met with God and prayed for the nation. Will you submit to God and be dutiful to be a priest of the New Covenant?  
 
Prayer: Oh, thank you, Father for choosing me to be yours. Grant to me a holy reverence for my role as a priest for you. In Jesus’ name, amen.  

Luke 1:5-7 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

LUKE makes several references in his gospel – and in Acts – to secular rulers to help authenticate the history of God’s work among us. There were many Herod’s ruling different parts of Israel at different times. This one is Herod the Great, who ruled in Jerusalem 37-4 BC. This indicates Jesus was born in 7-6 BC. The birth of Jesus is typically dated in BC (Before Christ). This is because of a complex adjustment in the 500’s to the calendar used then.
    From the earliest years of the church, some false teachers tried to teach that Jesus was only a spirit, or Jesus was simply a man surrounded by myth. It was essential then for Theophilus – and all friends of God – to know the evidence of the incarnate God come to earth in full physical form. Our salvation is only possible because Jesus was fully man and fully God.
    Then Luke introduces a husband and wife very similar to the description of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 12. God had formed them to live in faith with him. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.
    To be blameless before God, does not mean they were sinless. It does mean they diligently sought to learn, love and live God’s law. To be blameless before God is to strive to obey the great command of Moses’ law: Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the LORD (Adonai) your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. This couple devoted their lives to the truth.
    But something was wrong. In Israel, a marriage without a son was incomplete, seen by some as a curse. A son was vital to carry forward the father’s name, his land, and his work.
    Does God work all things, good and difficult, to his purpose? Often we can find it a challenge to believe Paul’s Spirit-inspired words in Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. We will often find it difficult to see the good God is doing in our everyday lives and especially in troubled times. But the LORD had a good plan for Zechariah’s and Elizabeth’s marriage.
    God will use this couple to be among the many revelations of the gospel’s transforming power. From Elizabeth’s barren womb will come a voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3)
 

Luke 1:1-4 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the Word. 3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
 
 LUKE was a physician and a historian. His profession was based on true evidence and order. In Acts he addressed the early history of the church to Theophilus, and we have learned much from his evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work among the apostles and evangelists.
    Before he wrote Acts, Luke wrote this account of Jesus’ life to Theophilus. “Theophilus” means “friend of God”. This could have been a particular Jewish man given that name for his faith in the God of Abraham. Or Luke may have addressed this to a group of Jews and Gentiles who wanted to know more of Jesus. Dear reader, you can even understand this biography of Jesus is addressed to you. You are a friend of God, aren’t you?
    Please remember as you read through these lessons that Luke is writing as an informed historian. As is true with Matthew, Mark and John, Luke had personally experienced and witnessed Jesus’ transforming power. He also learned from “eyewitnesses and servants of the Lord faithfully administering Jesus’ gospel in Jerusalem, Judea, Macedonia and Rome.
    Yes, all Scripture is inspired to teach you of God, (1 Timothy 3:16). It is correct to know Luke’s words come from the Word and are about the Word. And the Spirit wants the Word to come to you so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
    The Bible is God’s very personal history – “his story” – for your education to point your heart to God’s salvation.
    Luke is an orderly story to help us know the entire life span of the incarnate Son of God. Read the gospel and be a witness of God’s grace through the Son. This will help you reflect Jesus to the world. When you know Luke’s words, you will become a more purposeful eyewitness of Jesus’ power that reveals a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11)

John 21:4-6 As the sun was rising, Jesus stood at the water’s edge, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then he asked them, “Young men, haven’t you caught anything?” “Not a thing,” they answered. 6 He said to them, “Throw your net out on the right side of the boat, and you will catch some.”
 
DOES Jesus stand close by you, but you don’t recognize him? The disciples were busy at their work, but they were unsuccessful. Then Jesus comes to help.
    Does he mock them or ask them what’s wrong? No. He knows what’s wrong. So Jesus began with a question to affirm he is aware of their circumstance. Then he responded with help. “Throw your net out on the right side of the boat, and you will catch some.”
    Being Jesus’ disciple means we listen to the Master when he speaks. His words are always helping words, even when he may be rebuking us for lack of faith or understanding!
    Jesus is Son of Man, and he knows what is wrong with mankind. He spoke us into life to bear God’s image. He witnessed the Fall. He then came to correct the wrong, to cast our nets into the truth of his salvation. He knows that sin, as on that day, keeps his disciples from knowing him. So he came that day to give his disciples a way to live into his resurrection authority.
    “Throw your net out on the right side of the boat, and you will catch some.” is a command that applies to much more than fishing. This is Jesus’ urging them – and us – to love God, to live life to the full. We will truly become “fishers of men”. (Mark 1:17) when we listen to the Lord’s call for true and righteous living.
    Now let’s listen to Jesus’ “full life” words to Peter: John 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”  19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me!”
    See the Lord’s love for his disciples. Hear his compassion and command to the heart-broken, misdirected Peter. And know this: the Lord’s restoring words for Peter are also for you. He wants you to hear his love, his forgiveness, his urgings, and his passion. He wants you to speak your love. And Jesus wants you to live your love for him. To affirm the truth of, “Lord, you know I love you.” Peter and all of us must live into the risen Lord’s gracious words that honor us with the opportunity to love and to serve him.
    You can hear Jesus’ abundant love speak from the Bible through his Helper, the Holy Spirit. We have many opportunities to meet Jesus with Bible reading, Bible study, church attendance and prayer. Serve God’s people. Serve those who don’t know him. Be of faith to believe the Lord’s will is directing you to a full life in his commands.
   
Resurrection Truth: Jesus is “on the shore” available to help you. Listen. Know he is your friend, your Lord, your Savior.

John 20:24-29 Now Thomas (called Didymus), 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 it.” 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.”
 
WHAT do you require to confess, “My Lord and my God?” Thomas put his finger in Jesus’ wounds. Doubting Thomas became Determined Thomas. All of his senses – touch, hearing, sight and smell –affirmed he was with the risen Christ! As Mary Magdalene had exclaimed, “Rabboni!” Thomas also exclaimed his belief in the risen Jesus.
    When you truly know you follow the Lord of all Creation, God of the Universe, is there anything that can keep you from his purpose for your life? In that moment, Thomas was born again. His life became a purposeful journey into teaching the world, “Jesus is the Living Lord.” A monument stands in Chennai, India, today remembers Thomas’ work to plant the gospel see there and in six other Indian villages in southwestern India. Millions of Christians in India confess Jesus, “My Lord and my God.” because the Doubter became the Determined Evangelist. Willing to give all of himself to his Lord, his God, Thomas’ legacy lives forever.       Is your habit to announce, “Jesus is my Lord and my God?” Such a confession tells your Lord and your church you commit to his Lordship. You trust his sovereign reign over your life.  
    Nearly 3,000 years ago, God spoke to Israel through the prophet Isaiah to strengthen them: Isaiah 43:1-3a But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
    Receive these words as God’s encouragement and promise for you today. You didn’t choose the Lord. He chose you, O Christian, to live into his purpose for you: John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”
    Take heart and be faithful to know your Lord and your God will keep you with him forever.
   
Resurrection Truth: Your Lord and Your God has made you his holy possession. 

John 20:19-23 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, 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 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

NOW it’s time for the risen Lord to change the disciples’ disbelief into a devoted, worshipful faith. Several times Jesus had told his disciples, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” (Luke 18:31-33)
    Jesus’ words of his suffering and death proved painfully true. But still the disciples did not expect he will rise again would really happen! Do you think they should all have quickly gone to the tomb on the morning of the third day? Wouldn’t they have wanted to witness the Son of Man’s return to life? Death’s darkness had completely blocked their spiritual vision.
    Thankfully, Jesus did not let them remain in the darkness. He walked through the locked doors to unlock their faith. The incarnate God breathed on his chosen messengers to say, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”  
    God’s breath brings life to man. Recall God's creative work over Adam: Genesis 2:7 The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Now the risen Savior’s breath illustrates life in Jesus new creation: Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. How precious to know we are created in Christ Jesus – formed in the image of God to reveal God to his world.
    Jesus endowed the disciples with the Holy Spirit. With the same power that created the world, God re-created these chosen men into his anointed, life-giving apostles. In 50 days they would receive the Spirit’s additional power to speak the gospel and perform miracles, signs and wonders.
    God’s grace to forgive our sins is the essential point of our salvation. To forgive others is also essential for all Christians, new in Christ. We can imagine the apostles would see many people as enemies. Jesus wanted to emphasize he called them to see all as people who needed to know Jesus’ resurrection into is the assurance of eternal life. The apostles had Jesus’ commands and a Great Commission to obey. They needed the Spirit’s power and the Son’s leading to fulfill their destiny.
      
Resurrection Truth: 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  

John 20:10-18 Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11 but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 “Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking 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.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 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.’” 18 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.
 
OUR Lord Jesus has suffered inexpressible anguish and pain on the cross. That’s all gone now! There is no pain, no sorrow, no heartache, and no empty hearts. Only the tomb is empty! Our risen Lord has come to Mary. She is the first messenger to reveal Jesus is the risen Savior of the world!
    Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad! (Psalm 14:7)
    The Lord has acted. The Lord has spoken. The Lord is risen. The gates of Hell will not overcome (Mathew 16:18) this good news. Satan head is crushed. (Genesis 3:15) In Jesus eternal life reigns.
    How joyful Mary was she had stayed at the tomb! She was persistent to seek Jesus’ body. She found the Living King! How exceedingly glad she and other women were!
    They were so glad, they went and told a message no one would believe. The women became the first missionaries, the first emissaries to represent the risen Christ. Ah, Mary, your grief was enormous. Your joy so much greater! You know what is true. It didn’t matter what anyone said to you, you knew the truth. You saw, heard and held tightly to the risen Lord! You knew in your heart the joy of worshiping the resurrected Jesus Christ! No one could stop you from telling, “Jesus is alive!”
    
Resurrection Truth: Psalms 92:1 It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, 2 to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.

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.
 
THE Lord is risen! The burial cloths have no use. Is not this exactly what Jesus told them would happen? It is. But they still didn’t understand “he must rise from the dead”. So Peter and John looked around. Then they went back to their homes.  
    It is easy to wonder about this. What did they do when they went home? Why didn’t they go tell the other disciples or go tell the good news to the Jerusalem crowds. There were thousands who seven days earlier had praised, “Hosanna. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”? Wouldn’t  they want to know He is risen?
    The faithful, redeemed Mary Magdalene had come to tell them. She didn’t go home when she saw the empty tomb. Mary still doesn’t go home as noted in the next reading. Why did two of Jesus’ inner circle go home?
    Were they still afraid of the authorities? Was it impossible even for these two who had seen so many miracles, for Peter who had walked on water, to believe the crucified one is alive? These two had even seen Jesus in his heavenly form talking with Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration (Mark 9). In their human view of Jesus, these men who had experienced so much of Jesus could not comprehend the resurrection.
    Jesus had come out of the grave. Now he needed to get his disciples out of the house. In the hours and days to come, they would witness the truth and the power of Jesus’ resurrection. This truth would set them free to boldly preach, “Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed…12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10, 12)
    It was time to get out of the house to follow the risen Jesus. John, Peter and  the other disciples had to overcome debilitating fear. He would show them how.  
 
Resurrection Truth: Full faith builds Jesus’ church: Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.  19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

John 19:38-40 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.

THIS is the third time John brings Nicodemus into the gospel account. Joseph is mentioned once in each gospel. He and Nicodemus were two Pharisee’s who wanted to learn from Jesus. Perhaps Jesus of Nazareth is the true Messiah!
    Nicodemus’ questions to Jesus in John 3 led to two of Jesus’ most quoted truths: John 3:3 “No one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.” and John 3:16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.”
    Nicodemus had gone to Jesus because the Spirit had stirred a spark of faith in him and others: John 3:2b “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”  Now what did Nicodemus believe as he prepared to bury the body of the one who had come from God. Do you think he remembered Jesus’ promise of new life?
 
John 3:4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
    Then again Nicodemus asked, “How can this be?” (John 3:9) Jesus responded with the essence of faith, “I am telling you the truth.” (John 3:11)
    From that day on Nicodemus must have struggled with the truth. He must have studied the Law further. Perhaps he read the prophets again and began to understand the Truth was in Israel.
    What was on Joseph’s and Nicodemus’ minds as they prepared the Teacher’s body for burial? Were they, as so many of Jesus’ followers, disappointed and doubting the truth now? Had they lost hope?
    Or did Nicodemus and Joseph anticipate resurrection? Were they wondering about being born again? Was there, somewhere in their minds, hearts and souls an understanding that something new and wonderful was about to happen? Did a light flicker? Did the power of their encounter with Jesus help them to keep their faith in the Teacher’s words?
    Jesus has more to offer than we can see. Jesus has taught us to be faithful. The light of his life flames into eternal truth far beyond our questions and even far beyond death. Nicodemus and Joseph are about to learn much more about the one who has come from God. 
 
Resurrection Truth: Stay with Jesus when it seems the broken cannot be repaired.    
 

John 19:31-37 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,”  37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”

THE Jewish authorities’ cruelty is too horrible to understand. These men were not used to condemning people to die. Jesus’ truth had stirred a deep hatred in their heart against God’s Son. These murderous leaders convicted Jesus in a sham trial. They forced Pilate, the Roman governor, to crucify Jesus. Their jealous eyes watched the Teacher scourged, and they delighted in his crucifixion. Now to be sure Jesus is dead they instruct the centurions to break his legs.
    In a great irony, this final insult is to preserve the sanctity of the Sabbath. Then they could “religiously” celebrate the Passover within the Laws of Moses. Did they ever think they were killing the Living Word, the One who authored and fulfilled the law, the one who made the law perfect by his love?
    That day the Jews’ rulers displayed the hypocrisy of their position. Entrusted and commissioned with upholding the law, they had broken several laws regarding the arrest, trial and judgment of an accused man. Matthew records Jesus condemned these men eight times with, “You  hypocrites!” Hypocrisy is a great crime against God. Be sure you do as you say and live as you confess.
    But God had another plan from eternity past. His Son was already dead on the cross. His leges were not broken. Another prophecy regarding the Messiah is fulfilled. The Passover Lamb met God’s requirements. God keeps his own Law.
    And then Jesus’ side is pierced. This is evidence, my friends, clear and concise, that Jesus had died. Turn away the swoon theories and other lies doubters use to make the resurrection a farce, and look to the dead body of our Savior. He must pass through death to become the Living Lord. God wants you to clearly know that his Son is dead on a cross. We must mourn and know our sin is the cause of Jesus’ misery foretold in Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Living a resurrected life is to grieve that our sin caused Jesus, the Son of God, to die for us.
 
Resurrection Truth: Your sin is now dead when you confess Jesus died on a cross.