John 20:1–10 Everyone is invited to sit at God's table

Christ appeared first to Mary Magdalene. Women were the most marginalized of their culture. That God chose her to reveal it to the other disciples speaks volume of God’s love for all of His creation. He created them, male and female and both were equal in His eyes.

There is no gender, no nationality, no rank in culture that can keep us  from the Good News of salvation found in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 9:28 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Hebrews 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.

The Law was a shadow of Good News to come. 

1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Jesus, whom we have not seen, we receive by faith and it is our salvation. The Old Testament prophets inquired of Him, searched for Him and spoke of Him, the suffering Messiah, who was to come. Our lives given to Christ and through the power of Holy Spirit are orchestrated by the very hand of God. 

The secret things belong to the Lord our God. But those things that are revealed belong to us. 

Romans 16:25 25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith

The secret, revealed to Paul, was that the Gentiles and all of humanity would be included in His salvation.

Galatians 1:11 11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Some things were hard for Jewish believers to understand. 

Ephesians 3:8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;

Proverbs 8:35 (ESV) "For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD …"The beauty of wisdom is praised.

1. Wisdom is available to everyone because a relationship with God is available to everyone (Proverbs 8:1-5).

2. Wisdom offers virtue and value (Proverbs 8:6-11) 

3. Wisdom is part of our eternal inheritance as God's children (Proverbs 8:12-21

4. Wisdom points us to everlasting life (Proverbs 8:32-36)

Altogether, Scripture confirms that the triune God (Father, Son and Spirit) intricately designed every single detail of creation and declared it "very good" (Genesis 1:31). Solomon reiterated that from the beginning, creation involved "rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man" (Proverbs 8:31). As God's children, we are created by Him to seek His wisdom as we become more like Him (Ephesians 1:7-9; ). ( Colossians 1:9). First5

The sacrament of the blessed present. This present. This not-yet-perfect present. This not-yet-resolved present. This still-full-of-ambiguity-and-wondrous-possibility present. When “suddenly an ordinary day, becomes holy ground.” (Stella Nesanovich) SabbathMoments 

“Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of your universe. Each day enrapture me with your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share the wonder of it all.” Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

John 20:1–10

20 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. The New King James Version

Apparently Mary Magdalene arrived ahead of the other women. Mary Magdalene, out of whom Jesus had cast seven demons, was the last one at the Cross and the first one at the grave.

 The other disciple, whom Jesus loved, was John, the author of this Gospel. 

No one who came to steal the body would have taken the time to unwrap it and leave the cloths behind.

Peter went into the tomb to get a good look. He carefully examined the place where Jesus’ body had been. The handkerchief around Christ’s head had not been thrown aside, as might have been done by a thief. It had been folded and laid aside. Perhaps the implication is that Christ did not rush out of the tomb, but left His grave clothes neatly folded. 

The other disciple, commonly believed to be the apostle John, saw the tomb and the grave clothes and believed that Christ had been raised from the dead. They did not know the Scripture. The disciples believed because of what they saw in the tomb not because of what they knew from Old Testament passages describing the Savior’s resurrection. Jesus had prophesied His death and resurrection in the disciples’ presence, but the disciples had not understood what He was talking about. Later Jesus would instruct them about how His life and death fulfilled the Scriptures. 

When Christ uttered her name, Mary recognized His voice. Mary addressed Christ as Rabboni, an Aramaic term which John translates for his Greek readers. The NKJV Study Bible

As yet the disciples knew not the Scripture; that Christ must rise again from the dead. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Luke 24:12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

Matthew 27:66–28:8 So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb…

Mark 16:1–8 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen…

Galatians 6:11-15 Christ alone saves!

The religious Doctrines created by man have no power to save anyone. Only Christ can do that! 

Christ was offered once and for all of God’s creation. It excludes no one. But we have to accept the gift. 

1 John 4:18 (NLT) says, “Perfect love expels all fear.” You need never fear God’s judgment. Not today. Not on Judgment Day. With perfect knowledge of the past and perfect vision of the future, God loves you—perfectly—in spite of both. Jesus is speaking on your behalf. “That’s my friend,” he says. And when he does, the door of heaven open. Trust God’s love. His perfect love. It can handle your fear of judgment. Max Lucado

“Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of your universe. Each day enrapture me with your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share the wonder of it all.” Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel “Sabbath Moments”

Galatians 6:11-15

11 See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! 12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. The New King James Version

Probably here Paul began to write with his own hand, after having up to now dictated the letter to a secretary. His reference to large letters implies that Paul had problems with his eyesight or was even partly blind. Paul commonly ended his letters with personal greetings. 

The Judaizers were trying to appear spiritual by becoming circumcised and demanding that others become circumcised. By teaching that all Christians should become circumcised, the Judaizers were trying to make Christianity into a sect of Judaism. This would have two advantages. First, they could counter the persecution that they suffered from zealous Jews. Second, they could include themselves with an officially sanctioned religion of the Roman Empire, Judaism. Even the Judaizers who advocated the Galatians’ circumcision did not really keep the entire law. They knew they were required to do so but were ultimately unable to fulfill all of the requirements. Still, they attempted to persuade the Galatians to be circumcised so that they could boast about having them as their followers.

As a representative believer, Paul spoke of himself as crucified with Christ. In that decisive act, “the flesh with its passions and desires” was also crucified, as was the world with all of its continuing attractions. 

To a Christian under the New Covenant, following the Abrahamic sign of circumcision does not mean anything in terms of spirituality. What really matters is being a new creation in Christ. The NKJV Study Bible

This detail of large letters suggests that Paul relieved his scribe and wrote the rest of the letter himself. It is possible that Paul uses this phrase to draw attention to the passage that immediately follows, in which he summarizes several of the letter’s themes. In Paul’s time, letters commonly were dictated to a professional writer, called an amanuensis. Paul’s letter to the Romans, for example, was dictated by Paul to Tertius (Romans 16:22).

Paul seems to be indicating that the agitators are concerned about their own reputations as law-keepers. It is possible that, by promoting the practice of circumcision, they are seeking to identify publicly as Jews and thereby avoid persecution. In Graeco-Roman society, Jews tended to be accepted more readily than Christians. 

Paul points out the hypocrisy of those who advocate that Gentiles should be circumcised. Paul states that he has died to the values of the world: selfishness, ambition, and pride.

Paul’s devaluation of circumcision is astonishing, given his Jewish heritage and training in the law. Here, Paul puts circumcision in its proper place: It cannot define the status of the believer, nor can it transform the believer. What matters for Paul is the new-creation work of God, through Christ’s death and resurrection and the indwelling power of His Spirit. Faithlife Study Bible

Proud, vain, and carnal hearts, are content with just so much religion as will help to keep up a fair show. But the apostle professes his own faith, hope, and joy; and that his principal glory was in the cross of Christ. By which is here meant, his sufferings and death on the cross, the doctrine of salvation by a crucified Redeemer. By Christ, or by the cross of Christ, the world is crucified to the believer, and he to the world. The more we consider the sufferings of the Redeemer from the world, the less likely shall we be to love the world. The apostle was as little affected by its charms, as a beholder would be by any thing which had been graceful in the face of a crucified person, when he beholds it blackened in the agonies of death. He was no more affected by the objects around him, than one who is expiring would be struck with any of the prospects his dying eyes might view from the cross on which he hung. And as to those who have truly believed in Christ Jesus, all things are counted as utterly worthless compared with him. There is a new creation; old things are passed away, and new views and dispositions are brought in under the regenerating influences of God the Holy Spirit. Believers are brought into a new world, and being created in Christ Jesus unto good works, are formed to a life of holiness. It is a change of mind and heart, whereby we are enabled to believe in the Lord Jesus, and to live to God; and where this inward, practical religion is wanting, outward professions, or names, will never stand in any stead. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,

Galatians 5:11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.

Acts 15:1 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

John 2:18-22 Father forgive us

That mankind in its ignorance could mock the only One who could offer them  hope in His salvation is beyond comprehension.

John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Father forgive us we know not what we do!

Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. 23 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another—26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

All of us have sinned and fall short of God’s glory but He, in His mercy, gave His only begotten Son to die in our place taking on all the sins of the world. 

All things of the law were purged by His blood. The blood of animals could never do this only the blood of the holy, sinless Son of God, Jesus could. The blood of God ran through Him, not the sinful blood of humankind, but the blood of His Father. This pattern of the things of heaven were made manifest and complete in the seed of the woman and in the blood of Christ. 

Jesus the man entered into the holy of holies for us in our place. At the end of the age He offered Himself once and for all humanity ending the need for the blood sacrifice of animals. Our sins will never be remembered as believers we are cleaned as white as snow. 

Ephesians 2:12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Without Christ, as aliens from the covenants of promise given to Israel, having no hope we, as believers in Christ Jesus, are brought near to God by His blood shed for all who would choose His gift of salvation. All praise and glory to His holy name.

(Proverbs 6), list things to avoid:

1. "Haughty eyes" (Proverbs 6:17) refers to a proud attitude that projects superiority and disrespect.

2. "A lying tongue" (Proverbs 6:17) causes harm to others through deception.

3. "Hands that shed innocent blood" (Proverbs 6:17) murder or physically hurt others.

4. "A heart that devises wicked plans" (Proverbs 6:18) depicts premeditated evil.

5. "Feet that make haste to run to evil" (Proverbs 6:18) are eager to get involved in wickedness.
6. "A false witness" (Proverbs 6:19) speaks lies to harm others' reputations.
7. "One who sows discord among brothers" (Proverbs 6:19) causes arguments or seeks only to benefit themselves. They stir up disagreements and trouble. 

Solomon said these sins are an "abomination" to God (Proverbs 6:16), and the common denominator is that they deal with how we relate to one another. One definition of the Hebrew word translated as "abomination" is "disgusting," meaning God is disgusted when we mistreat and sin against each other. First5

And call it what you want, but there are days when I carry a sadness or heaviness for reasons I cannot explain. Here’s the odd part. Lord knows that too often we want to weather any storm on our own.
Gratefully, at some time, we come face to face with the reality that no one of us is on this human, or faith journey, alone. Life is fragile and therefore, we are connected. Sabbath Moments

John 2:18-22

18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?” 19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said. 23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. The New King James Version

The Jews referring to the religious leaders in the temple. As they had with John the Baptist, the religious leaders want Jesus to justify His actions.

In three days I will raise it foreshadows Jesus’ death and resurrection. 

The Greek text uses the word pisteuō here. John uses a wordplay here, describing how “many believed” (pisteuō in Greek) in Jesus. But Jesus does not trust or believe (pisteuō) them in return. Jesus is divinely appointed, so the glory of other people is not His concern—He receives His glory from God the Father. Faithlife Study Bible

The Jews apparently refers to the religious authorities of Israel, who also understood that Jesus was representing Himself as the Messiah; therefore, they asked for a sign.

Jesus was not talking about the physical building; He was referring to His body, as John emphasizes in verse 21. Jesus was speaking of His death. I will raise it up: Note that Jesus did not say, “I will build it again.” He was referring to His resurrection, three days after His death. The sign Jesus gave the Jews was the sign of His death and resurrection.

Herod the Great began restoring the temple in 20 b.c. The work was not finished at the time of this conversation. In fact, it was not completed until around a.d. 64, under Herod Agrippa.

 The disciples understood that Jesus was the Messiah, but they did not understand that He was speaking of the resurrection of His body until it actually happened. The NKJV Study Bible

Jesus foretells his death by the Jews’ malice, Destroy ye this temple; I will permit you to destroy it. He foretells his resurrection by his own power; In three days I will raise it up. Christ took again his own life. Men mistake by understanding that according to the letter, which the Scripture speaks by way of figure. When Jesus was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered he has said this. It helps much in understanding the Divine word, to observe the fulfilling of the Scriptures. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Mark 15:29 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days,

Matthew 26:61 and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ”

Matthew 27:40 and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

Mark 14:58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’ ”

Mark 3:23-24 In the unity of Holy Spirit is peace not chaos

Holy Spirit is our strong man, our protector against the wiles of Satan who only seeks to kill, steal and destroy our faith. He is our guide to maneuver the culture that we live in and to know Father’s direction for our life. We cannot call Good evil and evil good.

Jesus did not leave us alone nor forsaken we just need to listen closely to the still, small voice of Holy Spirit He gives us as believers .He is not a God of chaos but of peace and unity.

Wisdom is knowing the truth of God.  Jesus is the truth. On this side of the Cross everything is better, in the New Covenant of Jesus Christ, every little nuance in fulfillment of the Scripture is complete. In the unity of Holy Spirit we thrive.

In Jesus, it is finished, all in God’s perfect timing.

Hebrew 9:15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

How much more the blood of Christ, through the eternal Spirit, offer Himself to God as a Lamb without blemish, purge your conscience from dead works to serve our living God. In Jesus’ sacrifice He purged our sins totally and now they are forgotten. As humans we cannot forget our past sins but God can. He is the mediator of the New Testament covenant under it we receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

The horrible price of sin was the precious blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Unless a seed falls to the ground and dies new life is impossible. Out of the death of Christ and in His resurrection new life for humanity became possible.

That the day—the gift of life in this day—even in its unsettling, quixotic, sensory ordinariness, still has the power to unbelievably astonish us. And make us glad to be alive.

So. Let us take comfort in Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s prayer. “Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of your universe. Each day enrapture me with your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share the wonder of it all.” 

Do you know the word, "glimmer"? I love this description; “Glimmers are moments in your day that bring you happiness, peace, and gratitude; they spark positive emotions, whereas a trigger sparks negative ones. They make you feel good and put a smile on your face. The more you look for them, the more you notice them, and the fewer triggers you will encounter.” Yes, and amen. And, “Suddenly an ordinary day, becomes holy ground.” (Stella Nesanovich)

When you do pause and pay attention, there is, literally, an internal recalibration. While nothing is "added" to your life, there is a new awareness of the light that is within. Call it a new perception of your internal wealth account. Sabbath Moments 

Mark 3:23-24

23 So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. The New King James Version

Jesus’ reply in parables was actually a threefold message that contrasted unity and disunity. Nothing—including Satan’s kingdom—can stand if it is divided. The NKJV Study Bible

Jesus’ parables contained truths about the kingdom of God. Jesus confronts the religious leaders with the possibility that, by opposing Him, they might be aligning themselves with evil powers. The defining mark of a disciple of God’s kingdom is allegiance to Jesus and His teaching. Faithlife Study Bible

It is true the gospel promises, because Christ has purchased, forgiveness for the greatest sins and sinners; but by this sin, they would oppose the gifts of the Holy Ghost after Christ’s ascension. 

Such is the enmity of the heart, that unconverted men pretend believers are doing Satan’s work, when sinners are brought to repentance and newness of life. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Matthew 12:25–29 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand…

Luke 11:17–22 But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub…

Matthew 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

Mark 3:25–27 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end…