“The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13 NLT)

A short time after the miracle at Pentecost, Peter and John went to the temple in Jerusalem for an afternoon prayer service. They were approached by a man who had been a paraplegic since birth. The man was well-known to temple-goers because every day he was carried to the temple gate, where he begged for money.

Newly filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter and John opted for something much, much better. Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk” (Acts 3:6 NLT).

The man was instantly healed—and filled with joyous gratitude. “Walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with” Peter and John (Acts 3:8 NLT). People recognized him as the (formerly) lame beggar and gathered around, absolutely astounded by his healing.

Peter saw a faith-sharing opportunity and addressed the crowd. That’s right, the man who, only a short time earlier, had been too afraid to identify himself as Jesus’ disciple was now speaking boldly to the temple crowd. That’s the power of Jesus’ resurrection.

Peter pulled no punches in explaining where the power for the man’s healing had come from. Jesus—whom the people in the crowd had rejected and demanded be crucified—had been raised from the dead. Faith in Him is what caused the man to be healed.

Peter helped the people see that Jesus had fulfilled the prophecies about the Messiah. He urged them to repent of their sins and receive God’s forgiveness. About two thousand of them did just that. (Compare the figure in Acts 2:41 with the one in Acts 4:4.)

The Jewish religious leaders quickly put an end to the preaching and arrested Peter and John. The next day, the two disciples were brought before “the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law” (Acts 4:5 NLT)—the same people who had overseen Jesus’ trials two months earlier.

“By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?” they asked. (verse 7 NLT). That’s a risky question to ask two men filled with the Holy Spirit.

“Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.… There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (verses 10, 12 NLT).

Peter and John knew full well that the Jewish officials could have them killed. In fact, they had been hiding from these very men when Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection. But they had been empowered by the One who conquered death. So they spoke the truth boldly and left the consequences in the Lord’s hands.

The Lord doesn’t shield His followers from the repercussions of being bold for His sake. But He stays with us through the challenges, the discomfort, and the consequences. He gives strength, wisdom, and perspective. And He rewards our faithfulness in ways we can’t imagine.

Reflection question: What would boldness in sharing the Good News of Christ look like in your life?

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“Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.” (Acts 2:41 NLT)

Jesus’ followers experienced a profound change after His resurrection. Jesus had conquered sin and death forever. He had already won the war against humankind’s two greatest enemies. So His followers were emboldened to fight the battles against those who opposed Jesus’ work. They literally had nothing to fear any longer.

We can see the evidence of their newfound boldness in the events that took place during the celebration of Pentecost at the temple in Jerusalem about ten days after Jesus returned to Heaven.

Pentecost (which is also known as Shavuot) is a major Jewish festival. In the first century AD, people traveled from foreign lands to celebrate it at the Jerusalem temple, the center of Jewish worship.

Jesus’ followers were also in Jerusalem at the time. About 120 of them had continued to meet since Jesus’ departure. According to Acts 2:1–4, a roaring wind suddenly swept through their meeting place. Small flames appeared and rested on each of them. The Holy Spirit filled them, and they began to speak in languages they didn’t know.

A large crowd rushed in to investigate the commotion. Foreign visitors to the city were stunned to hear stories about the wonderful things God had done being spoken in their native languages by uneducated Galileans.

Peter seized the moment. The disciple who, just a short time earlier, had been too scared even to identify himself with Jesus, boldly stepped forward and explained that the people were witnessing the fulfillment of a prophecy God had made hundreds of years earlier, as recorded in Joel 2:28–32. God had promised to pour out His Spirit on all people, and now the Spirit had arrived.

Peter then launched into an impromptu sermon. He reminded people of the miracles Jesus had performed. He pointed to those miracles, as well as to Jesus’ death and resurrection, to show them that Jesus had carried out God’s plan of salvation. Peter quoted the prophetic words King David wrote about Jesus hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth. And then he identified Jesus as the long-promised Lord and Messiah. Peter urged the people to repent and be baptized so that they, too, would be filled with the Holy Spirit.

His words had a powerful impact. Acts 2:42 says that about three thousand people believed in Jesus that day. With one bold push, Peter and the others started the snowball rolling downhill. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they established the church and began to fulfill the Great Commission—to make disciples of all nations. The world would never be the same.

The same Holy Spirit who gave wisdom, strength, and boldness to Peter and the others fills everyone who believes in Jesus today. His power is always available to us. He equips us to step out of our comfort zone, to reach across the invisible lines that separate us from others, and to boldly share the Good News of Jesus.

Reflection question: What specifically can the Holy Spirit equip you to do?

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“For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21 NLT)

I heard a story of a man who was trying to start his own religion, without much success. He went to a wise friend and said, “I’m trying to start my own religion, but no one is joining. What do you think I ought to do?”

His friend replied, “Why don’t you go get yourself crucified and rise again on the third day. I am sure you will have a lot of followers.”

Jesus’ followers were certainly energized and emboldened after His crucifixion and resurrection. But they had been prepared for their mission long before then.

For Jesus’ followers, His public ministry was a three-year training course. During their time together, Jesus gave them—and all who follow Him—a method for ministering to others. In Matthew 5 alone, He said,

• “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad!” (verses 11–12 NLT).
• “If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also” (verse 39 NLT).
• “If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too” (verse 40 NLT).
• “If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles” (verse 41 NLT).
• “Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” (verse 44 NLT).

In other words, march to the beat of a different drummer. Boldly set yourself apart from the world, no matter what the cost. Let people see the difference the Lord has made in your life.

Jesus gave His followers a mission for ministering to others. Before He ascended to Heaven, He gave His followers marching orders: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20 NLT).

The news of Jesus’ life, teachings, sacrificial death, and triumphant resurrection—of the salvation and eternal life He made possible—is too good to keep to ourselves. He wants us to share it with others in ways that resonate with them. That’s our challenge—and our privilege.

Jesus gave His followers a model for ministering to others. He asks nothing of us that He didn’t do Himself. The apostle Peter emphasized the importance of following Jesus’ example in the passage above.

The apostle Paul wrote, “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (Philippians 2:5–8 NLT). Humility is the key.

One of the last things Jesus did before He was arrested was wash His disciples’ feet. In the culture of the first century AD, this was a job reserved for the lowliest of servants. Jesus wanted His followers to know that when it comes to God’s work, we are servants. Pride and arrogance are obstacles that keep us from fulfilling His plan for us.

Jesus’ disciples learned these lessons well, although it doesn’t always appear that way in Scripture. Following Jesus’ example, they took His Good News to the ends of the earth.

We may not cover nearly as much distance as they did, but we, too, are equipped to share the Good News of Jesus with others. Jesus set the example for lovingly ministering to the people around us. He showed us what servanthood looks like.

Reflection question: What method for ministering to others will you focus on this week?

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“May he equip you with all you need for doing his will.” (Hebrews 13:21 NLT)

Fear comes in many forms. Kathisophobia is the fear of sitting. Ablutophobia is the fear of bathing. Anuptaphobia is the fear of being single. Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth. Automatonophobia is the fear of ventriloquist dummies.

I don’t know the name of the fear Jesus’ disciples experienced following the events of Good Friday through Easter, but it was real. And it was paralyzing.

This small group of followers had an enormous task ahead of them, but they were in no condition to undertake it. In fact, they were hiding behind closed doors, scared, confused, and with no idea what their next step should be.

So before He ascended to Heaven, Jesus appeared to His disciples several times to prepare them for what lay ahead. He eased their fear. He gave them the confidence they lacked. He gave them direction and purpose. He gave them hope. And He assured them that He would be with them, wherever they went and whatever they faced. Jesus equipped His followers to carry out His work.

On one occasion, shortly after His resurrection, He miraculously appeared to a group of His disciples behind locked doors. But Thomas, one of the disciples, wasn’t part of the group. Later, when the others told him about their experience, Thomas refused to believe.

“But he replied, ‘I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side’” (John 20:25 NLT).

Eight days later, Jesus appeared again to His followers. This time Thomas was present. Jesus said to him, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” (John 20:27 NLT). He wasn’t trying to embarrass Thomas. He was equipping him for the work ahead. If Thomas needed physical proof of Jesus’ resurrection, something he could experience with his own senses, Jesus was prepared to give it.

Likewise, on the night Jesus was arrested, Peter failed Him miserably. Three times Peter had an opportunity to stand boldly with Jesus during His trial, and three times he denied even knowing Jesus.

Jesus recognized how heavily that failure weighed on Peter. He didn’t want it to hinder or distract Peter from the role he was going to play in building the church and spreading the gospel.

So Jesus restored Peter to ministry. In John 21, Jesus appeared to Peter on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Three times He asked Peter if he loved Him. Three times Peter answered yes. And three times Jesus instructed him to feed or take care of His lambs or sheep. With that simple exchange, Jesus undid the emotional and spiritual damage Peter had caused with his denials.

Jesus equipped His disciples to change the world in His name. And He still equips His followers for service. He gives us what we need—whether it’s forgiveness, inspiration, wisdom, or courage—to strengthen our relationship with Him and encourage us to share His message with others. As the author of Hebrews wrote in the passage above: “May he equip you with all you need for doing his will” (NLT).

Reflection question: How has the Lord equipped you to do His will?

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“I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10 NLT)

Who is this man that we are talking about today? What sets the Christian faith apart from all other beliefs and religious systems out there in the world? It might come down to this. If you go to the tomb of Confucius, you will find that it is occupied. If you go to the tomb of Buddha, you will find that it, too, is occupied. If you go to the tomb of Muhammed, you will find that it is occupied. But if you go to the tomb of Jesus Christ, you will find that it is empty because He is alive. We serve a living Savior.

As Paul makes clear in the passage above, the resurrection we celebrate isn’t just a historical event; it also plays an important role in our daily lives. In the days to come, we’re going to look at the impact of Jesus’ resurrection on His disciples and earliest followers. Before we do that, however, let’s consider how it impacts us today. There are six practical truths we need to remember.

First, Jesus’ resurrection assures us that we’re accepted by God. Romans 4:25 says, “He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God” (NLT). When you put your faith in Christ, you are made right with God. You’re forgiven for all your sins. As someone once said, God treated Jesus as if He had lived your life so that He could treat you as if you had lived Jesus’ life.

Second, Jesus’ resurrection assures us that we have the power to live the Christian life. Romans 8:11–12 says, “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. . . . Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do” (NLT). No sin, habit, addiction, or vice can match the power of God.

Third, Jesus’ resurrection assures us that we will live forever in Heaven. Death is no longer the end of the road; it’s just a bend in the road. First Corinthians 15:54–55 says, “Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’” (NLT). Jesus took the sting of death. He suffered it in our place.

Fourth, Jesus’ resurrection assures us that we will receive new bodies that are like His. God will resurrect the bodies of all believers, and we will be radically upgraded versions of ourselves. Philippians 3:21 says Jesus “will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own” (NLT).

Fifth, Jesus’ resurrection assures us that we will have resurrected relationships with other believers. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14, the apostle Paul says, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died” (NLT). Death can separate us only temporarily. We will be able to pick up where we left off with loved ones who preceded us to Heaven.

Sixth, Jesus’ resurrection compels us to tell others. Jesus says in Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone” (NLT). The Good News is this: God loves you. You are separated from Him by your sin. Christ died for your sin and rose again from the dead. If you turn from your sin and believe in Him, you can know with certainty that you will go to Heaven when you die.

Sharing that message is not only a way to obey God, but also the most loving thing you can do for another person.

Reflection question: How does Jesus’ resurrection impact your life?

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“And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17 NLT)

The day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is known as Silent Saturday. Silent because the Bible has little to say about it, aside from a passage in Matthew 27 in which the leading priests and Pharisees ask Pilate to post guards at Jesus’ tomb to keep His disciples from stealing His body and claiming that He rose from the dead.

Silent because Jesus’ lifeless corpse had been sealed in a tomb.

Silent because it seemed there was nothing left to say. Death, it appeared, had gotten the final word.

Think about where Jesus’ disciples were on Silent Saturday—not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. Judas Iscariot was dead. After he learned that Jesus was going to be put to death, he tried to return the thirty pieces of silver he’d been paid to betray Him. And then, unable to live with his guilt, he hanged himself.

Peter was disgraced and demoralized. After all his bold talk, he had hidden in the shadows while Jesus faced His accusers. Three times people had recognized him as one of Jesus’ disciples. And three times had Peter denied knowing Him.

John was taking care of Mary, as per Jesus’ instructions on the cross. The other disciples were scattered, hiding out in their safe houses. They were dumbfounded, terrified, and wondering whether they had wasted the previous three years of their lives.

Think about where the rest of the world was on Silent Saturday. The religious leaders and Roman authorities were congratulating themselves for taking care of their Jesus problem once and for all. No doubt they were looking forward to a return to normalcy. The people of Israel were looking for the next would-be messiah they could celebrate and then abandon.

The world was a place with no hope. A place where sin and death still reigned supreme. A place where Jesus, His teachings, and His miracles would soon fade from memory and be lost to history.

The apostle Paul wrote, “And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world” (1 Corinthians 15:17–19 NLT).

If the cross was the end for Jesus, we would have no hope for reconciling with God, no hope for eternal life, and nothing to look forward to beyond our brief time in this world. And the people to be pitied on Silent Saturday are the ones who understood those implications.

Silent Saturday was a dark day. And they say it’s always darkest before the dawn. Nowhere was it darker than inside Jesus’ tomb. But as the first lights appeared in the sky on Sunday morning, there was a stirring in that tomb, a rustling of grave clothes, as the promise of eternal life became a glorious reality.

Reflection question: In the silence of this Saturday before Easter, what is on your heart?

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“A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, ‘It is finished!’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:29–30 NLT)

Ever since I was a little kid, I have always had a great admiration for the historical person known as Jesus. I had seen all His movies. I thought very highly of Him. I would thumb through my grandmother’s big family Bible and look at the illustrations of Jesus. She had a picture of Jesus on the wall. I would sit and stare at it and think, I wish I could have known that man Jesus.

The one thing I didn’t like about the life of Jesus was the way the story ended. I thought whoever wrote the story ought to rewrite it with a happier ending. The whole part of His being crucified wrecks everything. He is on this great roll. He is healing people. He is teaching people. Little children are flocking to Him. He is becoming more popular. This ending is ridiculous. Why do they have to put Him on a cross and kill Him?

It wasn’t until after I became a Christian that I realized the crucifixion of Jesus was the primary reason He came to earth in the first place.

He came to earth, fully God and fully human. He lived among us, as one of us. He experienced the things that are common to all of us, including the temptation to sin. Hebrews 4:14–15 says, “So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin” (NLT).

Jesus destroyed the power of sin. He lived a sinless life so that He could be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of everyone else.

He lived humbly, in perfect obedience to God. The apostle Paul put it this way: “When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7–8 NLT).

He did what no one else could do: pay God’s price for the sins of the world. Ephesians 1:7 says that God “is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins” (NLT). Jesus’ blood covers the sins of everyone who believes in Him. That means when God looks at us, He doesn’t see our sin; He sees His Son’s righteousness.

That’s why Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NLT).

And “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NLT).

Jesus gives us hope, joy, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose. He gives us “a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT).

That’s the work Jesus completed on the cross. That’s why He was able to say triumphantly, “It is finished.”

Reflection question: How can people see the finished work of Jesus in your life?

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“Then Jesus shouted, ‘Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!’ And with those words he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46 NLT)

Today we are going to discover the most painful moment in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. What do you think it was? Perhaps your mind races to the crucifixion itself. You think of the spikes being driven into His hands and feet. As painful and horrific as that was, I don’t believe that was His most painful moment. Perhaps you think of the scourging that took place prior to the crucifixion. The Roman whip literally tore Jesus’ back open, exposing his vital organs. As horrible as that was, I don’t believe it was His most painful moment.

Perhaps you think of how all His disciples, with the exception of one, deserted Him in His hour of need. As horrible and painful as that must have been, I don’t believe that it was His most painful moment.

I believe Jesus’ most painful moment is captured in His words in Matthew 27:46. Jesus uttered seven statements while He hung on the cross. Each one gives us insight into what He was experiencing, fulfilling, and accomplishing as He paid the ultimate price for our sin. The first reveals the depth of His suffering.

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46 NLT).

The intimacy that Jesus shared with His heavenly Father in the Garden of Gethsemane just a few hours earlier was gone. In its place was the wrath of the holy God. Jesus used the words of Psalm 22:1 to express His agony as He faced that wrath alone. God turned away from Jesus as He endured the punishment for the sins of the world. That spiritual abandonment was far more devastating than the physical pain Jesus experienced.

“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NLT).

Jesus’ enemies believed they were getting rid of a false messiah. They didn’t realize they were crucifying the Son of God, who was giving His life to save them. Jesus’ compassion on those who mocked and tortured Him is an amazing example of divine grace.

“I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43 NLT).

This is the work of salvation. One of the revolutionaries who was being crucified next to Him said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” He placed His faith in Jesus. In reply, Jesus assured him that he would be with Him in Heaven the moment he died.

“Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” (Luke 23:46 NLT).

Jesus presented Himself to God as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. He was ready to give up His life to complete the work of salvation.

“Dear woman, here is your son”; “Here is your mother” (John 19:26–27 (NLT).

Here’s another example of Jesus placing the needs of others above His own, even as He endured the agony of the cross. Jesus saw His mother in the crowd and wanted to make sure that she would be cared for. He entrusted her care to His beloved disciple John.

“I am thirsty” (John 19:28 NLT).

Jesus wasn’t trying to get His physical needs met. He was fulfilling the prophecy of Psalm 69:21: “They offer me sour wine for my thirst” (NLT). He said He was thirsty so that the Roman guards would give Him sour wine (vinegar).

Jesus made one final statement from the cross. That will be the focus of our devotion tomorrow.

Even in death, Jesus’ words are life-giving. His final utterances from the cross completed God’s work of salvation. They point us to eternal life, and they show us how to live this life abundantly by prioritizing God’s will.

Reflection question: What do Jesus’ final words reveal about Him, His work, and His priorities?

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