Day 7 - Holy Saturday: Closely guarded.
Scripture: Matthew 27:62-66
Jesus' body is at rest in the tomb.
Preparations for His body had been performed as preparations for the Sabbath were also beginning. Now, there is silence and stillness across the land. Silence and stillness in the tomb, in homes, and in hearts.
God in the flesh has died and His body is at rest in the tomb. However, the chief priests, Pharisees, and Pilate are full of worry and Hades is trembling with fear.
We have peace on Holy Saturday, and our spirits are at rest as we press into the Lord with great anticipation because we know Sunday's coming.
Day 6 - Good Friday: Jesus is crucified between two thieves.
Scripture: Luke 23:33-43
Betrayed, denied, abandoned, arrested, condemned, beaten, mocked, humiliated, scorned, crucified... Jesus willingly endured all these things for the joy that was set before Him. Jesus did so to bless us, choose us, make us holy and blameless, adopt us, redeem us, forgive us, seal us, and make us co-heirs with Him for all eternity. The world has never known a greater love.
Some theologians have called it the great exchange. It is called Good Friday because Jesus broke the bonds of slavery to sin. We are no longer slaves to sin, but rather servants of Jesus! Our hands were stained with sin, His hands were pierced by nails. By His blood-stained hands, our sin-stained hands have been made clean.
Scripture: Matthew 27:62-66
Jesus' body is at rest in the tomb.
Preparations for His body had been performed as preparations for the Sabbath were also beginning. Now, there is silence and stillness across the land. Silence and stillness in the tomb, in homes, and in hearts.
God in the flesh has died and His body is at rest in the tomb. However, the chief priests, Pharisees, and Pilate are full of worry and Hades is trembling with fear.
We have peace on Holy Saturday, and our spirits are at rest as we press into the Lord with great anticipation because we know Sunday's coming.
Day 6 - Good Friday: Jesus is crucified between two thieves.
Scripture: Luke 23:33-43
Betrayed, denied, abandoned, arrested, condemned, beaten, mocked, humiliated, scorned, crucified... Jesus willingly endured all these things for the joy that was set before Him. Jesus did so to bless us, choose us, make us holy and blameless, adopt us, redeem us, forgive us, seal us, and make us co-heirs with Him for all eternity. The world has never known a greater love.
Some theologians have called it the great exchange. It is called Good Friday because Jesus broke the bonds of slavery to sin. We are no longer slaves to sin, but rather servants of Jesus! Our hands were stained with sin, His hands were pierced by nails. By His blood-stained hands, our sin-stained hands have been made clean.
Day 5 - Maundy Thursday: A towel, basin, and a new command.
Scripture: John 13:12-17; 34-35
It has been said that at the end of Jesus' life, there were two basins. One is used by Jesus to give an example of humility and service by washing the feet of His disciples, even the feet of the one He knew would betray Him moments later. Another basin was used by Pilate in order to try to remove responsibility for his actions and to deny Jesus' lordship. Which bowl are you using?
Maundy comes from the Latin root "madam," which means "commandment" or "mandate." On this day, Jesus gave us a new commandment, "...Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another." John 12:34-35. Will you pick up the towel and basin today?
Day 4 - Holy Wednesday: Betrayed.
Scripture: Mark 14:3-11
Jesus is in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper. We know this account... a woman with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume anoints Jesus. This woman does such a noble thing that Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her" (Mark 14:9). As this woman anoints Jesus, Judas, full of indignation, goes to the chief priests to betray Him.
The woman at the house of Simon the leper declared that worship of Jesus was worth it, even if it comes at a high cost. Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus for 30 silver coins - the price of a slave. Scripture tells us there is a cost to follow Jesus, and we must carefully consider it. As we consider the cost, let us remember the One who paid it all.
Day 3 - Holy Tuesday: Full of grace and truth.
Scripture: Matthew 11:23-27
Just as much had happened on Monday, we see that this day is no less full for Jesus.
Jesus teaches in the temple, affirming His authority and avoiding four traps set by the religious leaders. Jesus answers with a question of His own and also speaks in parables, each time doing so full of grace and truth. Unless we are Spirit-led, full of grace and truth, we will be as guilty as the religious leaders were. Let us consider Jesus' words, just as the religious leaders were challenged to do. Will we learn from Jesus, the one who bore our sins? Or will we reject Him because we want to be the one with authority?
Day 2 - Holy Monday: A weeping Savior.
Scripture: Luke 19:41-44
Much happens on this day - Jesus curses the fig tree, His authority is challenged, He heals the blind and the lame, and He cleanses the temple of those who were making a profit off of people who were coming to worship.
However, the moment that perhaps shows His passion and love the most is recorded by Luke. Jesus weeps for Jerusalem. He weeps because the people did not recognize the time when God had visited them. As we reflect on this, consider the ways in which we may have failed to recognize the times when God has visited us. Let us be still and know
Day 1 - Palm Sunday: The beginning of Holy Week.
Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11
As you read these verses, what struck you?
Something we mustn't overlook is in verse 6 where Matthew tells how the disciples "went and did just as Jesus directed them." It began with a simple act of obedience.
Scripture shows us that praise should always be on our lips (Psalm 34). God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3)! Let us begin with a simple act of obedience and offer up passionate praise for our triumphant Savior. Let us remember the joyous occasion when He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to shouts of "Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" Matthew 21:9 Let us bless His holy name!
It has been said that at the end of Jesus' life, there were two basins. One is used by Jesus to give an example of humility and service by washing the feet of His disciples, even the feet of the one He knew would betray Him moments later. Another basin was used by Pilate in order to try to remove responsibility for his actions and to deny Jesus' lordship. Which bowl are you using?
Maundy comes from the Latin root "madam," which means "commandment" or "mandate." On this day, Jesus gave us a new commandment, "...Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another." John 12:34-35. Will you pick up the towel and basin today?
Day 4 - Holy Wednesday: Betrayed.
Scripture: Mark 14:3-11
Jesus is in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper. We know this account... a woman with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume anoints Jesus. This woman does such a noble thing that Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her" (Mark 14:9). As this woman anoints Jesus, Judas, full of indignation, goes to the chief priests to betray Him.
The woman at the house of Simon the leper declared that worship of Jesus was worth it, even if it comes at a high cost. Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus for 30 silver coins - the price of a slave. Scripture tells us there is a cost to follow Jesus, and we must carefully consider it. As we consider the cost, let us remember the One who paid it all.
Day 3 - Holy Tuesday: Full of grace and truth.
Scripture: Matthew 11:23-27
Just as much had happened on Monday, we see that this day is no less full for Jesus.
Jesus teaches in the temple, affirming His authority and avoiding four traps set by the religious leaders. Jesus answers with a question of His own and also speaks in parables, each time doing so full of grace and truth. Unless we are Spirit-led, full of grace and truth, we will be as guilty as the religious leaders were. Let us consider Jesus' words, just as the religious leaders were challenged to do. Will we learn from Jesus, the one who bore our sins? Or will we reject Him because we want to be the one with authority?
Day 2 - Holy Monday: A weeping Savior.
Scripture: Luke 19:41-44
Much happens on this day - Jesus curses the fig tree, His authority is challenged, He heals the blind and the lame, and He cleanses the temple of those who were making a profit off of people who were coming to worship.
However, the moment that perhaps shows His passion and love the most is recorded by Luke. Jesus weeps for Jerusalem. He weeps because the people did not recognize the time when God had visited them. As we reflect on this, consider the ways in which we may have failed to recognize the times when God has visited us. Let us be still and know
Day 1 - Palm Sunday: The beginning of Holy Week.
Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11
As you read these verses, what struck you?
Something we mustn't overlook is in verse 6 where Matthew tells how the disciples "went and did just as Jesus directed them." It began with a simple act of obedience.
Scripture shows us that praise should always be on our lips (Psalm 34). God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3)! Let us begin with a simple act of obedience and offer up passionate praise for our triumphant Savior. Let us remember the joyous occasion when He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to shouts of "Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" Matthew 21:9 Let us bless His holy name!