Several years have passed since our traveler’s experience meeting the Messiah. He has seen many miracles and many hardships. He had know when Jesus had sent him into the world to tell people about what he had seen and heard regarding Jesus, that it would not be easy. Yet there were days when he thought he could not continue on. He often wondered about the other disciples. He had heard stories about them and even the works of a man named Paul. He wondered if they ever felt worn down and hopeless? Yet every time he felt he could not carry on, our traveler recalled the words of his Messiah.
John 16:33 ESV
[33] I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
These words and the presence of his Messiah kept our traveler going. Telling the good news of Jesus everywhere he went. Until the end of his days.
We often feel like we just can’t keep going. We don’t have enough faith to tell one more person about Jesus. We don’t have enough courage to continue on the path He has put before us. We are just too tired to keep trying. The hate against us is so strong. The mockery, so constant. Why talk to people when they don’t believe?
Then the words of Jesus come back to us. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the Earth. Jesus has already overcome it all. I like the thing I saw that said, Jesus has walked on the tops of the waves you thought would bury you. There have been so many waves I thought would bury me, but when I felt I was going under I looked up and I saw the hand of the savior reaching down, that hand has kept me going. I’m sure it has kept many of us going. There’s no promise things will be easy. But He has risen, and because He is risen. We have a reason to keep on trying to trust him to go forward in faith.
This world is hard at times, but God.
John 3:16 ESV
[16] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Category: Devotional
Following the fourth Wiseman- The coming of the Holy Spirit
Our traveler has moved on from the city of Jerusalem. He has walked for several days and has been telling all he has seen and heard as he has followed after the Messiah. As he let’s his camel drink at an oasis he is reminded of his first time seeing Jesus. Standing in water, surrounded by people, with a dove coming down and a loud voice saying the He is God’s son. A voice that sounded like thunder and frightened his camel. As he rests he over hears two men speaking and can’t help but listen in.
Acts 2:1-4 ESV
[1] When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. [2] And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. [3] And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The two men were so excited.
“They spoke even in our language! How could this be anything but a sign from God?”
“Yes. But a sign of what?”
Our traveler smiles and stands up. He walks over to the two strangers, “would you care to hear my story? It might help you understand yours?”
The coming of the Holy Spirit is something that many people overlook. However, I cannot imagine my life without him. The Holy Spirit is our comforter and our friend. He’s the one we talk to when we have confusion or questions. He guides us and helps us. The thing is, even Christians who want to deny that the Holy Spirit is still here are being guided by him, even if they don’t realize it. Because you cannot be a Christian without the guiding of the Holy Spirit. When you are alone at night, reading your Bible and something doesn’t make sense. It is The Holy Spirit who explains it to you within your mind. When there is a situation and you are unsure of how to proceed it Is the Holy Spirit who shows you the right path. We are so very blessed that when Jesus ascended, He didn’t leave us all alone, he left us with His spirit. What a precious gift.
Following the fourth Wiseman- Breakfast on the beach
Our traveler has tried to remain with the disciples ever since the upper room. He lost track of them a couple of times but has now managed to follow them to the sea. They decided to go back to fishing. They don’t know what else to do. He asks if he can join them and they agree. As he works to become used to fishing he sees something that changes his world forever.
John 21:1-7, 9-10, 12 ESV
[1] After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. [2] Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. [3] Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. [4] Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. [5] Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” [6] He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. [7] That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.
[9] When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. [10] Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”
[11] So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.
[12] Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
Our traveler waits at a short distance and watches as the Messiah goes off with one of the disciples. Then He returns and he looks at our traveler and smiles. Our traveler goes to Him and falls to his knees.
“My Lord, you do not know me…”
The Messiah kneels in front of our traveler and takes his face in His hands, “I know you.”
Our traveler’s eyes fill with tears one more time and he is embraced by the Messiah.
“I could not get to you sooner.” Our traveler weeps.
“You have arrived when my Father planned for you to arrive.”
“I was meant to be here?”
“You were meant to go and tell the other Magi who had followed the star all those years ago, what you have seen and heard so they can tell others. Spread this as far and wide as you can travel. You are my traveler, after all.”
Our traveler smiles. In the end. He was not late. He had not missed his chance. He was where his Messiah had always meant for him to be.
In the calling of the deciples all those weeks ago, our traveler had wondered if he too could follow Jesus? Despite his inadequacies. Now, because of the cross he has his answer. Yes. Yes he cam follow him. Yes you can follow Him, more than that, He is calling you to.
Following the fourth Wiseman- the upper room
Our traveler is making his way through the dark and deserted streets of a night where both men and women were afraid of what might come. The Roman’s were searching, convinced someone had stolen the body of the Messiah from the tomb. There was a strict curfew and the deciples were being hunted for questioning. Our traveler is careful to dodge all light from the torches in the city walls as he walks. Suddenly a man bumps into him. They look at each other in fear. Then they realize that they are in safe company. Our traveler recognizes the man as one of the Messiah’s followers. The other man invites him to join him, he is going to meet the other deciples in an upper room. Our traveler happily agrees. When they arrive the room is in a buzz as the deciples discuss excitedly an event that had just taken place.
John 20:19-23 ESV
[19] On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” [20] When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. [21] Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” [22] And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. [23] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Our traveler is amazed he has so many questions, but to his shock the man with him denies what the others have said. He will not believe unless he sees it with his own eyes. Our traveler places a hand on the man’s shoulder. He had been the exact same before his time spying on the tomb in the garden. The hurt from what he had seen had made him doubtful, this man felt it too. By the looks on the faces of the others, our traveler can see that they too had veen skeptical at one time. But now that they had seen Him they could never doubt again.
When we have had a horrible situation it is easy to doubt that anything good can come from it. Even when we see something similar arise it’s easy to fear because of the past. We have been Thomas. Standing in the upper room full for grief, thinking the pain of loss has driven his friends crazy. Then Jesus appears and puts all the doubts to shame. Jesus is with us in the bad times and the good. We cannot cling to old pain, we must last it go and focus on what Jesus is doing now. He is always working something new, for our good.
Following the fourth Wiseman- Rabboni!
Our Traveler has stayed at the tomb. He thought that something might happen to explain, well, what had happened. He had seen the Messiah buried there, and now the tomb was empty. As he watches and waits he sees the woman he had seen with the Messiah return to the tomb. Next he sees something he cannot explain.
John 20:11-18 ESV
[11] But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. [12] And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. [13] They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” [14] Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. [15] Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” [16] Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). [17] Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” [18] Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
Our traveler wants so badly to rush from his hiding spot and to speak to the Messiah, but he is terrified, this man is truly Holy. To have been dead and to now be raised of His own accord with no one to intercede for Him. He is so pure that our traveler who has wanted to meet Him for so long, suddenly can’t.
Sometimes Jesus puts forward a destiny for us that we are too afraid to accept. Like our traveler being too afraid to run forward and to meet the messiah, who he has longed to meet for all of his life. Sometimes Jesus gives us something that He has planned for us or something we have asked for, longed for and once it’s in front of us, we are too afraid to accept it. Those moments can be so hard. Instead, we must choose to reach out towards His gift and to take it in our hands and to trust that He will help us in opening it, and in receiving it, and in going through it.
Jesus is always there. The best part about this is that even though Jesus is giving us a gift. He is always the ultimate gift.
Following the fourth Wiseman- Where have they taken Him?
Our traveler begins to lead his camel out from the city. He feels defeated. He will return home after all these years having tales to tell of a man. A great man. But if He had been the Messiah as our traveler and so many others had thought, then how could they have killed Him. He chose to go to see where they had laid Him one more time before leaving the city. Suddenly two men run past him and our traveler has to restrain his camel. He recognizes them. They had been deciples of the Messiah. Our traveler urges his camel to follow him at a trot as he runs after the two men.
John 20:1- 6 ESV
[1] Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
[2] So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” [3] So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. [4] Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. [5] And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. [6] Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,
As the two deciples leave our traveler decides to go and see what they had seen. Why was the stone to the tomb moved? As he approaches a wave of fear and excitement washes over him. The tomb is empty. There had been rumors that He had made statements suggesting that…. our traveler is hesitant to think it. It seems so strange. Could He have risen from the dead, just as He raised others?
Image they moment. Jesus. The man they saw crucified. Now gone from the tomb. Imagine being there. A thousand thoughts would go through your mind. Where was He? Did someone move Him? Was this a cruelty of the Roman’s? Perhaps this was a trick by the pharisees? Then a word by Jesus twinkles like a weak flame in the back of your mind. Something He had said that you did not understand so you had shoved it away as not important. In three days. He had told them so many times that He would need to die but that He would rise again. They just did not understand. Now they still did not understand, yet things were beginning to unfold and show the answer to their questions. We won’t always understand. But Jesus does always have a reason.
Following the fourth Wiseman- I will raise this temple again in three days.
Our traveler sees the soldiers bring down the bodies from the crosses. A man comes whom our traveler does not know, and the man has his servants carry the body of the Messiah away. Our traveler sees the man Nicodemus follow and quietly goes to join him. The man looks at him.
“What is that in your hands?”
Our traveler looks down at the cloth. Something he had once thought was of great worth, “a gift, for Him.”
Nicodemus touches our traveler’s shoulder and they walk together to where the Messiah would be laid.
John 19:38-42 ESV
[38] After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. [39] Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. [40] So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. [41] Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. [42] So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
Nicodemus looks at our traveler once again. “Did you hear what He said? Before the earth shook?”
Our traveler shakes his head.
“He said, ‘Father forgive them.’ He asked for God’s forgiveness for us despite all that pain.”
Our traveler feels his heart tearing apart inside him. “It is kind. We are all to blame.”
“If we believe the prophecies. Then yes.”
“Did you know this would happen?”
“No. But now that it has, the words of the prophets return to my mind, and I feel like I understand a little.”
“Then you are better off than I am. For I understand nothing.”
“Perhaps that is why we met. So when thos day came, I could be here with you. He said something strange.”
Our traveler laughs, “everything He said was strange. Yet, so true.”
“Yes but. Now I recall hearing that he had said if we destroyed the temple He would raise it again.”
“Yes, in three days. It made some of the… I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It made some of us religious leaders angry. But now I wonder at what He meant?”
“Why now?”
“I’m not sure. It just seems to be important somehow. Now more than ever.”
Sometimes God will bring someone you never expected into your life to help you through the worst times. Sometimes it’s someone you don’t like. Sometimes it’s someone you don’t know. Sometimes it’s a friend or relative. It is always amazing to see how God uses people in our moments of Sometimes. The saddest part of the cross was that Jesus was alone. He died alone. Yes, there were people who loved Him near by, but God turned His face from Him. No matter how surrounded by friend we are, without God we are truly alone. In the same light, it does not matter how alone we are, with God we are never alone.
Jesus was buried for three days. He fought the devil, took the keys and freed those lost to death. For three days He was in a battle and on the third He left the grave victorious. We can also leave the grave in victory, if we choose to die to our old selves and to live with Christ.
Following the fourth Wiseman- It is finished
Our traveler is confused and angry. He does not understand. He looks around and can find no one to speak to who could stop what was happening. All those who stood around were laughing and taunting. In the distance our traveler can make out a figure of great power, the man whom had told him of his meeting on the rooftop with the Messiah, Nicodemus. Yet, when he begins to walk toward him oir traveler sees that the man no longer looks like one of power. He looks tired and worn. His eyes turn on our traveler and he shakes his head. There is nothing he can do. In desperation our traveler runs toward the cross. Determined that he will tear the horrible thing from the ground with his bare hands and save his King himself. But as he draws near he sees that there is nothing he can do. Now, there is nothing anyone can do.
John 19:28-37 ESV
[28] After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” [29] A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. [30] When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. [31] Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. [32] So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. [33] But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. [34] But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. [35] He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. [36] For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” [37] And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”
The ground shakes and our traveler falls to his knees in the blood and mud around the cross. He takes the gift from his bag. The one he would have given to the Messiah all those years ago, if only he had made it in time. He holds it up.
“This my King…. this is for you. It is the finest linen from my part of this world. There is no linen softer, or made with a finer weave. It should have wrapped you as a child. Now I will give it to those who mourn you, and it can wrap your body for burial. I don’t understand. But as the man says. You must know what you are doing, even in this.”
It seems our traveler is always too late. Like he is forevermore missing his chance. Yet he has anyways been where he was meant to be. We often feel like we have missed our shot. Like we should have been someone else, somewhere else. Like the path we are on is one we would never have chosen for ourselves. Just because we don’t understand does not mean we have gone the wrong way. The path God chooses often feels wrong to us, that’s because the world gives us their opinion on what our lives should look like. Their ideas are not God’s, they could never begin to understand God’s path and will. Just because it feels like we are always too late does not mean we are late at all, it means God is holding us back for something else He has planned. It may not be something greater. Just different. Trust Him and His timing. He knows what He’s doing, even in this.
Following the fourth Wiseman- He must know what He’s doing….right?
Our traveler rushes to follow the crowd that follow the Messiah. Our traveler can not see Him and has not seen Him since the trial. The shouts of the crowd and the violence they give is frightening to our traveler as he ducks and dodges through the masses. Why were they in such an uproar? The Roman guards stood at the ready.
“This could turn into a riot.” Our traveler heard one of the guards whisper. “What has the man even done?”
The other guards eyes were red as though he held back tears, “my brother’s son, who was very ill, this man healed him.”
The first guard looked at him, “really? I remember his illness, they thought he would die. Why kill a man who would do such good things?”
A small shine touched the other guards cheek as a single tear managed to make it’s way past his resolution. “Why indeed.”
Our traveler rushes on past the guards and almost collides with a woman who is in near hysteria. Our traveler recognizes her. She was the woman at the well that day. She sees our traveler and grabs him, “they can’t do this! You must make them stop!” She shakes him and cries.
Our traveler pulls free, “I know. I am trying to get to Him.”
She steps away and let’s him pass. Our traveler sees the glimpse of figure huddled on the ground, a cross laying in the dirt next to Him. His body so broken it tears our traveler’s heart in two. He tries to push past the people who were crowding around but can’t make it. Finally the heaving of the masses pushes him to the top of the hill. He’s too late.
John 19:16-19, 23, 25-27 ESV
[16] So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, [17] and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. [18] There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. [19] Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”
Our traveler looked at the sign and shook his head. He was so much more than simply the king. Laughter broke the hush that had fallen upon our traveler. It was so out of place that it frightened him. He turned to look.
[23] When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom,
Our traveler clenches his fists and then a voice tears his attention back to the horror of the cross.
[25] but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. [26] When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” [27] Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
So this was it. He really was going to die here. All they had hoped for and waited for. The pain in his heart and anger in his mind was too much for him and our traveler screams and falls to his knees. It was not an uncommon sight at that hill so no one pays attention to him. He buries his face in his hands and cries openly.
A hand rests on our traveler’s shoulder and he stands with a start. He sees the man who he had met under the olive tree. His newly seeing eyes, full of tears.
“You knew Him too my friend.” The man says.
Our traveler nods, “I searched for Him for most of my life. I’m silly old man! What do my prophecies amount to now!”
The man who had once been blind and now could see, turned his new eyes upon the savior in agony on the cross. “I don’t know what to tell you. All I can say is, He must a purpose, even for this.”
When tragedies strike we question everything. We question our motivation. We question our friends. Our family. Ourselves. Most often we finish by questioning God. We searched for Him so hard and long. We longed for His embrace. We have given Him our time and our lives. Then we feel like He has failed us. We fail a big test. We have bad news about our health. We lose our job. Our child runs away. Suddenly God is no longer in control or else He is no longer good.
But even if not, He is still good. Recall the three Hebrew boys saying that? Even in the bad times when we don’t understand, He is still good.
Even when we fall hard He is still good.
Even when He is on the cross when we think He should be overthrowing our enemies and taking over as King, He is still good. In fact, He is better than good. He is working something new and amazing for our lives. Even if we don’t see it at the time.
We cannot know God’s plans, all we can ever know for sure is that, even in the worst, most heartbreaking, most confusing times, He must have a purpose.
Following the fourth Wiseman- But Why?
Our traveler has heard that the Messiah has been taken to Pilot. He has made his way through the crowds, but those time he is pushing and shoving to get to the front. If only he could speak with someone, tell them of the signs and miracles he had witnessed. Tell them of the star and the prophecies. Somehow, maybe he could help end all this. He was no man of small means. He has great influence in his area of the world. Influence he will use if he needs to. If only he can get close! He trips and lands into a Roman guard who immediately, angrily grabs him and drags him I side the building to a room to be questioned. Things were so intense that even a mistaken stumble lead to our traveler being held. A voice sounds from the other room. It’s Pilot! Then another voice… “my King.” Our traveler whispers.
John 18:28, 33-38 ESV
[28] Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.
[33] So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” [34] Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” [35] Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” [36] Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” [37] Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” [38] Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.”
Our traveler was so glad to hear Pilot speak those words, though when the Messiah was lead out to the crowd and our traveler caught a glimpse of Him from the room he was in, his heart dropped and he had to hold back tears. The blood trailed behind Him. His wounds were so deep. Why?
“Why do this?” Our traveler asks the guard.
“Why not.” He humphs.
“Don’t you know who He is?”
“Yes. We all know that by now. It’s not our people who want Him killed, it’s yours.”
“But why?”
“You tell me. You can go now. We have no more questions.”
Our traveler walks out. Still with the question, why?
Why? The fact is. If it had not been for our sin Jesus would never have needed to die. There was literally no other reason. He was pure. He did kind things. He taught truth. If the garden had never happened and the apple had never been bitten into, Jesus would never have died. There are times when we ask ourselves why? Why did I get hurt? Why did my dream not take off? Why did I get sick?
Then shortly after asking why? We ask where? Where was God?
In communications class for health care professionals, we learn to never ask questions that start with ‘why?’ Because such questions lead us down a bad road. One why leads to another, which leads to defensiveness and anger. Instead of asking why? We are told to make positive statements about how to fix things. We cannot always do this, there are many times when the problem cannot be fixed. But instead of asking God why? Ask Him, what next? If this has happened then show me your reason and purpose. He might do exactly that. You never know what God will show you, unless you stop asking why? And start asking what? What is it you want me to do? What is it you want me to learn? What is your purpose?
God has a reason, we just have to trust Him.
Carried in the cross 