I have always valued and cherished the early morning. I have climbed many of Scotland’s hills at the dawning of a new day. More importantly, I have been greatly blessed in spending time reading God’s Word and praying to him before I step out into the responsibilities of the day.
The last three posts have sought to encourage us to listen to the voice of Scripture as it encourages prayer especially at this time of day. The guiding principles it uses are:
Watch - pray with an alert mind (Psalm 5:1-3)
Wait - pray with a patient heart (Psalm 130)
Worship - pray with a grateful spirit (Lamentations 3:21-23)
Our final watchword in this set of brief meditations will be:
Wonder - pray with a joyful soul
This comes out strongly in the final chapter of Matthew 28 with its account of the resurrection of Jesus. There are no words to describe the momentous events that we encounter in this chapter.
Humanity’s worst and last was done to Jesus. Jesus, king and Messiah, was dead, buried in a stranger’s tomb.
Jesus’ followers, discouraged and scattered by the horror of the cross, were now at least gathered together again.
Night is passing; dawn is breaking.
Matthew brings us, in the final sentences of his Gospel, to the greatest day in history.
The transformation of Jesus’ followers is one of the wonders in the truth of his resurrection. Those who put their trust in the risen Jesus experience great change in their lives.
The two Marys approach the tomb with deep mourning for their dead friend and teacher. They return filled with awe and an indestructible joy to tell others about Jesus, who had both risen from the grave and greeted them. Death could never again claim him. His resurrection was irreversible. It changed everything for them.
James and John, those ‘sons of thunder’ became apostles of love.
Simon Peter, that indecisive leader, became the rock-like man on whose fearless witness the early church was built.
This group of disciples were no longer a frightened gathering, they became, through the Spirit’s empowering, an apostolic task force!
The same is true of all followers of the risen Jesus down the centuries. Wonder fills their hearts and joy fills their souls as they encounter the risen Christ.
See what a morning, gloriously bright
With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;
Folded the grave-clothes
Tomb filled with light,
As the angels announce Christ is risen!
See God’s salvation plan, wrought in love,
Borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
Fulfilled in Christ, the Man, for He lives,
Christ is risen from the dead!
May you experience the wonder of the risen Christ and may his Spirit cause prayer to rise to the Father from a joyful soul.
(Picture - taken from the Pap of Glencoe, 26/05/25, on a morning walk!)
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