Daily Devotional (GPS)
Jesus' Easter victory tells us, “Don’t be afraid”
Daily Scripture
Hebrews 2:14-15, Revelation 1:17-18
Hebrews 2
14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he also shared the same things in the same way. He did this to destroy the one who holds the power over death—the devil—by dying. 15 He set free those who were held in slavery their entire lives by their fear of death.
Revelation 1
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. But he put his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I was dead, but look! Now I’m alive forever and always. I have the keys of Death and the Grave.”
Daily Reflection & Prayer
From ancient Rome to today, human power’s last resort is the threat, “I will kill you.” Roman officials puzzled over how Jesus’ followers seemed unmoved by that threat. But by dying and rising again Jesus set his followers free from even the fear of death. The Bible ended with Revelation’s glorious vision of Jesus saying, “I was dead, but look! Now I’m alive forever and always. I have the keys of Death and the Grave.”
- You can read about Jesus’ arrest, trial and crucifixion in all four gospels. Jesus faced evil and death at their very worst. But you can also read the Easter story in all four gospels to see that Jesus defeated evil and death at their very worst. Early Christians staked their lives on the truth of Jesus’ victory over death. In what ways does fear of death subtly shape your life choices? How can Jesus’ death and resurrection set you free from that fear?
- When someone we love dies, we often use “combat” words like “she lost the battle.” But Paul denied that death “wins”: “Where is your victory, Death?” (1 Corinthians 15:55, quoting Hosea 13:14) For a Christian, death is not a defeat. Methodism’s founder, John Wesley, said, “Let this especially fortify us against the fear of death: It is now disarmed, and can do us no hurt.” * How can taking in the full meaning of Jesus’ resurrection give you greater trust in God’s eternity, where death will be no more?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you went where most of us most dread going—the realm of death—and came out victorious! You offer me the choice to join you in that victory. I accept your offer of a life that lies beyond the power of death. Amen.
GPS Insights
Darren Lippe
Darren Lippe serves as a Couples Small Group co-leader & Men's Group Leader, while volunteering in a variety of other capacities at Resurrection. He and his wife, Doris, first met in a Resurrection Single Adult Sunday School class in 1997 and were married in what is now the Student Center. They are empty nesters with 2 college-aged sons, Matthew and Jacob.
Most lists of the most common fears include the following in some order:
- Death
- Spiders
- Heights
- Dental Appointments
- Public Speaking
- Darkness
- Confined Spaces
- And a relatively new phenomenon, “Cell Phone Missing”
(Ugh. Now I’m even afraid I may have left off an important fear.)
Now, it is tempting to simply avoid anything that causes you fear; however, that that isn’t really practical or wise. While dental appointments aren’t necessarily enjoyable, they do provide a multitude of health benefits beyond a beautiful smile. (Pro Tip: Never lie to the I.R.S. or to your dental hygienist. “Why did I say I flossed 3x a day for the past 6 months? I should have gone with a more believable 2x a day.” – DL Um – Editor.)
While we may joke about why Noah included spiders on the Ark, we recognize that spiders do kill disease-carrying insects & their venom can be used for medicinal purposes. Truth be told, I’m also a little scared to get into an online back & forth tussle with the Arachnophile Society (people who like spiders). They have a huge social media presence on the world-wide-web. (Sigh – Editor.)
And finally, we certainly can’t just do away with our electronic devices, hence the various AirTag & “Find My” services are becoming a multi-million-dollar business. I’m embarrassed to admit how many times my wife, Doris, & I use the “Find My” App. (Once, we thought the App was malfunctioning because as she & I looked for her phone, we kept hearing the electronic ping in different rooms of the house. Visibly frustrated, she sat down & only then realized the phone was in her hip pocket the entire time. Coincidentally, our sons have expressed considerable interest in how “Power of Attorney” procedures work.)
Which brings us to what is typically listed as humankind’s greatest fear–death. For centuries, nearly every culture has been terrified of death & has wrestled with the bleak implications of its final consequences. God, in His wisdom, didn’t upend the natural cycle of life by eliminating death. Rather, thanks to Jesus’ death & resurrection, God has created a miraculous perspective of death that is truly revolutionary. Death becomes just another chapter of our life story–not some permanent conclusion but a segue to the next adventure-an adventure where our bodies & minds are once again whole, an adventure where pain is replaced by peace, & an adventure where tears are replaced by laughter.
Funerals are still times of sadness & sorrow. However, for Christians, there can also be a very perceptible aura of peace. The service needn’t feel like some final farewell to a loved one; instead, it becomes like a temporary parting–until we meet again. So, while I may still lay awake at night terrified at the thought of a spider crawling across my podium while I deliver a eulogy for a dentist at an evening funeral service in the crowded event space on the top floor of the Space Needle, thanks to Jesus, at least I needn’t fear death anymore!
That reminds me of a funny cartoon I saw yesterday of 2 monkeys wearing Roman helmets outside Jesus’ empty tomb looking side-eyed at each other. Shoot. Now, where did I put my phone…
What is the GPS?
Resurrection offers a free tool for those who wish to read the Bible daily. Our Grow/Pray/Study guide (GPS) provides a Bible reading, Scripture reflections based on the passage, inspirational quotes from leading Bible scholars, questions to help readers apply the Bible to their faith journey, and a daily prayer guide at the end of each day’s reflection. Many readers have told us the GPS has strengthened their spiritual growth and helped them better understand how to let the Bible guide them in Christian living.
