John 20: Part 2 Jesus and Doubting Thomas

On the evening of the empty tomb, His disciples hiding in fear,

Jesus appeared in the upper room showing them He was near.

He showed them His wounds, brought peace to their hearts

For the Spirit of God His power to impart.

“As the Father sent Me, so send I you.

What I have done you will do too.”

He breathed upon them the power of the Spirit

To preach repentance to all who will hear it.

All except Thomas were present that night when Jesus came to them

But Thomas refused to believe the words they told him time and again.

“Unless I see the scars in His hands and touch the wound in His side,

I won’t stop believing He is dead because I saw Him die.”

Eight days later they were together and Jesus suddenly appeared.

He said to Thomas, “Reach out to my side. What do you feel here?

Do not doubt Thomas, my friend, you have work on this sod.”

Thomas fell to his knees and said, “It is You, my Lord and my God.”

“Thomas, You have seen Me and now believe. You could have done better.

Blessed are those who do not see, yet believe My written letter.”

The apostles were a living letter written for all to see

The transformation Jesus effects when He saves abundantly.

Salvation comes to those who believe the truth of God’s Holy Word,

The Word the apostles boldly proclaimed to those who had never heard.

It doesn’t take a miracle to validate God’s glorious Truth.

Its power will save the soul of an adult, child, or youth.

The Bible records the miracles and accounts of our Lord’s teaching.

We formulate our doctrine from its record of Biblical preaching.

How glad I am that Jesus died and that He rose from the dead

Declaring to all He is Lord and King, the future Kingdom head.

It won’t be long now til Jesus comes; He is our blessed hope,

To rule eternally as God’s Son far beyond earth’s present scope.

Those who love Him and trust His grace will live forever in peace;

The power and glory of His reign shall never, ever cease.

God is calling for all to hear the message He sends today.

Sin has severed man from God, made His days dark and gray.

God, not willing for man to be lost, sent Jesus to die in our place.

Forgiveness and eternal life flow from His saving grace.

Won’t you trust His grace today? Won’t you yield your life?

Won’t you turn from sin’s highway, walk away from sin and strife?

Call upon Jesus to save your soul, ask Him to guide you each day.

You’ll find purpose in this life and joy on Judgment Day.

© Copyright 2016 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

John 20: The Empty Tomb

Mary Magdalene came to the tomb in need of consolation

Only to find the tomb was empty, a mystery without explanation.

She ran to Peter and to John her heart in great distress.

“His body is missing,” she exclaimed. “Its location is anyone’s guess.”

Both disciples ran to the tomb; John arrived first to peek,

But Peter actually went inside some evidence to seek.

There was the wrap of linen with spice, the head covering folded neatly.

Though Christ had said He would rise again, they misunderstood completely.

Peter and John just went on home their questions unsatisfied,

But Mary remained there at the tomb, her head bowed as she cried.

She stooped and looked in the tomb again, saw two angels sitting therein.

Mary must have wondered just how they arrived and when.

“Why are you crying?” the angels asked her anguish recognized.

“They took away my Lord somewhere,” the dear saint testified.

As she turned to leave the tomb she addressed the gardener nearby,

“Did you take away my Lord? I came here to say my goodbyes.”

“Mary,” Jesus said right then. Her heart leaped as she heard Him speak.

“Teacher,” Mary shouted out, her voice a joyful screech.

She desired to embrace Him tight, never to lose Him again,

Jesus told her He would soon live in the hearts of all saved men.

”I have to go to heaven first, but go tell your sisters and brothers.

I am ascending to my Father, the God of all the others.”

To believe in a God who is dead and gone would be fruitless and naïve,

But the empty tomb would give them all a reason to believe.

So what are we to learn from this? What does it show us true?

It reminds us how needy the disciples were, unaware of what to do.

Instead of rejoicing and praising God they hid behind locked doors.

Like them we cower in fear at times, afraid of what might be in store.

But God has called us to walk by faith and not to let fear control us.

God’s thoughts about us are only good. He desires His love to show us.

So don’t find yourself doubting God; don’t second-guess His intentions.

You live in two opposing worlds: a body and spirit dimension.

This glorious God whom you serve has might beyond belief;

He wields resurrection power to effect your needed relief.

Don’t be a doubter like Thomas was or hide from your destiny.

Take your place in the army of God; the world needs you desperately.

This power of God raised our Lord into the heavenly realms

Placing Him over every king, the Captain at the helm.

This power was expressed for all who trust Him as their savior

Our message to the world is this: He is God’s redeeming life-saver.

© Copyright 2016 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

John 19: The Crucifixion of our Lord

Just as Isaac carried the wood for a sacrificial death,

So Christ carried His cruel cross to die at man’s behest.

Imagine the wave of pain he felt as the hammer struck the spike

That impaled the healing hands that ministered day and night.

Above Him fastened to the cross a sign read “King of the Jews.”

O what heartache the Jews endured because their king they refused!

O what a blessing to Gentiles (we) who were grafted into the tree!

How we long for that soon-coming day when our Savior we will see!

Below Him soldiers, with cold hearts, gambled for his clothes

Jaded by the stain of sin, unfazed by His agonized throes.

All this happened as scripture foretold as found in Psalm twenty-two.

We should take heed to prophecy fulfilled, in every detail true.

There near the cross His mother stood, tears flowing down her face,

Understanding His mission on earth; dying with matchless grace.

Jesus saw her standing with John, as close to Him as a brother,

He called upon him to care for her, to honor her like his mother.

Jesus knowing the Word was fulfilled indicated His thirst

In fulfillment of another sign that must be fulfilled first.

The prophecy is found in verse twenty-one of Psalm sixty-nine;

It came to pass when the soldiers gave a taste of sour wine.

These prophecies fulfilled on the cross and those written of his birth

Unite in concert with many more fulfilled in His work on earth.

His witness sure, its veracity true, His saving work complete,

He entrusted His spirit to God above and His heart ceased to beat.

It was the day before Sabbath, and to hasten the death of the thieves

The soldiers broke their legs on the cross to make it hard to breathe.

But coming to the Savior’s cross, they saw He was already dead.

Just to be sure one raised his spear and pierced his heart instead.

This too was a word of prophecy sure, passed down centuries spoken,

For the Passover Lamb was not to have any bones that were broken.

Exodus, Numbers and Psalms predict; the Gospels record its fruition.

O that man would humble himself; respond to God’s admonition.

All these prophecies came to pass and serve as an object lesson

Showing all men that salvation’s plan is more than a suggestion.

Separation from God because of sin can be securely abated,

By a new life received by faith, sin’s penalty terminated.

We have THIS life to serve our Lord, to choose our eternal fate,

To experience forgiveness by His grace; throw off sin’s cruel weight.

God has no desire to ascribe to you eternal condemnation,

But this He will most surely do if you rebuff His priceless salvation.

© Copyright 2016 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

John 18: Part 3 – The Trial Before Pilate

The Jews had decided He must die but needed Roman permission.

In Roman law an execution was solely a government mission.

Since Jews would not enter a Gentile house, Pilate came outside

To conduct a hearing by interview to judge if He lived or died.

Pilate heard their accusations and knew they would not stand,

He saw how determined these rulers were to kill an innocent man.

He questioned Jesus and it became clear, He was not guilty of sin.

Pilate came forth and declared to the Jews, “I find no fault in Him.”

Pilate knew he should free the Lord, but as a politician true,

He rejected the path of righteousness for the expedient thing to do.

He thought surely he would get by offering Barabbas instead

But he misjudged the Jew’s intent to see their savior dead.

“If this man you choose to release, you’re not Caesar’s friend.

Release unto us Barabbas the thief; take the other to his end.”

With shouts of passion the Jews cried out, “Away, away with Him.

Crucify! Crucify! Crucify! was their relentless whim.

The soldiers twisted a crown of thorns on his beaten, bloody head.

Throwing a purple robe on Him, this is what they said,

“Hail, hail, all hail to you. Behold the King of the Jews!”

Mocking the One who made the worlds. What a bunch of fools!

They brought Him out wearing the robe beaten, scarred, misused.

Arrogant men condemned their God so brutally abused.

Jew and Gentile, man and maid, all of them crying aloud

“Death to Christ, crucify Him” their sinful heads unbowed.

Just what was it that Jesus did to deserve such evil behavior?

Had he murdered, robbed a store; abused His next-door neighbor?

What did He do except to expose our need for God’s salvation?

Why is it that we hate to admit the depth of sin’s degradation?

We much prefer to fool ourselves ignoring our frequent sin,

Creating our self-improvement plans to ease the pain within.

But God is willing to forgive our sin, has a plan for all of our days,

A plan that brings peace and healing within, a plan that will truly amaze.

What is required to know this plan, to grasp eternal life?

We must abandon the efforts of man and place our trust in Christ?

I am unable by deed or thought to effect my eternal salvation

But Jesus paid the price on the cross to effect my sanctification.

This is why Jesus came to earth: to die in our rightful place.

His perfection applied to our sin, our salvation granted by grace.

We cannot earn it, nor does it come through religious association.

Freely it’s given to all who believe in every generation.

© Copyright 2016 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved