Encouragement Email – Resurrection Sunday!

What a happy morning! A few women scurried to the garden where your Lord was laid in a tomb three days ago after being crucified. They were in such a hurry they forgot to make plans on how to roll away the massive stone covering the entrance into it (Mark 16:2-3).

What a happy surprise awaited them as a young man dressed in brilliant white, telling them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him” (Mark 16:6, NKJV). Only, he wasn’t a man. He was an angel (Matthew 28:5)!

Well, that’s revealing.

Yesterday your Lord had preached His victory to the demonic spirits already in prison (1 Peter 3:19). It may have continued in assembly of the great ranks of demons, whose only perspective is slander and hatred of God’s holy Son, and our human race. They delight in human sin.

But what they can’t understand, because they are blinded by hate, is the glory of the sacrifice of Jesus. He came to earth from heaven and disrobed Himself of all dignity, becoming a man. Then He disrobed Himself of the dignity of a man, and took the cross. All of this was Jesus making Himself a sacrifice. His holy soul, for your sinful soul. He did this in order to redeem a vast multitude and one day present them all as a love gift to the Father.

The demons can’t enjoy the resurrection, so why follow them in their promotion of sin? They hate everyone, Jesus, the cross, and the resurrection. They only want to think of themselves, but the resurrection not only redeems us from our sins and death, but also seals their fate in the worst pain and shame and misery, without hope for relief, for all eternity.

The holy angel at Jesus’ empty tomb bridged the two worlds of heaven and earth. One day both shall be one in perpetuity, as holy angels and redeemed men and women made holy unite in worship and service to Jesus, His Father, and their Spirit.

Hope is the rib cage of Christianity that protects the heart of faith. Like faith, it is not a wished-for outcome of good circumstances. Hope is the certainty that God unwinds evil and makes all things new and good. Hope is the cheerful confidence that if there’s no food in the cabinet, God will provide one way or another. It needs to be especially strong as the days wind down, hopeful that He is good to His promises. Even in death.

Jesus Christ defeated death, my beloved Christian friends. Unless he returns soon, most of us shall taste it, I’m sorry to say. But the glories on the other side of death are so great, that the experience will be like nothing compared to the glories to follow.

Had I preached today, I think I would have made much of the Corona virus, because it puts people in touch with the pain of death. We despise it so much we’ll stay inside and avoid social functions, work, and handshakes. But I’m pretty sure I would have stayed away from saying, “There’s a worse virus, and it’s called sin!” I’m sorry, I find that a bit confusing. A lot of people survive the virus, but no one survives sin.

How about this instead? The wages of the Corona Virus might be death for you. And if it’s not this virus, it might be another virus or something else. A car crash, an unforeseen circumstance.

Now if death for you means entrance into Life, then it’s a servant of the God who makes promises about such Life after death. Death then has lost its sting, because Christ took away its power to kill. Christian hope is certain of this.

On the other hand, if death for you is an entrance into the demonic realm, the abode of the dead where you suffer in agony with demons forever and without any hope of relief, won’t you repent of living in your sins and preferring them to the love of Christ for you?

He wants to rescue you, so please, call upon Jesus to save you.

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Sent on April 12, 2020 by the Pastoral Staff (Ted Bigelow, Pastor of Preaching and Development and Steve Ridge, Executive Pastor) of Grace Bible Church of Colorado Springs.

Encouragement Email – Saturday, Passion Week

Silence on earth, but not in heaven!

As the earth slumbered on, unperturbed that its Creator had been slain by wicked men, the angels rejoiced! Yesterday their Lord returned with a brand plucked from the fire, the thief on the cross! It wasn’t for poetry sake He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43, NKJV). But He had left again.

In Jerusalem, Saturday morning’s sun arose just like every Saturday’s sun had for eons. True, the markets were quiet because of the Mosaic Law, and had been Sabbath-quiet since Israel had taken possession in the days of Joshua, in the division of the Promised Land. Somewhere out on the slopes the women cried and the men hung their heads low, as the elect of elect Israel dropped their heads in that familiar shame that clings to God’s people in this world.

The Prince of Life lived no more, they all knew. The word had spread by the women who had seen where He was laid. His disciples were nowhere to be seen, and strangely, none sought them out for counsel, or to get a word in with their Teacher.

Then came evening and the familial social distancing of the Sabbath lifted. The women who anointed the dead Messiah’s body went back to the markets and bought even more spices to honor it again (Mark 16:1). They would make the lonely trip early the next morning, perhaps not knowing the tomb was sealed and guarded by crack Roman troops.

And earth lumbered on. The Roman military planned their conquests, asking the gods of war for success. Citizens and peasants alike plowed fields, farmed animals, cooked meals, and made sacrifices of animals and their baser appetites at the temple. While students studied and newborns cooed, and while the drunkards drank and the sluggish slept all afternoon, the philosopher and priest earned ridicule for claiming sin to be good and the gods to be fickle. Blindness continued another day. The earth continued on its axis, seemingly none the worse for wear. Across the oceans undiscovered tribes hunted buffalo and fought for territory, raised their families and prayed to the sun. The demons and their hapless subjects, the sons of Adam, didn’t even question, “Why?”

But something else had happened, apart from hapless eyes. The glorious Son of Man proclaimed a great victory to them on Saturday, first in their eternal prisons, for He had been “put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison…” (1 Peter 3:18-19, NKJV). Then I picture the glorious Son of God, now triumphant Son of Man, ascending the mountain of the Lord where the ranks of Satanic intelligentsia and powers howled their protests against the LORD when He prophesied: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You” (Hebrews 2:12, NKJV).

Could it be a complete domination of Lucifer and His hundreds of millions army, all arrayed against the sons of men to secure their misery and deaths right before the face of God? Could it be? “Oh yes,” they told each other, from the depths to the heights.

“Defeated by a mere man?” they asked each other. “Oh yes,” they confessed.

“Well,” hissed their Leader, “Not so fast. He’s still with us and not with them, isn’t He?”

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Sent on April 11, 2020 by the Pastoral Staff (Ted Bigelow, Pastor of Preaching and Development and Steve Ridge, Executive Pastor) of Grace Bible Church of Colorado Springs.

Encouragement Email – Friday, Passion Week

By the time you woke up this morning, your Lord had been through as many as six trials, all occurring late at night and early into Friday morning. Physically He should be exhausted, but emotionally and spiritually He is keen and wise.

Perhaps you would like to think about these events during your day today.

Late Last Night:

The first trial was at Annas’ house (John 18:13-24) during which Peter gives his first denial. The second trial is before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57-68, Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:54). During this trial Jesus identifies as the Son of Man coming from heaven to subjugate the peoples of the world and establish God’s kingdom on earth, a statement to which the chief priest tears his robe in mock disgust.

Then comes Peter’s second denial of Christ (Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:55-65; John 18:25-27), where they detect Peter’s Galilean accent.
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A third trial occurs before the gathered Sanhedrin (Matthew 27:1; Mark 15:1a, Luke 22:66-71). This is the third of three Jewish trials, all of them illegal by their own protocols. Perhaps Judas was standing outside, for he now runs off and commits suicide (Matthew 27:3-10; Acts 1:18-19).

A fourth trial starts in the early morning as Jesus is taken before Pilate (Matthew 27:2, 11-14; Mark 15:1b-5; Luke 23:1-5; John 18:28-38). Jesus declares to him, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world then my servants would be fighting.” Pilate responds, “I find no guilt in Him.”

Early this Morning:

Pilate sends Jesus over to Herod, in town for the Passover. The sun is now up when Herod tries to get Jesus to do a miracle for his entertainment. Jesus refuses to say even a word to Herod which offends him, and after having Jesus beaten sends him back to Pilate with a robe as a gift. This initiates the sixth and final trial back at Pilate’s judgment seat (Matthew 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:39-19:16). Pilate says Jesus has done nothing deserving death, releases Barabbas, has Jesus scourged and presented  to the people now gathered. They cry out “crucify Him” and Pilate washes his hands as a sign of self-forgiveness, an act of cruelty and self-love. Pilate signs the death warrant and hands over Jesus to the soldiers.

Prior to be taken out by them, Jesus is mocked before and beaten before the crowd, for their enjoyment (Matthew 27:27-30; Mark 15:16-19). Jesus’ journey to the place of crucifixion is comprised of several scenes with common people:  a man pressed into service to carry the heavy cross bar and women who cry out (Matthew 27:31-34; Mark 15:20-23; Luke 23:26-33a; John 19:17).

9AM to 3PM:

The gospel writers divide up the crucifixion into two parts, from 9am to noon (Matthew 27:35-44; Mark 15:24-32; Luke 23:33b-43; John 19:18-27), and from noon to 3pm at which time death comes (Matthew 27:45-50; Mark 15:33-37; Luke 23:44-45a, 46; John 19:28-30). Jesus, alert and submissive to God, prays for the soldiers, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). The soldiers gamble for His garments, the last and final possession of Jesus, and affix a sign over his head, all designed to afflict your Lord with maximum shame, as though His sins were so great He deserved the greatest mockery and humiliation.

As Jesus dies an agonizing death He cries out words of sacred Scripture and forgiveness: “It is finished.” A number of miracles occur as a centurion bears witness to Jesus dying, the Son of God (Matthew 27:51-56; Mark 15:38-41; Luke 23:45b, 47-49).

After 3PM but before Sunset:

Pilate grants Jesus to be taken down from the cross in response to a wealthy man who gives the use of his tomb to your Lord, now dead in is humanity (Matthew 27:57-58; Mark 15:42-45; Luke 23:50-52; John 19:31-38). His body is quickly placed in the tomb before the Sabbath begins at sunset (Matthew 27:59-60; Mark 15:46; Luke 23:53-54; John 19:39-42).

Finally, the tomb in which your Lord’s holy body is laid is watched over by the women and guarded by the soldiers (Matthew 27:61-66; Mark 15:47; Luke 23:55-56).

The level of detail surrounding Jesus’ trials, punishments, and death is staggering. Every text rewards contemplation and consideration.

May your Good Friday, beloved friends in Christ, be profitable in your love for Him above all.

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Sent on April 10, 2020 by the Pastoral Staff (Ted Bigelow, Pastor of Preaching and Development and Steve Ridge, Executive Pastor) of Grace Bible Church of Colorado Springs.

Encouragement Email – Thursday, Passion Week

Imagine your Lord waking up on Thursday, and knowing He in His humanity will never sleep again.

Like Wednesday, Thursday daytime, is quiet. You may assume that your Lord is resting and meditating in preparation for tonight. He travels down to Jerusalem with His men and His betrayer. There is no obvious anxiety in this Man who walks into the city of God His final time. In four days’ time He’ll appear in the city again, now resurrected, and in His Second Coming shall enter as Jerusalem’s Defender and King (Zechariah 12-14).

As He is resting midday, the disciples come to Him and ask, “Where do you want for us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He has been keeping it from them lest word get out and those wanting to kill Jesus might find Him and the disciples. Jesus shows supernatural power over all things by directing them to follow a man carrying a pitcher of water into a house in Jerusalem. Once safely inside, they will learn of His prior arrangements (Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13).

Then comes evening and all are in the upper room, served by faithful women and men. This shall be the last Passover meal for your Lord (Matthew 26:20, Mark 14:17, Luke 22:14-16): “I shall never eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then taking off His robe and donning a towel, He washes the disciple’s feet, a picture of lowly service for us to imitate with each other, and of Christ’s descent from heaven to earth to forgive our sins (John 13:1-20). Is any as good as Jesus?

Then He identifies Judas as the betrayer just prior to an argument among the disciple’s as to which is the greatest (Matthew 26:21-25, Mark 14:18-21; Luke 22:21-30; John 13:21-30). If He was hoping for better from men then He was disappointed, for fallen men are much more like devils than deity. Jesus even points out the confident Peter as one who will deny him (Luke 22:31-38; John 13:31-38).

The Passover concludes and your Savior institutes the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Normally we would take this together on Good Friday. May our inability to do so help us appreciate every opportunity in the future to honor Christ’s institution:  the local church and its founding activity that brings us together in faith and love.

Now your Lord settles into teaching proper:  The Upper Room Discourse filled with encouragement for sad disciples (John 14:1-16:33), and the encouragement of Jesus’ prayer for them, and for all those who will believe in Him through their word (John 17:1-26). That’s you, my believing friend.

Jesus predicts again that Peter will, in fact, deny Him that night but also tells the men He will rise from the dead and meet them in Galilee. In arrogance Peter rebukes Jesus and professes his own spiritual strength to stand strong in temptation (Matthew 26:30-35; Mark 14:26-31); Luke 29:39-40a; John 18:1).

Jesus moves on the Garden of Gethsemane and prays hard that the cup might pass, meaning, that He might not have to die the death of crucifixion and shame. His human side makes fervent plea to God, but always leaves the matter up to God His Father. Strengthened, He is prepared to do the will of God (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40b-46).

No sooner than He was finished, but Judas and a large contingent of soldiers and temple police show up to arrest your Lord. Although He could call twelve legions of angels to eradicate the human race at that point, He submits (Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:42-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:2-12), even healing the cut-off ear of a slave. One cannot detect a single bit of revenge or anger in Jesus at His mistreatment.

Oh that we would learn to be like him!

Your Lord won’t sleep tonight, but will endure six overnight court trials before His condemnation to a cross the next morning. We’ll look at those tomorrow.

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Sent on April 9, 2020 by the Pastoral Staff (Ted Bigelow, Pastor of Preaching and Development and Steve Ridge, Executive Pastor) of Grace Bible Church of Colorado Springs.

Encouragement Email – Wednesday, Passion Week

What a mournful day is Wednesday.

Your Lord does not travel down to Jerusalem, He does not teach the crowds, He does not argue with His enemies. Instead, He prepares.

The only event that happened on Wednesday was despicable. Judas, inexplicably, goes to the chief priests to betray your Savior. Here’s the text:

Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, "You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified." Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people…." Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. 16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him. (Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16).

If you read it in your Bible, you’ll notice Matthew inserts the story of Mary anointing Jesus with perfume in the middle, and event that had happened the previous Saturday night. Why would Matthew do this? Well, Jesus prophesied she did this to prepare him for His burial (Matthew 26:12). So, contrast Judas who is now preparing Jesus for a Friday burial on Wednesday out of unbelief, and Mary, who did the same on Saturday but out of faith. Both were saddened at the prospect of Jesus dying, but one thought Jesus foolish for going to His death and chose to profit by it; the other thought Him wise and suffered great financial loss by it. What do you think…was He wise, or foolish for going to His death?

Speaking of wisdom, I think Jesus wisely rested on Wednesday. If you remember, He had poured Himself out like water the day before with all the teaching and arguing in the temple, followed by lengthy teaching of the disciples on the Mount of Olives. He had a big day coming tomorrow (Thursday), and of course, He knew Friday, the Passover, was His pending crucifixion. I imagine Him spending Wednesday in prayer, physically resting but spiritually preparing.

He also knew what Judas was doing, as He had prophesied and would again of him on Thursday night. He knew Judas would come back late on Wednesday night, thirty pieces of silver guiltily jingling in his bag. There’s no reason to assume Judas didn’t sleep restfully that night, either, finding peace as he finally gave exercise to his sin.

Perhaps Wednesday’s theme is loneliness, a loneliness made worse for Jesus by betrayal. Was Jesus sad? Of course. He was about to lose Judas to Satan. But He also felt the “joy that was set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2). Serving God is pleasing at all times, especially the worst of them.

The prospect of doing what God wants makes even the worst events bright with light, if not always cheerfulness. Even loneliness is fellowship if you have God to talk to and console with.

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Sent on April 8, 2020 by the Pastoral Staff (Ted Bigelow, Pastor of Preaching and Development and Steve Ridge, Executive Pastor) of Grace Bible Church of Colorado Springs.

Encouragement Email – Tuesday, Passion Week

Tuesday is an extremely busy day for your Lord. It begins with the proof of yesterday’s curse of the fig tree: it is all withered. Jesus uses it pitiful condition as an object lesson to teach His disciples on faith and prayer (Matthew 21:19b-22; Mark 11:19-25). May we learn this, too.

Then he goes down to the temple, and Passover week is in full swing. Thousands are there from all over the known world, and almost immediately, like they knew He was coming, there was a formal challenge of Christ’s authority by the chief priests, scribes, and elders: (Matthew 21:23-37, Mark 11:27-33, Luke 20:1-8). He’s never caught unprepared or surprised by His enemies. They’re awful!

In true Messianic form, Jesus hides the truth from some and reveals it to those with ears to hear by teaching the faithful discharge of responsibility in 3 parables: (Matthew 21:28-22:14; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19). Oh, what a high value our Lord places on loyalty and fidelity to Him!

The drama increases as thousands overhear a debate, in Middle-Eastern fashion, as Jesus humiliates his accusers who tried to humiliate him: (Matthew 22:15-23:36; Mark 12:13-40; Luke 20:20-47). He crushes them as they try to use sophistry and duplicity to condemn and kill Him. He’ll make it to Friday’s Passover, O blessed Lamb of God!

Leaving the temple, Jesus’ disciples ask him about the end-times, which results in Jesus delivering “The Olivet Discourse”: (Matthew 24:1-41; Mark 13:1-32; Luke 21:5-33). The details are intense and sequential, awaiting the future still for fulfillment. Until then, may we learn to fear the Lord and study His Word!

One might conservatively estimate the Lord has been on His feet or sitting, while teaching upwards of thousands, for three to four hours already. But He’s not done.

From here your Lord teaches His men five more parables on watchfulness and faithfulness: (Matthew 24:42-25:30; Mark 13:33-37; Luke 21:34-36). The temptation to walk away from His is so intense. We need more teaching! I’m guessing He slept well that night!

How are you sleeping these days? Go to Him for help by reading some of these parables and praying over them in detail, taking all the concerns of your soul to Him. One hour with Him is better than a hundred seeking peace from worry

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Sent on April 7, 2020 by the Pastoral Staff (Ted Bigelow, Pastor of Preaching and Development and Steve Ridge, Executive Pastor) of Grace Bible Church of Colorado Springs.

Encouragement Email – Monday, Passion Week

¹²The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. ¹³ Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. ¹⁴ Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it. ¹⁵On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, ¹⁶ and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. ¹⁷And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?' But you have made it a den of robbers.'" (Mark 11:12-17, NIV).

As your Lord enters Monday, the final Monday of His earth-bound life, He has already been inundated with hypocrisy. Yesterday’s entry to Jerusalem was suffused with worshippers and critics, most of whom will disown Him in but a few days. Thankfully His band of followers tag along by His side, listening carefully to Him whose every word was precious.

He makes his way down the hill toward Jerusalem. Surely there is sustenance for Him at this time of year in a fig tree. But the tree that promised figs by its showy leaf plumes yielded an unhappy surprise. What looked fruitful from a distance was in reality a lot of nothing. There were no figs to be eaten from that tree for breakfast.

So, Jesus uttered a curse upon it, likening the fig tree to Israel as Isaiah likely did in chapter 5 of his prophecy. “Okay,” we say. “That fits. The punishment was just; it was earned for obstinate rebellion.” It’s a punishment that is still in effect 2,000 years later.

So too, we would agree, with our Lord’s temple cleansing. Not a physical cleansing, mind you, but a spiritual cleansing. It too came with reproof, “you have made it ‘a den of robbers!’” I can’t help but wonder if His anger didn’t but burn hot. The temple, meant for men careful about their souls and anxious for God’s glory, was a fast-paced meat market. And is religion any less greedy for your money today?

And those are the two events on our Lord’s Monday recorded for our contemplation. Both were profoundly painful to the Lord who looked at all things not merely as a man does, outwardly, but also inwardly, as God does, to the heart. His soul is preparing for the cross.

As your thoughts turn to Friday’s cross, ask yourself a few questions.

“What is the condition of true religion in God’s name around me like on the surface, and then on the inside?”

“What is the fruit God wants, versus the fruit religious men admire?”

“How shall I love my Lord better in my heart, given that He was opposed to all hypocrisy?”

“What people shall I love better with my words and deeds, seeing that He has given Me His Son?”

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Sent on April 6, 2020 by the Pastoral Staff (Ted Bigelow, Pastor of Preaching and Development and Steve Ridge, Executive Pastor) of Grace Bible Church of Colorado Springs.