LIVE AGAIN!
Terry R. Baughman

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV).

Fifty days after Passover was the celebration of Pentecost! Jesus chose this feast in the Jewish tradition to welcome the arrival of the Spirit. The symbolism should not be missed. Jesus became our lamb of sacrifice. His blood was shed for our covering in the Passover. His presence is felt in the festival of harvest, and the celebration of the giving of the Law, the Word given to humanity! 

Pentecost commemorated when Moses descended from the Mountain of God with the commandments that would guide their lives and bring justice for victims. It was also a time of thanksgiving for God’s natural provisions, through the offering of the first fruits of the harvest. With the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost a new symbol was offered. The New Covenant was instituted by Jesus and confirmed by the Spirit as followers of Christ received the Holy Spirit for the first time. Over 3,000 received the gift of the Spirit on that special day. 

The promise of God’s Spirit given to all people was a prophecy from Joel, “It shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh” (Acts 2:17 NKJ). This was made possible by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 NKJ). His promise to disciples was, “Because I live, you will live also” (John 14:19 NKJ).

The gift of the Spirit is the experience of the resurrection. From the deadness of sin in our lives we are resurrected to life in Christ. Paul declared that this experience makes us a new creation! It is a result of His Powerful Presence! All things become new in Jesus!


Theme passage:
“Soon I will leave this world and they will see me no longer, but you will see me, because I will live again, and you will come alive too. So when that day comes, you will know that I am living in the Father and that you are one with me, for I will be living in you” (John 14:19-20 TPT).

LIVE AGAIN!
Terry R. Baughman

“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home” (John 19:25-27 NIV).

It is likely that Joseph died before seeing the amazing ministry of Jesus. After His miraculous birth, Joseph’s ambition was to be the protector of his new bride and the newborn. They fled to Egypt to escape the crazed King who sought to destroy the infant, whom the Magi predicted to be the future King of the Jews. 

Jesus was twelve years old at the last mention of Joseph. Jesus lingered behind at the Temple following the Feast of the Passover and engaged in discussions with the religious leaders, not knowing that His family had joined a caravan to return home. When it was discovered that Jesus was not with any of the family members, Joseph and Mary returned to Jerusalem to find Him astounding the teachers of the Law with His understanding. 

There is no record of Joseph’s passing, but the siblings and mother of Jesus are mentioned on different occasions where Joseph is no longer referenced. Perhaps this is why Jesus felt the responsibility for His mother in His dying moments on the cross. He committed the care of His mother to the only disciple who came to the cross. While other disciples fled in fear, John stood faithful to the end. John accepted the responsibility and apparently looked out for Mary in his own home, “from that time on.”

No wonder this disciple was the one whom He loved. John was near to Jesus. Judas betrayed the Lord, selling out for silver. Peter denied that he was one of the twelve, swearing and protesting that he did not know Him. Other disciples ran from the garden and stayed in the shadows, fearful for their lives. Only John accompanied Mary through the most difficult time of her life, witnessing the trial, the mockery, the punishment, and the crucifixion of our firstborn son. John was there with Jesus, and there for the women. He was truly a committed friend and disciple. 

On the first day of the week after the crucifixion, Mary Magdalene ran to where some of the disciples were and breathlessly announced that the tomb was empty. Peter and John were the first to go investigate her report. Running to the gravesite, they found that the stone had been removed and the tomb was now vacant. The two disciples were the first to enter the empty tomb and attested to Mary Magdalene’s report. The word quickly spread to the others that Jesus was indeed gone from the tomb. 

So many questions must have filled their minds as they considered the things Jesus spoke concerning the resurrection. Could it be true? Had Jesus indeed risen from the dead? All questions were resolved when Jesus appeared in the closed room where many of the disciples gathered. The words of the angelic messenger rang true, “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said” (Matthew 28:6 NKJ). 

All of God’s promises are true. As the disciples learned, may we also be convinced that Jesus lives and every promise will be fulfilled. 


Theme passage:
“Soon I will leave this world and they will see me no longer, but you will see me, because I will live again, and you will come alive too. So when that day comes, you will know that I am living in the Father and that you are one with me, for I will be living in you” (John 14:19-20 TPT).

LIVE AGAIN!
Terry R. Baughman

“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David” (Luke 1:31-32 NKJ).

Imagine the feeling Mary must have experienced receiving such a prophecy. No doubt there was a mix of honor and fear, excitement and anxiety. The weight of responsibility to bear the Messiah must have been overwhelming. There was also the implication of uncertainty. How would she tell Joseph? What would he say? The shame and possible banishment in having a child before marriage was severe in those days. No one would believe that this was truly a miracle of God! 

The initial promises concerning this child were grand. The messenger went on to say, “He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:33 NKJ). The angel also declared, “That Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (vs. 35). How would it be to know that your child held such a destiny? 

Unfortunately, that was not the last prophecy. There were more insights to come concerning what was in store for Mary, and not all of them were so grand. In the Temple when Jesus was just eight days old, Simeon uttered a joyous prophecy, “My eyes have seen Your salvation … A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” However, he also saw that, “This Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel,” and to the young mother, “… yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also” (Luke 2:30, 32, 34-35 NKJ).

No doubt Mary remembered some of these predictions when she stood at the cross and wept bitter tears of anguish. The three days following the crucifixion were probably the darkest days she had ever experienced. To see all her hopes and prophecies crushed by death and the tomb may have caused her to question all that she dreamed for her son. The news of the resurrection brought the joy of new hope and renewed dreams. 

The pain of motherhood is not just in giving birth, but in the dread of all that may happen to your child. There is the fear of losing them, of accidents, or disease. There is the possible pain of rebellion and rejection of your guidance and love. The emotions of motherhood are very real and there are no guarantees for a perfect life and perpetual peace. Most assuredly there will be challenges, sleepless nights, and disappointments. 

However, it will not all be negative. There will be wonderful moments of celebration in life, joyful stages of growth and development, and wonderful moments where expressions of love are spontaneous. Motherhood is painful and fulfilling. It is filled with joy and sometimes gripped with grief. There will be moments of anger, but many more reasons to laugh!

No other mother will have a Messiah, but every mom dreams of success for their children. It’s always right to pray for great opportunities to come to their lives, and health, wealth, and happiness to fill their days. 

Let your life be filled with hope and trust in God to lead your children in His path.  


Theme passage:
“Soon I will leave this world and they will see me no longer, but you will see me, because I will live again, and you will come alive too. So when that day comes, you will know that I am living in the Father and that you are one with me, for I will be living in you” (John 14:19-20 TPT).

THE RISEN KING!
Terry R. Baughman

“Why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11 NIV).

Not only did Jesus rise from the dead and vacate the grave, He also ascended into Heaven to live forevermore! Two men in white spoke a promise to the disciples and others that were gathered on the Mount of Olives when He ascended into the clouds. They said, “Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven!” The blessed hope of every follower of Christ is the assurance that He will come again in the heavens! Paul said, “We wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13 NIV).

His first coming was as the Son of man, born of flesh and blood and subject to the limitations of the body. He came in humility, lived in poverty, and died in the place of all humanity. With resurrection power He rose from the dead in victory, defeating the power of our greatest enemy. He overcame the bondage of death achieving the greatest liberty for those who put their faith in Him. The writer of Hebrews said, “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Hebrews 2:14-15 NIV).

So, we live in victory because of His resurrection. We anticipate His return, when He will once and for all finish off the curse of sin, and deliver us from the dread of death and the fear of the enemy. When He comes again, He will come in Glory, reigning triumphantly as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! (See Revelation 19:16.) Let us continue faithfully awaiting the Coming of the King! 


Theme passage:
“"He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead” (Matthew 28:6-7 NKJ).