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Signs of the Times

Daddy always said that there would be bad weather at Easter time, and true to form, the temperature dropped drastically overnight, so it was pretty cold this morning. There’s a good reason for the change in weather, of course. Spring. It didn’t catch us by surprise though since we usually watch our favorite weathermen every day and sometimes twice a day to see what the weather forecast is.
 Jesus said to the Pharisees, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.” Matthew16:2-3 NKJV.
 
How can we see the ‘signs of the times,’ as Jesus mentioned? He wants us to recognize what is happening in our lives, rather than just let things happen.
 
We can study what is going on around us, instead of just living life every day, unaware of what is going on around us. We have the tendency to keep our head down, push forward, work hard, stay with the job at hand, caught up in the daily grind. One day we look up and everything has suddenly changed. The kids are grown and gone or the spouse has passed away. Or retirement age has come.
 
Now is not the time to quit, though. Now is the time to start your second life. God has given us the opportunity to live in this day and age where the older ones have a second opportunity. The power of the Holy Spirit will give our physical bodies the resurrection power to do what God has called us to do in these last days.
 
“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”. Romans 8:11.
 
What has the Lord called you to do? There are many ways and places to serve the Lord in your world.
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Jesus Is Alive

JESUS IS ALIVE

I went with the other women, following along the marks on the pathway made by the cross He dragged. Spatters of blood muddied up the pathway. Even from a distance the groans that escaped His mouth sent daggers into my heart.

The men had fled. There was no hope of saving Him, so they saved themselves. But we couldn’t let Him die alone. The soldiers knew they had nothing to fear from us women so they left us alone.

His mother was with us. She had long pondered in her heart the words of Simeon, the day they took Jesus to be dedicated to the Lord. “Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also.” And now she knew. All these years she had kept these things in her heart.

After the soldiers nailed Him to the tree, we stood at His feet, mourning and weeping, until He turned to us. “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children.”

John who truly loved Jesus more than the threat of death stood at the foot of the cross, holding Mary’s arm. Jesus said to him, “John, take care of Mother for me. Mother, John is your son now.”

Jesus only spoke a few words after that. “I am thirsty,” and “It is finished,” then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. And He was gone. The soldiers came by to break His legs, so He would die quicker, but seeing He was dead, they only jabbed the spear into His side. His blood and water ran freely to the
ground.

Joseph of Arimathea secretly begged for His body and buried Jesus in his own new tomb.

On Sunday morning, the other women and I went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ dead body and prepare it, but the stone was rolled back from the entrance and it was empty. Two men in shining white clothing spoke to us, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here. He has risen.”

I remained there weeping while the others ran to tell the disciples. The gardener, I supposed, stepped out. “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Sir, where have you taken His body?” Then He replied, “Mary,” and I knew it was the Lord.

Then I remembered His words, “On the third day, I will rise.”

Jesus is alive. And I believed.