Churches so often spend weeks preparing for Easter by placing great emphasis upon the Lenten season. But after Easter is over, the programming goes quickly on to other unrelated things. There’s not usually a correspondingly strong emphasis on the traditional Easter season which lasts from Easter Sunday to Pentecost.
Andrew Walker in his book, Journey into Joy, objects to this practice. He suggests that in analogy to the stations of the cross often used to celebrate Lent, we should observe stations of the resurrection! His short devotional book devoted to this theme is organized into chapters called stations of the resurrection. Most chapters focus on one passage of Scripture that describes an appearance of Christ after the resurrection. This is in the spirit of the apostles’ teaching as they were very careful to account for the appearances of Christ and to pass on that information. This practice is illustrated by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8.
Journey into Joy Series — The Proclamation of the Appearances of the Resurrected Christ
Number 14 in a devotional series using as a resource the book, Journey Into Joy, by Andrew Walker. This 14th devotional was added to the series to replace chapter 3 which we skipped. It also serves as a conclusion. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 What key questions and unusual observations did you note as you read...
Journey into Joy Series — The Ascension
Number 12 in a devotional series using as a resource the book, Journey Into Joy, by Andrew Walker. Scripture; Acts 1:6-11 What key questions and unusual observations did you note as you read the passage? What was the disciple's perspective at this climactic moment? How did Jesus answer them? What was Jesus’ focus? What...
Journey into Joy Series — Pentecost
Number 13 in a devotional series using as a resource the book, Journey Into Joy, by Andrew Walker. Scripture; Acts 2:1-11 What key questions and unusual observations did you note as you read the passage? When you think about the narratives that we have studied leading up to this study, which event seems more...
Journey into Joy Series — The Revelation to Paul
Number 11 in a devotional series using as a resource the book, Journey Into Joy, by Andrew Walker. Scripture; Acts 9:3-9; Acts 26:9-18 What key questions and unusual observations did you note as you read the passage? How do we describe Saul's life before the incident on the Damascus Road? How did God get Saul's...
Journey into Joy Series — The Appearance on the Mountain
Number 10 in a devotional series using as a resource the book, Journey Into Joy, by Andrew Walker. Scripture; Matthew 28:16-20 What key questions and unusual observations did you note as you read the passage? How does this appearance fit in the timetable of the other appearances? What does “some doubted”...
Journey into Joy Series — The Questions to Peter
Number 9 in a devotional series using as a resource the book, Journey Into Joy, by Andrew Walker. Scripture; John 21:15-19 What key questions and unusual observations did you note as you read the passage? What does “More than these” mean? A deeper question is, “Why did Jesus asked this question?”...
Journey into Joy Series — The Appearance on the Shore of Galilee
Number 8 in a devotional series using as a resource the book, Journey Into Joy, by Andrew Walker. Scripture; John 21:1-14 What key questions and unusual observations did you note as you read the passage? Why did the disciples go fishing? Why did the disciples not immediately recognize Jesus on the shore? Why did Peter...
Journey into Joy Series – Christ Appears to Thomas
Number 7 in a devotional series using as a resource the book, Journey Into Joy, by Andrew Walker. Scripture; John 20:24-31 What key questions and unusual observations did you note as you read the passage? What is going on in Thomas mind that he made the statement that he did? What is the purpose of...
Journey into Joy Series – Christ Appears to the Disciples
Number 6 in a devotional series using as a resource the book, Journey Into Joy, by Andrew Walker. Scripture; John 20:19-21a What key questions and unusual observations did you note as you read the passage? It was Easter evening. It's the first Sunday evening service. The feeling among the disciples at the beginning is fear. ...
Journey into Joy Series — The Road to Emmaus
Number 5 in a devotional series using as a resource the book, Journey Into Joy, by Andrew Walker. Scripture; Luke 24:13-35 What key questions and unusual observations did you note as you read the passage? What is the situation with the two disciples as they walked toward Emmaus before they meet Jesus? How do we...
Journey into Joy Series — The Denial of the Resurrection
Number 4 in a devotional series using as a resource the book, Journey Into Joy, by Andrew Walker. Scripture; Matthew 28:11-15 What key questions and unusual observations did you note as you read the passage? 1. What had the guards seen? 2. Why do the chief priests desire to find another explanation for events? 3. ...
Journey into Joy Series — Christ Appears to Mary Magdalene
Number 3 in a devotional series using as a resource the book, Journey Into Joy, by Andrew Walker. Scripture; John 20:11-18 What key questions and unusual observations did you note as you read the passage? 1. What was Mary’s relationship to Jesus? 2. Why was Mary there at the tomb of Jesus early on Easter...
Journey Into Joy Series: The Angel Speaks to the Women
Number 2 in a devotional series using as a resource the book, Journey into Joy, by Andrew Walker. Scripture: Luke 24:4-8 What key questions and unusual observations did you note as you read the passage? 1. The role of women in the resurrection story. It is very interesting that God chose for the first witnesses of Jesus’...
Journey Into Joy Series: The Discovery of the Empty Tomb
Number 1 in a devotional series using as a resource the book, Journey into Joy, by Andrew Walker. Scripture: John 20:1-10 What key questions and unusual observations did you note as you read the passage? 1. I am struck by the simple reporter style of John. The visit of Mary to the tomb and...