BECOME QUIET for a few moments and imaginatively join Mary as she stands weeping outside the tomb. Envision yourself meeting Mary in the garden, her eyes and yours filled with tears. Go together across to the open tomb, look inside, and slowly take in what you see. Witness the intriguing emptiness of the grave . . . the grave clothes neatly folded . . . the shroud and napkin lying separately.
Now stand for a moment at your own pool of tears and reflect on it in the light of this resurrection picture. Weep if you need to. Allow this Easter-morning scene to deepen your belief that, on the other side of your brokenness, grief, and loss lie the possibilities of new beginnings. We can look at our tears and give up in anguish and despair, or we can look up to God through them and hope for transformation. I encourage you to make the second choice. Resurrection life and tears often interweave, which could be why the psalmist, many centuries ago, celebrated the promise that “those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” (Trevor Hudson, Hope Beyond Your Tears: Experiencing Christ’s Healing Love)
1Meanwhile, Sha'ul, still breathing murderous threats against the Lord's talmidim, went to the cohen hagadol2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Dammesek, authorizing him to arrest any people he might find, whether men or women, who belonged to "the Way," and bring them back to Yerushalayim.3He was on the road and nearing Dammesek, when suddenly a light from heaven flashed all around him.4Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Sha'ul! Sha'ul! Why do you keep persecuting me?"5"Sir, who are you?" he asked. "I am Yeshua, and you are persecuting me.6But get up, and go into the city, and you will be told what you have to do."7The men traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.8They helped Sha'ul get up off the ground; but when he opened his eyes, he could see nothing. So, leading him by the hand, they brought him into Dammesek.9For three days he remained unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.10There was a talmid in Dammesek, Hananyah by name; and in a vision the Lord said to him, "Hananyah!" He said, "Here I am, Lord."11The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to Straight Street, to Y'hudah's house; and ask for a man from Tarsus named Sha'ul; for he is praying,12and in a vision he has seen a man named Hananyah coming in and placing his hands on him to restore his sight."13But Hananyah answered, "Lord, many have told me about this man, how much harm he has done to your people in Yerushalayim;14and here he has a warrant from the head cohanim to arrest everyone who calls on your name."15But the Lord said to him, "Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name to the Goyim, even to their kings, and to the sons of Isra'el as well.16For I myself will show him how much he will have to suffer on account of my name."17So Hananyah left and went into the house. Placing his hands on him, he said, "Brother Sha'ul, the Lord - Yeshua, the one who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here - has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Ruach HaKodesh."18In that moment, something like scales fell away from Sha'ul's eyes; and he could see again. He got up and was immersed;19then he ate some food and regained his strength. Sha'ul spent some days with the talmidim in Dammesek,20and immediately he began proclaiming in the synagogues that Yeshua is the Son of God.
1A psalm. A song for the dedication of the house. By David: I will exalt you, ADONAI, because you drew me up; you didn't let my enemies rejoice over me.2ADONAI my God, I cried out to you, and you provided healing for me.3ADONAI, you lifted me up from Sh'ol; you kept me alive when I was sinking into a pit.4Sing praise to ADONAI, you faithful of his; and give thanks on recalling his holiness.5For his anger is momentary, but his favor lasts a lifetime. Tears may linger for the night, but with dawn come cries of joy.6Once I was prosperous and used to say, that nothing could ever shake me7when you showed me favor, ADONAI, I was firm as a mighty mountain. But when you hid your face, I was struck with terror.8I called to you, ADONAI; to ADONAI I pleaded for mercy:9"What advantage is there in my death, in my going down to the pit? Can the dust praise you? Can it proclaim your truth?10Hear me, ADONAI, and show me your favor! ADONAI, be my helper!"11You turned my mourning into dancing! You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,12so that my well-being can praise you and not be silent; ADONAI my God, I will thank you forever!
11Then I looked, and I heard the sound of a vast number of angels - thousands and thousands, millions and millions! They were all around the throne, the living beings and the elders;12and they shouted out, "Worthy is the slaughtered Lamb to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise!"13And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth and on the sea - yes, everything in them - saying, "To the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb belong praise, honor, glory and power forever and ever!"14The four living beings said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshipped.
1After this, Yeshua appeared again to the talmidim at Lake Tiberias. Here is how it happened:2Shim`on Kefa and T'oma (his name means "twin") were together with Natan'el from Kanah in the Galil, the sons of Zavdai, and two other talmidim.3Shim`on Kefa said, "I'm going fishing." They said to him, "We're coming with you." They went and got into the boat, but that night they didn't catch anything.4However, just as day was breaking, Yeshua stood on shore, but the talmidim didn't know it was he.5He said to them, "You don't have any fish, do you?" "No," they answered him.6He said to them, "Throw in your net to starboard and you will catch some." So they threw in their net, and there were so many fish in it that they couldn't haul it aboard.7The talmid Yeshua loved said to Kefa, "It's the Lord!" On hearing it was the Lord, Shim`on Kefa threw on his coat, because he was stripped for work, and plunged into the lake;8but the other talmidim followed in the boat, dragging the net full of fish; for they weren't far from shore, only about a hundred yards.9When they stepped ashore, they saw a fire of burning coals with a fish on it, and some bread.10Yeshua said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."11Shim`on Kefa went up and dragged the net ashore. It was full of fish, 153 of them; but even with so many, the net wasn't torn.12Yeshua said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the talmidim dared to ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.13Yeshua came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.14This was now the third time Yeshua had appeared to the talmidim after being raised from the dead.15After breakfast, Yeshua said to Shim`on Kefa, "Shim`on Bar-Yochanan, do you love me more than these?" He replied, "Yes, Lord, you know I'm your friend." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."16A second time he said to him, "Shim`on BarYochanan, do you love me?" He replied, "Yes, Lord, you know I'm your friend." He said to him, "Shepherd my sheep."17The third time he said to him, "Shim`on BarYochanan, are you my friend?" Shim`on was hurt that he questioned him a third time: "Are you my friend?" So he replied, "Lord, you know everything! You know I'm your friend!" Yeshua said to him, "Feed my sheep!18Yes, indeed! I tell you, when you were younger, you put on your clothes and went where you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go."19He said this to indicate the kind of death by which Kefa would bring glory to God. Then Yeshua said to him, "Follow me!" (Complete Jewish Bible).
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