Elmhurst CRC

Welcome to the Elmhurst CRC Devotional Experience.

It’s Friday, the sixth day of Easter week

Our scripture reading today comes from John 21:15-19

We all know Peter, he’s Jesus’ guy. His right hand man during Jesus’s ministry on earth. I love Peter because he gives me so much hope. I see a lot of me in Peter. So in love with Jesus yet so very wild. Think about it he jumped out of boats, cut off a guys ear, and even asked to build tents for the transfiguration. He is a guy that is in love and wants to get stuff done.

I think Peter gives me such hope because he is so human! His love and devotion abound for Jesus, but even Peter gets scared. When Jesus was taken captive and was going on trial Peter is presented with a very simple question. “You were one of His disciples you know Him you were one of the ones with Jesus of Galilee?” And Peter, in a very human moment, denies that he knew Jesus. In fact three times he stands by a fire, in the dark, just outside where Jesus was on trial and denies that he ever knew who Jesus was. Jesus told Peter that he would deny ever knowing Him and Peter responded to Jesus that he never could do such a thing. But then as the rooster crowed that night the true realization struck.

Could you imagine what it must have felt like? The sound of that rooster’s crow must have been like an air horn. You know that noise in your life, when you realize just how far you have drifted from God and it seems like there is no use. Like its not even worth trying any longer, like you are just no good. For Peter this realization must have made the world seem so dark, so cold, even the fire that burned next to him must have seemed like it gave off very little light. But that’s not where the story ends for Peter and its not the way that Jesus leaves things! In fact, it's just where our scripture reading starts.

Jesus had died, and Peter and some of the other disciples go fishing. Jesus was gone and so they go back to what is familiar. But, here is the the beautiful part!!! Jesus found the disciples right where He found them at the beginning of His ministry on earth. He gave them all they could imagine in a catch. And then had a meal with them. And during the meal He asks Peter if Peter loves Him more than those fish. The fish represent the old stink, but also the comfortable safety net, the familiar life; not the crazy life. The life that we thought would make us happy. And so Jesus asked Peter three times, Do you love me? Peter says yes and Jesus responds, Feed my lambs, Do you love me… Take care of my sheep, Do you love me… Feed my sheep. Each time Peter answered yes. The last time he even cried out in frustration “yes Lord you know I love you!” He was at a place where He desired so badly to forget what he had said and done and be forgiven. Thats beautiful thing!

Jesus is bringing back light into the darkness. He is undoing the very thing that Peter thought could never be forgotten, what Peter thought could never be forgiven. Jesus does this all around a fire. Just like the fire Peter stood by and denied Christ. One of the most amazing senses we have is our sense of smell. It is one of the most powerful ways to recall memories. Could you imagine that every time you smelled a fire you would remember your denial of Christ? But Jesus love for us goes so deep, that when He redeems Peter, when Jesus redeems us, He does it fully, His light comes bursting into the darkest places of our lives, the parts we wish to never relive, to never remember. the power of the resurrection shines the light of God’s power into our lives to remind us that He forgives all, redeems all, and redirects all! Even down to the very scent of our sin.

Find a dark or dim place nearby. As you do so, remember that God has forgiven you and redeemed you. He will go to the farthest stretches to restore you and bring you back into right relationship with Himself! Bring along seven sources of light for the seventh day of our experi

Welcome to the Elmhurst CRC Devotional Experience.

It’s Friday, the sixth day of Easter week

Our scripture reading today comes from John 21:1-14

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in

Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the

fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When Jesus first met his disciples, many of them were fishermen. But they left their boats and nets to follow him and go fishing for people instead. After Jesus had died and risen, the disciples were so confused that they were tempted to return to their old life. “I’m going fishing” Peter said, and the rest went along with him.

They spent a night fishing on the Sea of Galilee and caught absolutely nothing. As the sun came up, Jesus appeared on the shore and called out to them to try casting their nets out on the right side of the boat. They did and pulled in a huge load of fish, 153 to be exact. Perhaps because this was an almost exact repeat of the scene when they first met Jesus, they recognized that it was their Lord calling to them from the shore. As the sun was rising over the eastern shore of of the lake, the light of truth was beginning to rise in their hearts.

When they got to shore, Peter was so excited that he hauled the entire net of 153 wriggling fish onto shore by himself. Jesus invited the disciples to share in the breakfast he had prepared: there were coals burning with fish and with fresh bread.

Earlier the disciples had wondered if Jesus could eat fish in his new body (see Wednesday). Now Jesus proves that he can not only eat, but he can also cook. More importantly, Jesus demonstrates that he has risen to provide for the needs, body and soul, not only of the 11 remaining disciples, but the needs of his church. That’s us!

Perhaps you know that the fish is an ancient Christian symbol. It’s amazing how often fish figure into the resurrection stories of Jesus! The Greek word for fish is "I-X-TH-U-S” (“TH” is one letter, theta, in Greek). Taken as an acronym in Greek, the five letters stand for the first letter of the words, “Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

Find a dark or dim place nearby. Bring along six sources of light for the sixth day of our experience.

As the light begins to push out the darkness, speak these words: “Out of the darkness of the tomb, the light is shining. Jesus is the light of the world.” If you can, sing a verse

Welcome to the Elmhurst CRC Devotional Experience.

It’s Thursday, the fifth day of Easter week

Our scripture reading today comes from John 20:24-31

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Do you ever have doubts about what people are telling you? Perhaps the story that they are sharing is just too hard to believe. Perhaps he did catch a fish but it wasn’t that big! So what do we do with that doubt? If you are like me, you ask further questions to try and establish the truth or you ask for evidence, you want proof. And as you receive answers to your questions and proof of the story you start to see that something that was initially unbelievable becomes believable.

I don’t think it was any different for Thomas. To think that Jesus had risen from the dead is understandably difficult to believe. I think so often he is given a bad rap for his doubt, in fact he is known to many as “Doubting Thomas”. And with that name often comes a negative connotation. If you were Thomas in this story, how would you have reacted to the disciples telling you they had seen the Risen Lord?

Could it be possible that Thomas wanted to see for himself so that his faith could be his experience and not the experience of the other disciples? As the disciples had seen the light, he wanted to see it also. In doing so I believe he is shining a light for us to use as an example as a way for our faith to grow, to not be afraid to doubt but then pursue them and go find the answers.

I know as a parent I want that for my children, I don’t want them to believe in Jesus because I do, I want them to know Him for themselves. I want them to experience His wonderful gift of life that He offers.

When Thomas encounters Jesus for himself, Jesus does not bring condemnation but answers his doubts precisely. In touching the wounds of Jesus, Thomas is able to confess who is standing before him, “My Lord and My God.”

May that be our experience as we encounter the living, risen Lord. May His light shine.

May you be encouraged that any doubts about our faith, if we are willing to bring them into the light, can be met in Jesus.

Find a dark or dim place nearby. Bring along five sources of light for the fifth day of our experience.

As you turn on each light share a doubt that you have or a concern that is on your mind. If you are doing this as a family have everyone share a doubt and then turn on a light after each one.

When all the lights are on, speak these words: “Out of the darkness of the tomb, the light is shining. Jesus is the light of the world.”

Welcome to the Elmhurst CRC Devotional Experience.

It’s Wednesday, the fourth day of Easter week

Our scripture reading today comes from Luke 24:36-43

While his disciples were talking together, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.

When Jesus appeared to his eleven disciples (Judas, now being gone), he greeted them with the words, “Peace be with you.” He knew they would be scared - and anxious - and fearful. God’s peace is the opposite of fear.

The disciples mistook Jesus for a ghost at first. What might a resurrected human body actually be like? The disciples were scared of Jesus despite his soothing words and despite the fact that they recognized him. Somehow Jesus must have been both familiar and otherly in his newly resurrected body. He was the same, and very different.

To help comfort them, Jesus showed them his hands and feet which still were marked with the wounds of his crucifixion. When they could see truth that it really was Jesus, the light bulb began to go on. They have their “Aha!” or “Eureka!” moment. When the light of truth dawns on them, the Gospel of Luke say that “joy and amazement” began to follow. Fear and anxiety are transformed into joy and amazement in the presence of the resurrected Jesus.

The disciples, perhaps wanting a little more proof of Jesus’ identity, gave him a taste test. They share a piece of broiled fish with him... and he eats it. Perhaps they wondered if Jesus’ body was solid enough to eat. The answer: Yes! Even in his resurrected body, Jesus is still one of us. Human. Flesh and blood. Eating. Drinking. Breathing. Sharing his peace.

Perhaps you know that the fish is an ancient Christian symbol. The symbol traces back to this moment when that little piece of fish eaten by Jesus demonstrates that he is truly risen and that he is still, truly one of us.

Find a dark or dim place nearby. Bring along four sources of light for the fourth day of our experience.

As the light begins to push out the darkness, speak these words: “Out of the darkness of the tomb, the light is shining. Jesus is the light of the world.” Share any other Bible stories or references you can think of about fishes … or maybe even about a whale.

It is Tuesday, the third day of Easter week and today’s devotional is from Luke 24:13-35.

Have you ever tried to find something in a dark room and can’t see where you are going? As you feel around in the dark, maybe you bump into furniture or stub a toe? Then someone flips a switch and the room is flooded with light. Instantaneously, everything is illuminated. You not only see where you are going but also the people alongside of you.

In today’s passage, two disciples experienced a spiritual “turning on of the lights.” These two followers of Jesus were traveling the road to Emmaus. They had probably witnessed Jesus’ death, seen the nails driven into his hands and the spear into his side. As the Bible tells us, these followers were downcast and confused. In Jesus’ death, their dreams and hopes were nailed to the cross and died as well.

And then there were these unbelievable accounts of Jesus being alive. I wonder why they didn’t stay to find out if these reports were true. Instead, these two disciples decided to walk seven miles to Emmaus. As they were discussing these things, Jesus came alongside of them and entered into their conversation. As they walked together, the disciples didn’t recognize Jesus. They obviously weren’t expecting him. They believed he had died and was gone.

Jesus listened to their confusion and reminded them what the Scriptures had said of the Messiah. Hearing these historical promises, the disciples urged their companion to stay with them. When you are reminded of God’s goodness, don’t you want to take a moment to savor it as well? I wonder if they didn’t want the conversation to quite end yet.

And Jesus was not finished reminding them of God’s promises. When they ate together, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke it. I wonder if these two disciples were reminded of similar time when Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke it. The Bible tells us that in that moment, their eyes were opened to the risen Lord. And then, poof! Jesus disappeared from their sight. It was then they realized that, all along, their hearts had been burning inside of them as Jesus shared the Scriptures.

The Bible then tells us: “They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, ‘It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.”

In many ways, we are like these disciples walking a road in life. Just like he illuminated truth and light into this situation, are there questions you are wrestling with that needs understanding and the light of the Resurrected Jesus? As you walk the road of your life, open your eyes to Jesus’ presence and welcome him in.

In closing, gather in a dark or dim place nearby. Bring along 3 sources of light for the third day of our experience. As the light begins to push out the darkness, speak these words: “Out of the darkness of the tomb, the light is shining. Jesus is the light of the world.” If you can, sing a verse of the song, “This Little Light of Mine.”

Welcome to the Elmhurst CRC Devotional Experience.

It’s Monday, the second day of Easter week

Our scripture reading today comes from John 20:10-18

Then the disciples went back to their homes,but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out teacher!

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Mary had walked with Jesus for some time. She had seen him perform miracles, heard

him proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, wept as he was crucified, and

watched as his body was sealed in the tomb. She felt the tremendous loss of him and

was devastated that he was gone.

Imagine then the emotions that pass through her that morning when she goes to the

tomb. Grief over his death. Shock that his body was not in the tomb. Fear at the sight

of the angels. Confusion when first seeing Jesus. Unspeakable joy when she realizes it

is him.

In this joy she reaches out for him. She hangs on to keep him with her, to not lose him

again, and perhaps to try and keep things how they were before. But, that is not his

plan.

He tells her not to hold on to him, that he still needs to go to the Father, that there is

more to come.

Last week my daughter asked me why Jesus tells Mary not to hold on to him and yet

later tells Thomas to touch his hands and side. Why the difference?

The difference is that Mary needed to loosen her grip and Thomas needed to strengthen his. Mary was clinging to Him, taking comfort in his strength and that he was back and physically before her. She did not want to let go and she did not want things to change.

But, it was time for Mary to realize that things would not stay the same. They could not. It was time for her to walk by faith, time for her to take the time to go and tell the others. To share his story. His love. His light. She did not need to touch him as others did to have faith in who he was. But, she did need faith enough to continue on. She had seen her risen Lord and now needed to release her grip so that she might open her hands and share the good news that Jesus is alive! Jesus, the Light of the World, still shines.

Find a dark or dim place nearby. Bring along two sources of light for the 2nd day of our experience.

As the light begins to push out the darkness, speak these words: “Out of the darkness of the tomb, the light is shining. Jesus is the light of the world.” If you can, sing a verse of the song, “This Little Light of Mine.”

Welcome to the Elmhurst CRC Devotional Experience.

It’s Sunday, the first day of Easter week

Our scripture reading today comes from Luke 24:1-8

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the

spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone

rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the

body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly

two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words.

He is risen. He is risen indeed! Christians all the over the globe (and realms unknown to us!) will greet each other with these words today. From the womb of a rocky tomb, God has brought the miracle of new light, new life, a resurrection!

The large stone that had been placed in front of Jesus’ tomb was rolled away by the power of God. The seal of the Roman government, the authority of the Roman guards, the watchfulness of the Pharisees could not stand in the way of God’s good work. Who would have guessed that new life could emerge from that dark, stone grave?

If God’s power was able to bring the ultimate life from the tomb, what might he do with the stuff of your life - even the parts that may seem dark and lifeless? He is risen indeed!

Today’s Activity: Find a dark or dimly near place nearby. Take one light source: a candle, a flashlight, or even a cell phone… Perhaps read Luke 24:1-8. As the light begins begins to push out the darkness, speak these words together: “Out of the darkness of the tomb, the light is shining. Jesus is the light of the world.” If you can, sing a verse of the song, “This Little Light of Mine.”

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Palm Sunday: Gregg

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