Infallible Proof

"He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." ~ Acts 1:3

When Jesus rose from the grave on Easter Sunday, He became infallible proof of God's power over death.

Likewise, when we become new creations through belief in Jesus, we also become infallible proof - evidence of God's power to work in the lives of mankind.

So, how are we to display this proof?

By following Jesus' example. Acts 1:3 says that Jesus presented Himself and spoke of those things pertaining to the kingdom of God. We are do to the same.

When God saves and transforms our life, we should do like Jesus and show up and speak out about our transformation.

God bless,
J.W.

#InfallibleProof #DayAfterEaster

Empty Tombs

"Why do you seek the living among the dead." ~ Luke 24:5

While people typically talk about Jesus' resurrection on Easter Sunday, today, I want to focus on the empty tomb.

When Jesus died on the cross, He not only died for our sins. The Bible says He "bore our sins in His own body" (1 Peter 2:24). In other words, Jesus became our sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). He stood in our place, and thus, represented us in judgment (1 John 2:2).

Why is that important?

Because the same process by which Jesus was judged, crucified, killed, and ultimately resurrected, is the same process by which he handles our sin today. When we give our sin over to God, He crucifies, kills it, buries it, and makes it disappear as if it was never even there.

God is a God of empty tombs. The things He buries can't be found anymore. The question is, do you trust Him enough to do it?

Thank God for empty tombs. And happy Resurrection Sunday!

God bless,
J.W.

#PassionWeek #ResurrectionSunday #EasterIsComing #EasterIsHere

#PassionWeek - #Saturday - #YOLO is a Myth

While it's unclear what happened between Jesus' death and resurrection, we know His life didn't end on Friday.

Some theologians argue that Jesus descended into Hades on Saturday to proclaim the good news to those imprisoned there (1 Peter 3:18-20). Others argue that He descended into Hades to take back the keys to death (Revelation 1:18). We know He rose on the third day and was seen by over 500 people (1 Corinthians 15:3-8).

Why is this important?

Because it serves as an example for us. Contrary to what Drake would have you believe, you don't only live once. #YOLO is a myth. The Bible is very clear that it is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment (Hebrews 9:27-28).

The question is, what will happen to you after the judgment?

The reason Jesus DIED was so that you could LIVE with Him in eternity. Don't let His death be in vain.

God bless,
J.W.

#PassionWeek #Saturday #EasterIsComing

#PassionWeek - #GoodFriday - "You Can't Tell Me Nothing"

"And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, 'Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!' But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled." ~ Mark 15:3-5

This day, 2014 years ago, Jesus stood accused of various crimes in front of various judges, but “answered nothing.” 

Why?

Because Jesus’ actions spoke louder than anything He could have ever said in those moments.

There’s a lot of people with the gift of gab; a lot of people who can talk a good game; a lot of people with an abundance of things to say. But when it’s all said and done, what will your actions say about you? 

#TeamDontTellMeShowMe 

God bless,

J.W.

#PassionWeek #GoodFriday #EasterIsComing

#PassionWeek - #Thursday - "I'm Searching for a Real Love"

Today, 2014 years ago, Jesus washed his disciples feet in an expression of love. Afterwards, He told them, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15).

Unfortunately, however, our generation has distorted and perverted what it means to love someone.

We talk about it like it’s some fleeting emotion that we fall in and out of.

But truth be told, love is not an emotion.

It’s a series of behaviors by which we provide a service to others.

For instance, God didn’t love us simply by verbally or internally expressing his feelings towards us. Rather, John 3:16 says He loved us by giving his His Son’s life for us. God performed an act of service for us, which John 15:13 explains is the ultimate expression of love.

My question: when you say you love someone, are you saying you just have positive feelings towards them? Because that’s not real love. Real love is action. It’s not about what you say or feel, it’s about what you do. #PassionWeek #Thursday #EasterIsComing

God bless,
J.W.

#PassionWeek - #Wednesday - Silence

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." ~ Psalms 46:10

It's ironic that in depicting a period of Jesus' life that we call "PASSION" week, the Bible is silent on Jesus' activities on Wednesday.

In our society, we often associate "passion" with activity. Loudness, noise, energy, motion - these are all words typically associated with passionate behavior. We even have cliches like "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" describing the phenomenon.

But sometimes, passion isn't shown by what you do, but what you don't do. Sometimes God calls us to be silent, just before our greatest battles, and ultimately, our greatest triumph. Sometimes, silence and stillness are acts of passion.

Is God calling you to be silent today?

God bless,
J.W.

#PassionWeek - #Monday - Rebel

This week, in honor of Jesus' last days on earth 2014 years ago, I've decided to study Jesus' walk and share my thoughts on what He said, did, and felt during what we call #PassionWeek. Below is the first installment.

Despite what conservative Christians might insinuate, Jesus was a rebel. Jesus didn't advocate maintaining the status quo, but rather He was about challenging the system and pointing out its hypocrisy, much like a Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, or a "community organizer" in modern-day times.

2014 years ago today, Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem and drove folks out, referring to them as "thieves" (Matthew 21:12-13). My question: if Jesus came back today, how many people would He drive out of today's church for the same reason. Would you be one of them? #Monday #EasterIsComing

God bless,
J.W.

I'm Back

"I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death." ~ Revelation 1:18

Just when they counted Him out, Jesus rose stronger than ever. As a child of God, you have His DNA, which means that you can too. Remember that the next time someone underestimates you.

Happy Easter!

God bless,
J.W.

I Remember Me

"And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'" ~ Luke 22:19

Today, nearly 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was crucified for you. Let us never forget.

God bless,
J.W.

Jesus Walks (Part VII)

Because Jesus rose on this day some 2000 years ago, we can have a second chance at life.

Happy Resurrection Day!

God bless,
J.W.

“But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” ~ Matthew 28:5-6

Jesus Walks (Part I)

The first in this week-long series on Jesus’ last days here on Earth.

The Sunday before Easter is the beginning of Passover, the Jewish holiday designed to commemorate the story in Exodus when God inflicted Egypt with ten plagues as punishment for Pharaoh’s refusal to free the Israelites, who were slaves in the Egyptian kingdom.

The Bible tells us that, on the first day of Passover, some 2009 years ago, as Jesus went into the city of Jerusalem, there was a multitude that “spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! Hosanna in the highest!’”

As we all know, just days later, many in this same multitude would cry out “crucify Him” as Jesus was being charged for blasphemy by the Pharisees and chief priests.

This just goes to show you that people will lift you up one day only to tear you down the next. That is why we must place our faith in God and God alone.

Man is weak, but God is strong.

Man changes, but God never changes.

As the old hymn says, “on Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”

God bless,
J.W.

Jesus Walks

As most of you know, this week is Passion Week, the week in which we commemorate the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Christian faith.

As such, in honor of this most sacred time in human history, I want to walk us through Jesus’ last days here on earth and glean any lessons learned that we might take away from His experience that our lives might be enriched because of His suffering.

After all, that is why He came – to die for our sins so that we wouldn’t have to.

Enjoy!

J.W.