Author: evangelist_breland

Luke 24:36-39, NKJV

Prior to this passage there were good news reports of post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. Here Luke gave us a report of other appearances. His disciples were gathered, hidden behind locked doors, discussing proofs that He had risen from the dead. As they were talking about these appearances, they had a terrifying and frightening experience – Jesus appeared to His disciples.

He stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace to you,” but they “supposed they had seen a spirit” (vv. 36-37). Jesus wanted to calm them. He came as their peace bearer. “For He Himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14a). As He had predicted: “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again” (v.7). In His immortal resurrection glory He had the miraculous power to walk through closed, locked doors. He didn’t need anyone to open doors for Him, nor did He need a manmade key to unlock them. Because of Jesus’ death on that old rugged cross and His resurrection from the grave, He can enter into those hearts that have locked Him out, but He will only come in by invitation. When Jesus got up out of the grave early that morning, leaving His grave clothes undisturbed, He had been given all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). If only they would set aside their fears and doubts and believe that they were not seeing a ghost!

Jesus continued by asking them, why were they troubled and had doubts in their hearts (v.38)? They had no reason to be afraid of Him; He had done them no wrong. On the other hand, Peter had denied Him before the cock crowed three times just like Jesus predicted. All eleven of His disciples were gathered here with unbelieving hearts discussing reports of post-resurrection appearances of Him. He told them to look at His hands and His feet and see that it was He Himself. Jesus invited them to touch Him and see that He was not a spirit; “a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have” (v.39). He wanted them to know there was no reason to fear Him. He wanted His disciples to have faith and believe that He was alive. What about you? Do you believe He is alive? If so, accept the risen Savior today. Give God glory!

This was Passover Sunday, the beginning of the last week of Jesus’ life on earth. He made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Today this Sunday is known as Palm Sunday. When Jesus and His disciples approached Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples ahead to make preparations for His entrance into Jerusalem (v.1). They were to go into the village opposite them, and immediately they will find a donkey tied and a colt with her. They were to untie them and bring them to Jesus (v.2). If anyone said anything to them, they were to say, “The Lord needs them,” and the owner will send them without delay (v.3).

This was fulfillment of prophecy spoken by Zechariah (v.4). Perhaps this is what Jesus would say to the people of Jerusalem, “Behold, your King is coming to you, gentle, and sitting upon a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden” (v.5). The disciples did as commanded (v.6). They put their clothes on the colt and set Jesus thereon (v.7). A colt that had not been used was considered holy by the Jews and was fit to carry a king. Jesus was a king and rode into Jerusalem in the manner that was customary for royalty. He came riding a colt humbly, but yet with royal dignity as the Prince of Peace. Matthew was foretelling the Messiah’s arrival in Jerusalem.

Jesus made a joyful entrance into Jerusalem, and a very great crowd followed Him. Most of them spread their coats on the road while others cut palm branches from the trees and spread them on the road as a royal carpet before a king (v.8). The crowds shouted praises and adoration: “Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” (v.9). What excitement when Jesus entered Jerusalem! All wanted to know His identity. “Who is this (v.10)?” And the crowds responded, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee (v.11).” More important, they weren’t certain that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. Are you sure Jesus is the Messiah ? If you’ve been on pause, hit your refresh button right now and restore the joy of triumph you experienced when Jesus first entered your heart. Give God glory and happy Resurrection Day!

Genesis 30:1, NKJV

Don’t You Know God is No Respecter of Persons

It’s mind-boggling that Leah was described as “tender eyed, but Rachel was described as beautiful of form and appearance,” yet Leah’s younger sister was envious of her (Genesis 30:1) Leah was envied by her little sister because she was fruitful; she had had four sons for Jacob. Rachel was barren; she had had none. Having a child should never be a measuring device for determining womanhood. In Bible times people were insensitive to women who had no children and considered them cursed. In our culture today a woman may not be considered cursed, but there exists an attitude of disregard for a woman’s feelings, her singleness, her health, or even her choice to have a child or not.  

God is no respecter of persons, and under no circumstance does He ever love one of us more than another. He saw that Leah was unloved so He showed her love by opening her womb. Leah misunderstood God’s generosity, and after each of the first three sons, she longed the more for her husband’s love. After number four, she declared “Now I will praise the Lord.”

Leah stopped bearing for a period of time. Then she and Rachel competed with having children for Jacob, including giving their maids to him to wife. Because of their hurt, anger, and insecurities, they put their maids, who had no say, in the drama. Leah had six sons and one daughter; Zilpah, her maid had two sons; Rachel had two sons, and Bilhah, her maid had two sons. God is all-knowing and always purposeful. ^8”For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55). Leah’s fourth son, Judah, is the tribe through which David and Jesus the Messiah descended. God is no respecter of persons. In every situation He will use whosoever He chooses to accomplish His purpose. Know without a doubt God is the one sure constant in our messy lives: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Give God glory!

Genesis 29:31- 35, NKJV

Now that daybreak has shed light on Laban’s and Leah’s cruel act of deception, Leah’s heartache and pain deepen. Jacob went off on Laban, blaming him for deceiving him. For Leah’s role in the night of deception her husband outright rejected her and loudly protested to Laban about such a switch. He loved Rachel so he willing accepted Laban’s proposal to fulfill Leah’s week as his bride, and Laban gave him Rachel to wife also and serve him another seven years (v. 27-28). “Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years” (v.30). What a compounded mess!

God is all-knowing and always purposeful. From every messy situation we create, He is able to clean it up. His purpose will prevail, and He will get the glory. No matter what the situation we must trust that nothing is too hard for God.  ³¹When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved (Literally hated), He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. ³²So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben (Literally See, a Son); for she said, “The Lord has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.” ³³Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon (literally Heard ). ³⁴She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi (literally Attached).  ³⁵And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah (literally Praise). Then she stopped bearing.

Daily she faced the painful reality of false hope in a loveless marriage. Leah’s attitude began to change; she declared that she will now praise the Lord (v.35). She began turning her heart from her husband to God. Her struggles were not over, but through it all, there was daybreak. Give God glory!

Genesis 29:31, NKJV

Yesterday Laban held a community feast, celebrating Jacob’s and Rachel’s wedding. Was that really Laban’s intention? Was he Satan in disguise? When evening came, Laban took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her (v.23). Laban, Leah and Rachel’s dad, has put Leah in a messy situation – a marriage in competition with her sister Rachel. What a cruel thing to do! Leah knew Jacob didn’t love her, but did she secretly love him? Perhaps she conspired with Laban to betray and deceive Jacob even though in that patriarchal system she probably had no say. Scripture does not show evidence that she bucked against daddy’s plot. Obviously there was no exchange of conversation that night. There must not have been a hello or an I love you between her and Jacob. Maybe she had low self-esteem and was secretly jealous of her little sister, who probably got complimented always on how pretty she was.  

Daybreak brought light, and darkness disappeared. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words denotes that daybreak in different translations means “at early dawn,” “early in the morning,” and “about daybreak.” With   the light of day came the stark and hurtful reality of false hope in a loveless marriage. It loomed painfully before Leah, setting her life on a course laden with struggles – deception, being unloved, betrayal, jealousy, conspiracy, and sharing a marriage with her sister. She needed daybreak so that she could begin to redirect her focus and change her attitude.

God is all-knowing. When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved (literally hated), He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren (v. 31). God will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He is well able to navigate through any mess we make of our lives in order to accomplish His purpose. His Light is spiritual Daybreak. Today, He will shine in your heart if you let Him lift the veil behind which you hide – deception, being unwanted and unloved, betrayal, jealousy, conspiracy, marriage problems, abuse, and much, much more. Give God glory!