In Touch Daily Devotional 8th April 2023 By Dr. Charles Stanley, Saturday Inspirational Message
In Touch Daily Devotional 8th April 2023 TOPIC: While All Is Silence
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Matthew 28:1-10
1. Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.
2. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.
3. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
5. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.
6. “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.
7. “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”
8. And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.
9. And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.
10. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
In Touch Daily Devotional 8th April 2023 MESSAGE
Today is Holy Saturday. The events of Good Friday—the trial, the scourging, the crucifixion, and the signs and wonders that followed—are complete (Matthew 27:33-54). Now, in place of all that, is silence. Those who witnessed these events must have felt hopeless. Jesus, the One whom they loved and who had loved them so well in return, was in a tomb.
But not for much longer.
Early Sunday morning two inconsolable women went to complete Jesus’ burial preparation, which had been left unfinished because of the Sabbath. Yet in an instant, their mourning was turned to joy. An angel greeted them, saying, “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said” (28:6).
Their original task forgotten, the women ran to tell the disciples. And on the way, they saw the Messiah—as if Jesus had never been gone! There He was, breathing and smiling and very much alive, bearing the scars of His passion.
Tomorrow, their joy will be ours once again as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection. Tomorrow, we will sing of His triumph over sin and the grave. But today, we dwell in the silence. Let us focus our heart and mind on what occurred behind that heavy stone and know it was accomplished for us.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 13-14
REFLECT: Though today may be hard, remember that joy is coming.
In Touch Daily Devotional 8th April 2023. Charles Stanley is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church Atlanta and founder of In Touch Ministries, both located in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Stanley’s heart’s desire is to get the gospel to “as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, as clearly as possible, as irresistibly as possible, through the power of the Holy Spirit to the glory of God.
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