Believe!

For Wednesday, April 30, 2025:

Mark 16:16 NLT: “Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.”

Black vs white. One way or the other. There’s no such thing as going part-way to heaven. The Bible says that God will separate the sheep from the goats, and the resurrected Jesus adds clarity to the life after this life.

The baptized who believe in Jesus, Son of God, will live in God’s presence in the hereafter. Those who refuse to believe are abandoned by the Lord. Satan will claim them, and they will have hell to pay forever and ever.

We call this clarity “Assurance of Salvation.” The Son offers forgiveness of sins, and only those without sin will enter the Kingdom. Unbelievers are still carrying their sins, ineligible for heavenly residence. The rules are pretty simple; don’t overcomplicate redemption!

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life,” and he meant it!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Eyewitnesses!

For Tuesday, April 29, 2025:

Mark 16:9 longer ending, NLT: “After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons.”

Did you ever notice that Jesus often casts out demons as he restores a person? Their healing will proceed better and faster if demons aren’t standing in the way. Demons are the devil’s workers, sent to disrupt our lives and divert our attention from the Lord. Indwelt by seven demons, Mary Magdalene must have been a mess! But with the demons out of the way, she became a loyal disciple of Jesus.

So after the crucifixion, it makes perfect sense that Mary Magdalene would be among the first group visiting the tomb, to prepare the body for long-term burial. We know how the story unfolds. When the women arrived, they found the stone rolled away and Jesus’ body missing. In fact, he had been resurrected, risen from the dead. Jesus had told everyone that things would play out this way, but never having seen this before, the disciples didn’t understand.

Mary lingered behind in the garden outside Jesus’ tomb. She assumed the man there was the gardener until he spoke, “Mary.” She answered, “Rabboni,” which means teacher. Mary ran straightaway back to where they had all been staying, and told the men what had happened, that Jesus was alive. As a group they didn’t believe her, but the ever-curious Simon Peter had to see for himself. John joined in and eventually won the footrace to the tomb. They saw for themselves what the women had experienced – stone rolled away and body missing! The risen Jesus would later visit the disciples who would come to believe.

What happened that day was so unusual that at first even the disciples didn’t believe the eyewitnesses. They eventually believed, especially after Jesus visited them! As the disciples evangelized, it was a difficult story for unbelievers to swallow, but it’s a major plank in our theology platform. It must be taught convincingly. Our eyewitnesses are from 2,000 years ago!

The world thinks death is the end. Believers know it’s the beginning of eternal life in God’s Kingdom!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Ambassadors!

April 28, 2025, Monday Message:

Mark 16, Shorter ending, NLT: “Jesus himself sent the believers out from east to west with the sacred and unfailing message of salvation that gives eternal life. Amen.”

Scholars have unearthed Gospels of Mark with different endings. Some end at 16:8, some add a short paragraph, while a few offer an additional dozen verses. Since these are consistent with other Gospel writings and reinforce redeeming principles, they deserve a look.

This shorter ending supports the Great Commission that ends Matthew 28. Jesus said we are to love our neighbors, and that includes sharing the way to heaven with them. There is only one road leading to eternity with the Father. Those of us on that road are told to include all who will come to believe. They can choose to walk with Jesus or not—their choice. But the offer includes ALL who choose to believe.

I especially like these words: “unfailing message of salvation…” Jesus prepaying the penalty of sin for believers actually happened. “It is finished!” It’s guaranteed. If your eyes are on heaven, Jesus will get you there every time. He never fails. We call this Assurance of Salvation.

Jesus commissioned believers to cover the earth with the Good News, the Gospel. Our assignments vary. Some missionaries travel internationally. That’s the mission God assigned to them. For years, I went to Lake Street. Lately, I’ve moved over to University Avenue. God will put on your heart where you are to help spread the Good News.

All believers are Jesus’ ambassadors!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Ascension!

For Sunday, April 27, 2025:

Luke 24:51 NLT: “While Jesus was blessing the believers, he left them and was taken up to heaven.”

What would you give to have been there that day? Kneeling down, head bowed, being blessed by the Son-of-God, he suddenly starts rising, ascending into the sky. His destination is heaven, to be seated at the right hand of the Father. As he disappeared from sight, I believe Jesus wasn’t the only one walking on air!

So much happened in the preceding 40 days. Mankind was redeemed as the sins of the world were taken away, Jesus was crucified, died, but rose again three days later! The resurrected Jesus still spoke to his followers, teaching and proclaiming the Kingdom. Ascension into heaven was the final step. Nothing this significant will occur until Jesus returns!

Awestruck, the believers returned to the Temple and continued to worship. That was the only possible response to what they had just seen!

Jesus was truth in a human body. Everything he ever uttered was honest and true. He said he would return, so we have no reason to doubt his words. At the second coming, Jesus won’t be hard to spot. The Bible says that the whole world will know when he arrives!

Nonetheless, keep your eyes peeled!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Holy Spirit!

For Saturday, April 26, 2025:

Luke 24:49 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

Christians believe in one God, known to us in three forms: Our Father God in Heaven, Jesus Son-of-God who walked on earth alongside mankind, and the Holy Spirit. We know the least about the Holy Spirit, which I believe is why we sometimes overlook the available help. But since there is only one God, it makes little difference which form we’re interacting with. Jesus told believers, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” That’s why, in the absence of Jesus, we have been given the Holy Spirit.

Jesus sent his disciples, two by two, to share the Good News with the Israelites. They were commissioned to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons and encourage everyone to repent and return. Christians are the newly commissioned, sent to share Jesus with the world.

The Holy Spirit has always existed. When the earth was created, Genesis tells us, “The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” The Holy Spirit made a big entrance on the day of Pentecost, enabling people from many different lands to understand Peter’s preaching. 3K were baptized and added to ‘The Way’ that day, like church growth on steroids!

So remember that there’s always help and power available. The Holy Spirit was sent to make things go better, so we shouldn’t forget to call on Him. We can always count on Him. He is, after all, God!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Forgiveness!

For Friday, April 25, 2025:

Luke 24:47b NLT, Jesus speaking: “There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.”

Since Jesus offers forgiveness, we should repent and return to the Lord. Repent and return – those words should just roll off our tongues. Say it with me: “Repent and return!” When sins can be forgiven, that changes everything. Forgiveness of sin is a good starting place, but now let’s consider what’s possible following that.

For one thing, if you are without sin, you can live in the presence of the Lord. Sin is disobedience or disrespect for God. Therefore, sin and God never exist in the same place. But if your sins are not just forgiven, but blotted out as if they’d never occurred, you would be deemed suitable for heavenly residence, for a life after this life in the Kingdom! It’s either that or the lake of fire – pick one!

In my mind (and only in my mind), our afterlife unfolds like this. We approach the pearly gates, and they’re surprised to see us! “You lived on earth, where scripture says that ALL have sinned. What could you be thinking?”

I ask them to check the Book of Life one more time, and voilà, there’s my name! Now go across to the column marked ‘sin.’ Surprisingly, it’s completely blank! Nothing erased, no scratch-outs, just blank white space! Turns out that I qualify! Jesus personally paid the penalty for my iniquities. I’ve been redeemed! Meet me inside the pearly gates!

Yes, forgiveness changes everything – for the better!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

No Ghosts!

For Thursday, April 24, 2025:

Luke 24:36 NLT: “Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among the disciples. ‘Peace be with you,’ he said.”

The disciples and those gathered with them thought they were seeing a ghost! In a way, they were right, a ghost supposedly being a dead person appearing to the living. But Jesus had not returned to haunt or frighten the faithful. His appearance was proving God’s scriptures to be correct!

Jesus told them, “Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” Ghosts are pictured as wispy aberrations, whereas Jesus stood before them with a complete body. “Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me.”

After the crucifixion, Jesus was called to teach one more Godly principle: that death is not the end. It can be the beginning of an exceptional eternal afterlife in the presence of the Father. We call it Heaven or God’s Kingdom.

Growing up, we all sang, “Jesus loves me.” God loves mankind so much that he wants us to spend eternity with him. God could have chosen anything, but he settled on mankind to be his companions. Believers will have been spared the pain and suffering of hell!

Thank you to God and his Son!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Resurrection Inclusion!

For Wednesday, April 23, 2025:

Luke 24:15-16 NLT: “As the two men talked and discussed what had recently happened in Jerusalem, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him.”

We seldom perceive what we don’t expect to see. The risen Jesus seems to be particularly challenging to identify. In the garden, Mary Magdalene didn’t recognize him until he spoke. These two men walking to Emmas were believers and had watched Jesus teach many times, but failed to recognize him at first. I believe Jesus essentially looked as he had on the cross. After all, he told doubting Thomas, “Put your hand in my side,” so Jesus’ body had not been restored.

With no internet or TV 2k years ago, news was spread person-to-person, and by this time, everyone in Jerusalem had either witnessed or heard about Jesus’ crucifixion and death. That he died was certified by Roman soldiers. Jesus’ body was then placed in a tomb, so no one expected to see him walking around. They should have listened to the prophets who predicted Jesus’ conquering death. And yet, in human terms, it just didn’t make any sense!

Our acknowledgment of his other miracles reinforces our confidence in Jesus’ resurrection. If he turned water into wine and walked on water, life after death just might be possible. If he controlled the weather and fed 5k, life after this life could be real! If he brought Jairus’ daughter and Lazarus back to life, it makes sense that he could do the same for himself!

Life after this life isn’t just for Jesus. He wants to include all believers in that Holy Family. Those who put their faith, hope and trust in Jesus the Christ are promised to see heaven from the inside! We call it “Assurance of Salvation.” Jesus is preparing a place for us and will welcome us with open arms!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Gospels!

For Tuesday, April 22, 2025:

John 20:31 NLT: “This (the Gospel of John) is all written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have (eternal) life by the power of his name.”

John may have been the disciple closest to Jesus. He is referred to as “the disciple that Jesus loved.” Of course, Jesus loved them all, but John was special. While on the cross, Jesus entrusted John with caring for Mary, his earthly mother.

John’s is the last Gospel written, which would have allowed him more time to get his thoughts together, and in fact his writings include information not found in the other three Gospels. John’s Gospel is often suggested as a good place for new Christians to begin reading.

That we have any of the Gospels speaks to the obedience of their authors. Jesus didn’t want his journey to earth and his monumental sacrifice for the souls of mankind to not be remembered. He commanded us to share this Good News with all nations, all people, and these four narratives of Jesus’ life, events and spoken words are the cornerstones of our faith.

John tells us that Jesus came into the very world he created. And to all who believed Jesus and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God, adopted into the Holy Family, brothers and sisters of our Savior. Believers are reborn, and that’s a good thing!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Alive!

April 21, 2025, Monday Message:

John 20:21 NLT: “Jesus said, “Peace be with you. (Shalom!) As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

Jesus had been crucified, died and was buried. His part of the mission was accomplished, but all the work was not completed. He would leave behind his believers to finish up. The resurrected Jesus commissions his followers: “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” This commission is as much for today’s faithful as it was for his disciples back then.

Our assignment is to tell the world to repent and return to the Lord, for the Kingdom is at hand. This is our opportunity to love our neighbors while honoring the Lord. Put a smile on your face and become a joyful optimist. And as we go, we are to heal the sick, raise the dead when appropriate, cast out demons and share the Good News. Sounds like a big job, but Jesus will equip us for the mission, just as he always does!

Jesus came out of the grave and was seen by hundreds of people, proving that there is life after this life. We have a bright future since he took our sins to the place of the dead. After ministering for 40 days, Jesus would ascend into heaven, returning to the Father. Through all this, we can clearly see that he is alive. People had never seen anything like this before. They had to get used to the idea and believe. We too need to get used to the idea and believe!

He is alive!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

He is Risen!

Happy Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025:

John 20:8-9 NLT: “The disciple (John) who had reached the tomb before Simon Peter also went in, and he saw and believed—for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead.”

To the Jews – even those who had been with Jesus – this “rising from the dead” was something new. They’d heard talk about it, but it was sort of like a fable or a fairy tale. No one had actually been an eyewitness to a well-known public figure having a second life. That’s about to change!

Mary Magdalene, first to arrive at Jesus’ tomb Sunday morning, noticed the stone had been rolled away. Simon Peter and John began a foot race to get to the tomb. John arrived next and saw the linen wrappings lying there, empty. Then Simon Peter then entered and saw the head wrapping, folded up neatly, separate from the other grave clothes. No doubt about it – Jesus had gone missing!

Mary then encountered two white-robed angels at the head and foot of where the body had once lain. “They have taken away my Lord and I don’t know where they have put him.”

Now Mary knew Jesus as well as anyone, but when a voice in the garden addressed her, she didn’t recognize him. After all, the last time she saw him, he was certified dead. But it turns out this was Jesus, now risen from the dead! “Mary,” verbalized the gardener, and then she knew.

“Rabboni!” she cried out, which means “Teacher.”

Jesus appeared to more than 500 people total, on at least 12 different occasions, including Apostles, disciples and other believers. These are the eyewitnesses who would go on to testify that in fact the once dead Jesus had risen again! They could communicate that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Son of the Living God! They could perpetuate the truth that Jesus had conquered sin and death, benefiting all mankind!

Help them share the Good News!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Saturday in Sheol!

For Saturday, April 19, 2025:

John 19:28a NLT: “Jesus knew that his mission was now finished.”

With the sins of the world now heaped upon him, Jesus knew that his earthly mission was completed. It was time to move on. He would take the world’s sins to Sheol, the place of the dead. But he would not remain there. He would be resurrected on the third day!

The concept of resurrection was still fairly new to the Hebrew people. In fact, some Jews didn’t believe in any life after this life. Those who believed that it was possible recalled Lazarus and the daughter of Jairus, both restored by the command of Jesus. But Jesus himself was a public figure, well known by everyone. His death was documented by Roman soldiers, whose business was death. Jesus returning from the dead would be eyewitness evidence that death was not the end! Theology would be rewritten!

Returning on the third day fulfills prophecy. Jesus was crucified on a Friday. Saturday was the Sabbath when no work could be done. Best to lay low that day. And on Sunday, he rose again!

Friends, there is life after this life! Jesus proved it, and believers all want to be a part of it. Jesus will go ahead to prepare your place in eternity. Use his name when you get there!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship