READINGS FOR MARCH 13, 2024: JOB 17, MATTHEW 28, PSALM 18:31-50                                     JOB 17 Job continues to see no hope in his life. In verses 4-5 he raises a provocative idea worth exploring. Is it possible that God kept understanding from Job’s friends? Job may not be in good position to evaluate his friends’ situation, but we can look for like examples in the Bible:

• God gave an unusual message for Isaiah to convey: “’Keep on listening but do not perceive; keep on looking but do not understand.’ Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes dim, lest they see with their eyes and understand with their hearts” (Isaiah 6:9-10).
• Here is some gory guidance from Jesus: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces” (Matt. 7:6).
• Remember the response Jesus gave for the reason He taught in parables: “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he shall have in abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him” (Matt. 13:11-12).
• This case is not God’s doing but speaks to a barrier Jews have seeing Jesus in the Old Testament: “But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts” (2 Cor. 3:14-15).   

In the cases above, the problems understanding truth would not have been there if the people had been responsive to the truth given before. God does not want any to perish (2 Pet.3:9).                                                                                                                          

MATTHEW 28 Skeptics of Christianity often charge that because accounts of the resurrection vary so much, the story was made up. There are considerable differences. Different gospel writers focused on different aspects. Luke wrote that he had read the different accounts and tried to put events in chronological order (Luke 1:3).  John, on the other hand, stressed he only included material that would help the reader believe in Jesus (John 20:20-21). The late George Ladd from Fuller Theological Seminary put together a possible sequence that includes all the resurrection events from the four Gospels. Of course, it might not have happened in this order, but it is reassuring to know the resurrection accounts can be harmonized.

1. The earthquake and removal of stone occurs before dawn.
2. A group of four women come early to the tomb, wondering who will move the stone. As they approach, they are amazed to see that the stone has been rolled away.
3. Mary rushes off to tell Peter and John that the body of Jesus has been stolen (John 20:2). 
4. The other women stay in the garden. They enter the tomb and are met by two angels, who tell them to carry the word of the resurrection to the disciples. 
5. The women rush away from the garden, filled with mingled emotions of fear and joy, speaking to no one about the vision of the angels at the empty tomb (Mark 16:8). 
6. Later in the day, Jesus met them. (Matthew 28:9 does not say that this meeting occurred in the garden.) They had to run away from the tomb. Jesus tells them to bear the word to the disciples; they depart to find the disciples, who are not together but scattered (Matthew 26:56). 
7. Peter and John, having been informed by Mary, come to the tomb after the women have left. They see the clothes; vague comprehension dawns on John. They rush off to gather the disciples.                                                       

READINGS FOR MARCH 13, 2024: MATTHEW 28, PSALM 18:31-50                                                 

• Mary returns to the tomb after Peter and John have left; they had run to the tomb (John 20:4), leaving Mary behind. She still thinks the body has been stolen. She is weeping outside the tomb, knowing nothing of the experience of the women she had left in the garden. She sees the two angels, then Jesus (John 20:11-17).
• After the first shock of amazement had worn off, the women find some of the disciples; the disciples cannot believe the fanciful story (Luke 24:11). 
• The disciples have gathered together. 
• Mary arrives and tells her experience (John 20:18).

Thoughts about the Matthew 28 Resurrection Account:

• How beautiful that the two Marys faithfully kept the Sabbath but as soon as possible (dawn on Sunday) went to Jesus’s grave. These were also strong women who were not frozen in fear like the guards (vs.4) when they encountered the angel. When they met Jesus, they were able to balance fear with joy (vs. 8), a combination that baffles many folks today but is commanded throughout scripture.  Can we do likewise? 
• The Jewish leaders never even considered the implications of the resurrection beyond their desire to hold onto power. They fabricated a lie and bribed the soldiers to maintain the lie. Sounds like Watergate. Do we really value and live the truth?
• What’s so special about going to Galilee? Right after Jesus told the disciples they would all desert him (Matt 26:31-32), he quickly changed the subject and told them to meet Him in Galilee. When the angel spoke with the Marys, he told them to tell the disciples Jesus had risen and to meet Him in Galilee. When the Marys bumped into Jesus on the way, He told them to tell the disciples to leave for Galilee. Something big was going to happen in Galilee. Jesus’s first words in Galilee were that He possessed all authority so they can and must go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them to obey His words.  Have we heard Jesus’s words from Galilee with the full emphasis He intended?  If we obey, we have the promise of Jesus’s presence. WE WILL OBEY 

PSALM 18:31-50 David’s Steps to Victory: Starting and Ending with God 

• Verses 30-31 God’s qualities
• Verses 32-36 God’s strengthening of David
• Verses 37-48 David’s enemies defeated
• Verses 49-50 David’s praise offered to God

Perhaps this process can serve us in battles we are facing today. (Eph. 6:12 reminds us that our battles today are against evil forces and not people!)  Pray the following steps:

1. Your ways God are perfect and your Word is trustworthy. You are my shield, refuge, leader, and rock (vs. 30-31). (Only pray this if you mean it! God knows our hearts.)
2. Strengthen me, God, and keep me from disobeying you. Prepare me for the challenge(s) I currently face. Keep me from falling with your gentle hand (vs.32-36).
3. Deliver and rescue me from (fill in the blank) and be the God of this victory (vs. 37-48).
4. Thank you for your deliverance and kindness to me and all who care for me (vs. 49-50).