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• Jesus

Mixed emotions. We are full of them. We cry tears of sorrow and joy, in the same moment. The things that make us most excited also make us the most nervous—just ask a new parent. Yesterday, I felt relieved and sad at the same time. Our mixed emotions may seem illogical, but they are very real manifestations of all that is going on in our minds and hearts.
And spiritually speaking, many of our emotions and reactions do not make sense to the world. We rejoice when faced with trials, praise meekness, and consider blessed those who are poor in spirit.
As Christians, we even celebrate death! You know why? Because we see the power of the resurrection. The resurrection turned everything upside down.
After the resurrection, the mourning of the disciples was turned to gladness and their sorrow was turned to joy.
And, when the women approached the tomb and learned from the angel that Jesus had risen, we see that they were “afraid, yet filled with joy.”
What do you think made them feel afraid? Was their joy made complete because of their fear? Have you ever felt afraid, yet filled with joy?

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ~ Matthew 28:5-9

So, today I ask, what do you fear? How does the resurrection bring joy to your fears? And how does the resurrection transform our reaction to all things?

• Jesus

Robert Frost wrote a poem about two roads that diverged in a yellow wood. His poem reflects the same principle established by Jesus himself in Matthew 7. Christ encourages taking the narrow or less-traveled path.
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matt. 7:13-14)
For Jesus Christ, Messiah, the road He was called to travel was one that only He could walk—the road to redemption.
And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Heb. 10:10-14)
Jesus was the perfect sacrifice that allowed us to be redeemed—bought back by His blood.