Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. John 20:14

Jesus is our continual comforter, even when we don’t sense His presence, we can be confident that He is near to the brokenhearted. On that glorious easter morning Mary had gone to the tomb to find her crucified Lord missing. Under the impression that His body had been stolen she was frantic for answers. She questioned the angles at the tomb and got no closer to the truth until the Truth came closer to her.

Hold tight to the truth that Jesus has promised to never leave you or forsake you. Your flesh is against and will do anything it can to make you deny Him. When your feelings tell you that He is not near then rebuke your feelings remember His promise. He is faithful, He is not like man and can not lie. When Jesus says that He will never leave you it does not matter if you do not feel or sense His nearness, but just believe He is there.

His promise to be near to you is not based on anything you do. Even when you are faithless, He remain faithful. Believer, know that your sin does grieve God, but His love has triumphed over your sin and He is waiting by your side for you to turn to Him and embrace the grace He gives out. Often times when we turn our back on God and it feels like He has left, He is still there, but we have closed our eyes to Him. He is great in patience and standing there eager to forgive. He comforts all His children the same.

“Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. John 20:19-20

How magnificent is it that Jesus never treats us as our sins deserve. After the disciples deserted Him when he was crucified He approaches them with a message of “Peace be with you.” When Jesus comes to the disciples He does not remind them of their sin, but instead of the good news. Because of His atoning sacrifice there is no need to fear condemnation or disgrace from God. All of our sins have been laid on Jesus so that we can have peace with God.

Let us then follow the example of our Lord and be more quick to remind others of their peace with God instead of their sin. The greatest good that we can do for one another is to point them to the hands and sides that was pierced for them. For most Christians they do no need to be taught new truth or see what they lack, but the need they will always have until they reach home is to be reminded of the grace that God is eager to pour out on those that turn to Him.

We are called to be Christ ambassadors. That is our number one task. He who did not know sin became sin on our behalf so that we can show an unbelieving world that we have a Heavenly Father who loves unconditionally because He is glorious and we are nothing compared to Him. We cannot be Christ ambassadors without His peace that He has given to us to carry and show to all. True gladness and joy is not found apart from peace from God. Hearts cannot be satisfied without this trut

Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” John 21:22

There are two essential truths that every Christian needs to know. The first is who we are, which is sinners, weak and unable to do any good on our own, but by God’s grace we have been saved and called to be His children. As God’s children we are His followers, giving our lives away to Him and dieing to self so that He may be glorified and honored in all that we do. This is only possible by the blood of Christ that was offered in exchange for our sinfulness. The second truth is that God is all knowing and the source of all wisdom. His judgment and ways are unsearchable and past finding out.

Since the garden of Eden, before the fall of man, we have always had a desire for more knowledge. Eve’s desire for that which is above her is what led her to eat from the tree that God had forbidden. The flesh knows that all of humanity shares the Achilles heel of curiosity and aims for that weakness, whether it be through gossip about others, anxious thoughts about the future or seeking things above us. Ultimately, there is only on thing we need to know and be concerned with and that is Christ and Him crucified.

Only God is wise and only He knows the fate of all people. Instead of striving for knowledge that does not build up or lead us to God, let us rest in the fact that he knows all the details of tomorrow. In the cross God is shown as ultimately trustworthy as He saves sinners and satisfies His justice. The questions about sins of others and their consequences or envy of their fruitfulness mean nothing when seen in light of God’s perfectly wise plan and grace.