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But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the Name of Jesus, and let them go. (Acts 5:29-40)

I love Gamaliel. He’s a sensible man. He considers the possibility that the apostles might actually be telling the truth about Jesus and what God is doing to bring people to faith in Him. Gamaliel isn’t ready to commit himself in either direction yet; he waits to see what will happen, whether the new Christian movement will fall apart like so many other human-inspired plans.

This is a rare kind of wisdom, to react on the basis of evidence, and to refrain from letting emotion push you into doing things you’ll regret later. We can see that the rest of the leaders didn’t quite manage it—yes, they refrained from killing the apostles, but they did beat them, which isn’t the kind of cool-headed careful judgment Gamaliel was recommending.

And yet, in the end, even Gamaliel’s wisdom isn’t enough. Because there comes a point where we have to jump in one direction or the other. Is Jesus really the Christ? Are we going to entrust ourselves to Him, to this Man who claimed to be One with God, and who suffered and died and rose again so that we could be forgiven and at peace with God—more than that, so we could be God’s own children?

That is a point where no human wisdom can take us. The Holy Spirit gives us that trust in Jesus. And He gives us that gift freely, out of pure love and kindness to us. Thanks be to God!

WE PRAY: Dear Lord, help me to trust in You even when my own wisdom isn’t enough. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (John 20:19-23)

Look at the way this story moves. We start in the evening—move to a place where the doors are locked—to the disciples, inside—and then down to the fear in their hearts. Things are closing in, all the way.

And then Jesus comes!

And Jesus says, “Peace be with you,” and shows them His wounds. And we start moving outward again. Out from the gladness in their hearts, to Jesus breathing on them, to Him sending them into the world to share the good news of the forgiveness of sins—with the Holy Spirit working through them.

Even when it feels like the walls are closing in on us, there is no place, no time, when Jesus cannot come to us. And when He does, He brings us life and peace and gladness—and eventually, work to do in His world under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And Jesus is with us forever.

WE PRAY: Lord, come to me, and let me find peace and joy in You. Amen.

But Mary stood weeping … [and] she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white …. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. … Jesus said to her, “Mary.” (John 20:11-12a, 13-14, 16a)

I love how Mary behaves in this story. On Easter morning, Mary discovers that Jesus’ body is missing and runs to tell the disciples. After that, she goes back to the empty tomb to cry some more. That’s no surprise.

But then see what happens. She looks inside the tomb again, and sees two angels! At any other time, she would be excited and amazed. But not now. They ask her a question, and she answers them politely, but then she turns away from them as if they didn’t matter at all … because they don’t, with Jesus missing. Who cares about angels without Jesus?

And then Jesus speaks to her. Less than a minute later, she’s got her arms wrapped around Him, overjoyed. No wonder Jesus has to say to her, “Let go!”

Mary has it right. The only One who matters is Jesus. He is the One we cling to, the One we rely on and place all our faith in. And when He sends us to tell others the good news of His death and resurrection, we go—because we love Him.

WE PRAY: Lord, I’m so glad You’re alive and with us forever. Amen.