Marissa Henley

Encouraging weary women to hope in Christ alone

The Enormity of the Empty Tomb {First 5}

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I’m sharing over at First 5 today about Christ’s resurrection as we make our way through a study of 40 days through the Bible. Here’s a preview . . .

Today’s Reading: Luke 24

Luke 24:6a (ESV) “He is not here, but has risen.”

I’ll never forget the look of joy on his adorable 3-year-old face when he heard the news. One morning during breakfast, my son Christopher started asking questions about Jesus. He knew that Jesus died on the cross for his sins, but apparently there were gaps in his knowledge. When I mentioned that Jesus rose from the dead, his eyes grew wide and he exclaimed, “Jesus is alive?!?!” He clapped his hands exuberantly and shouted, “Yaaaaaay!”

For most adults, the good news of the resurrection doesn’t surprise us anymore. When we read about the women on their way to Jesus’ tomb with their spices, we know what they’ll find. So I think we miss the enormity of the plot twist in this passage.

What if Luke 24 was a description of the women caring for the dead body of Jesus? What if Cleopas’ narrative of Jesus as a crucified prophet was the end of the story? (Luke 24:19-20)

If Jesus is still in the grave, our faith is worthless. The bodily resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of our Christian faith because our salvation depends on the tomb being empty. (1 Corinthians 15:14) These seven words change everything: “He is not here, but has risen” (Luke 24:6a). Jesus is alive!

I hope you’ll head over to First 5 and check out the rest of today’s teaching or download the app and join us as we continue our study!

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The King is Coming {First 5}

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I’m sharing about Christ’s triumphal entry in the First 5 app today. Here’s a preview . . .

Today’s Reading: John 12

John 12:13 (ESV) “So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel! ‘”

“Click, click, click . ..” My anticipation built as the roller coaster inched its way skyward at a terrifying angle. As we climbed the hill, I looked forward to the thrill on the other side. Would the drop give us momentum for loops or corkscrews? Or would we fly over another hill and drop again?

We crested the top of the peak, and I could finally see what was ahead. After a short drop, the track leveled, and sadly, the drop didn’t live up to the hype of the climb. Like many things in life, this roller coaster didn’t turn out at all how I expected.

Following Jesus during His final week in Jerusalem might have felt much like a disappointing roller coaster ride. As Jesus and His disciples made their way over the Mount of Olives and descended the hill to the gates of Jerusalem, a crowd gathered in enthusiastic expectation. They waved palm branches and cried “Hosanna!” to their King. For a thousand years, God’s people had waited for another king like David. Now they wondered if their waiting was finally coming to an end.

John tells us that this crowd assembled because they heard about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. (John 12:18) They expected that Jesus could do something powerful for them. But they had no idea how powerful His deliverance truly was. They didn’t understand that their deliverance would come through His death.

I hope you’ll head over to First 5 to read the rest of the teaching, or download the app and join us in our study of 40 days through the Bible!

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God’s Good Commandments {First 5}

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Today I’m sharing in the First 5 app as we continue in our latest study, 40 Days Through the Bible. Here’s a preview . . .

Today’s Reading: Exodus 20

Exodus 20:1 (ESV) “And God spoke all these words, saying…”

When my grandmother was a newlywed, she was afraid to spend money. She grew up during the Great Depression, and she and my grandfather were on a tight budget when he was in seminary after serving in World War II. She was afraid that any time she spent money, she was driving them to financial disaster.

Then my grandfather helped her with a budget. You’d think that having a limit would feel imposing and restrictive, but it had the opposite effect. My grandmother’s anxiety lessened as she shopped for their household needs. She trusted her husband’s wisdom in planning a budget that would protect their financial health. She was free to spend money within the limits she’d been given.

When God gave us the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, He gave us limits for our good. His law brings clarity regarding how to live in right relationship with Him and others.

In Exodus 19:4-5, right before God met with the people at Mt. Sinai, He told Moses to remind the people of who He is and what He has done. He rescued His people and brought them to Himself. He made a covenant with them as His treasured possession. Then God spoke and gave them commandments rooted in His character and His deliverance.

To read the rest of the teaching, head over to First 5. I hope you’ll consider downloading the app and joining us for the rest of this study!

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To Him Who is Able {First 5}

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Today I’m sharing in the First 5 app as we celebrate studying every book in the Bible over the past 5 years! Here’s a preview of the teaching.

Today’s Reading: Jude 24-25

Jude 24-25 (ESV) “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

Have you ever heard a promise that seemed too good to be true? Maybe you doubted the promise-maker’s willingness to keep their commitment or you were skeptical of their ability to make it happen.

As we’ve studied God’s Word together in the First 5 app over the last five years, we’ve basked in the many beautiful promises the Father gives us through His Son, Jesus Christ. When doubt creeps into our minds about God’s ability to keep these promises, Jude 24-25 reassures us that God is able to do exactly what He says He will do. And here’s how we know: God has all glory, majesty, dominion and authority, from eternity past through our eternal future.

Click here to read the entire teaching over at First 5. I hope you’ll consider downloading the app and joining in our next study!

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