Passion Week Devotionals

Saturday, April 8

WHAT HAPPENED ON BLACK (OR HOLY) SATURDAY?

Jesus, body rested in the tomb on Holy Saturday; it was a rich man’s tomb, fulfilling, the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9. Preparations were made for Jesus, body and placement in the tomb until 6 PM, when preparation for the sabbath began.

“The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. “ Luke 23:55–56

This day could be considered the land in between, a time of pain, confusion, and many questions. It tells us that they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the Commandment. This was a day of inertia. No great initiatives would be taken, it would be a day of deep reflections.

It reminds me of a title preached from many pulpits called “It’s Friday but Sunday’s coming.“ It’s the time we all recognize that lies between the worst of things, and the best of things.

This is the time for a trusting faith in the middle of confusion, questions without answers, pain of loss, and frustration of not knowing what to do!

Sabbath Rest- God is in CONTROL!!!

Faith is most powerful when understanding is so little! Pray for this kind of faith.

Friday, April 7

WHAT HAPPENED ON GOOD FRIDAY?

Good Friday was the last day of Jesus life on earth before his resurrection. He was betrayed by Judas, as predicted, and denied by Peter, as predicted. His disciples scattered. He was arrested and was placed on trial falsely. He was condemned, beaten, mocked, and required to carry his own cross to the place where he was crucified and died. “The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, and put it on his head. “Though he was offered something to dull the physical pain, Jesus refused. He chose to face the pain of death head on. They stripped him of his clothes and cast lots for them, fulfilling, another prophecy.

Two prisoners were crucified alongside Jesus. One mocked him, but the other said,

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, truly, I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise “, Luke 23:39-43.

Amidst the most cruel, unfair, unjust, and painful death a human body could endure, Jesus chose to respond in grace to the criminal beside him, and care for his mother, and best friend.

“when Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, woman here is your son, and to the disciple here is your mother “John 19:25–27.

At noon, Jesus cried out “father, into your hands I commit my spirit, “and he died.

“It was at about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. “Luke 23:44–46

Jesus was taken down from the cross, wrapped in linens, and placed in a tomb.

Jesus had taken care of his mother, and best friend. He also took care of a criminal. His heart opened to him in the dying moments. He also forgave those who put him on the cross, which would also include us, for they know not what they do .

You and I have been commanded by our Lord to take up our cross also, which means, everyone around us, would benefit from that sacrificial action every day!

Pray with great gratefulness for the cross of Jesus!

Pray with great surrender to the cross, that you also are to take up, which will benefit all whom you pass in this life!

Thursday, April 6

WHAT HAPPENED ON MAUNDY THURSDAY?

On Holy, or Maundy, Thursday, in an upper room, Jesus and his disciples shared the last supper. On this day, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, and broke bread with them for the last time. Still celebrated today as a part of many congregational traditions, the bread broken, and the wine shared, represented the body and blood of Christ, to be broken and shed for the disciples, and all of us. During the meal, Jesus predicted his betrayal by one of them and Peter‘s denial.

After the meal, the disciples accompanied Jesus to the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed in agony. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. “An angel came to strengthen Jesus in the garden. There, he taught his disciples and us what to do when we come to the end of our own strength, and need God to help us press on.

Maundy, from the Latin root, Madam, means “commandment “or “mandate.“ On that Thursday, Jesus gave his disciples, a new commandment, which is why we use the term Maundy today. The word in this context is used by Jesus after he washes the feet of his friends.

“A new commandment, I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. “John 13:34.

No one knew love like the sacrificial and selfless love of Jesus before the cross. Thus, a new commandment, to love sacrificially and selflessly.

Pray that your faith and obedience will remain intact, even when you are in agony.

Pray, and that your one another love will grow in its practice, its intensity, its sacrifice.

Wednesday, April 5

WHAT HAPPENED ON THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE EASTER?

Though the gospel of Luke states, “every day he was teaching in the temple,“ holy Wednesday is referred to as a day of rest, for Jesus. While in Bethany, a woman anointed Jesus feet with perfume. It is also widely known throughout the church as “Spy, Wednesday. “ While Jesus rests in Bethany, at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, the plot of the high priest, and the authorities to kill Jesus, is in full swing.

Finding an open opportunity, in the greed of Judas, Satan entered him. Judas went to the chief priests and authorities, “and from that moment, he sought an opportunity to betray him. “He would soon betray Jesus, for the price of a slave, and the 12 would scatter. None of the 12 will be left at the foot of the cross as Jesus dies, but John.

Judas betrayed the very man who he followed for years. But because of Spy Wednesday, we see yet another prophecy fulfilled from the Old Testament. Judas role fulfills words declared hundreds of years before and further proves the validity of the Bible and Christianity.

Pray that you are found at the feet of Jesus anointing his feet with perfume, and not a part of any company or any attitude that resists who He is.

The woman anointing Jesus feet, and Judas abandoning who Jesus is are two extreme positions represented on this day. Pray that you more and more are found in the house in Bethany at the feet of Jesus.

Tuesday, April 4

WHAT HAPPENED ON THE TUESDAY BEFORE EASTER?

The next day, Peter noticed the fully withered fig tree. Jesus had cursed, to which Jesus admonished a lesson to have faith and recognize the power of forgiveness:

“Have faith in God, Jesus answered. Truly, I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, go, throw yourself into the sea, and does not know doubt in their heart , but believes that what they say will happen it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand, praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your father in heaven may forgive you your sins. “ Mark 11:22–26.

Holy Tuesday was a day of avoiding traps and teaching. The priest set four traps for Jesus, the first questioning his authority, to which he answered with a question, and then taught three parables: the parable of the two sons, the parable of the tenants, And the parable of the wedding banquet. The second trap challenged Jesus' allegiance, the third trap attempted to ridicule Jesus, belief in resurrection, and the fourth Jesus answered by claiming God’s greatest command to be love.

This is the real, historical Jesus: fully in control as he responds with grace and truth to traps on all sides. He knows what he is doing. And he knows what is coming.

He is stopping at the Mount of Olives to rest on the way back to Bethany to spend the night, Jesus spoke to his disciples about the upcoming trials for his followers.

Pray that God would make you strong in the face of your trials.

Pray that he will deliver you from the traps that are set for you.

Pray that you will not fall into the greatest trap of unforgiveness.

Monday, April 3

WHAT HAPPENED ON THE MONDAY BEFORE EASTER?

On the way back into the city from Bethany, where Jesus and the 12 spent the night, Jesus became hungry. Seeing a fig tree, with no fruit on it, though it was full of leaves, and that should have been full of fruit, Jesus spoke a curse on the tree. Jesus went to the temple on Monday and confronted those making a profit off of the people coming to worship there.

“Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written, he said to them my house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers. “Matthew 21:12–13.

Those who heard and witnessed Jesus miraculous healings that day, sang praises to him, which caused authorities to begin looking for a way to kill him. The gospel of Luke says: