What to do With Holy Saturday

Luke 23:50-56

I’m never quite sure what to do with Saturday on Holy week.  It’s always the same.  I’ve come off a very power Good Friday service the night before that has left me pondering Christ’s passion and death.  And now it’s Saturday and the waiting begins.  It’s nice knowing what’s coming.  For me and I suspect like many of you there is great anticipation in Holy Saturday.  We have the benefit of 20/20 hindsight knowing the good news of Christ’s resurrection.  Joseph of Arimathaea and the women who had followed Jesus didn’t know what was coming.  So they were left to do what they thought was the right thing as a way to honor Jesus in His death.  N.T. Wright poses a possible dialogue between Joseph and his wife.

Joseph’s Wife:  Come back into the house, it’s nearly Sabbath.

Joseph:  But someone has to do it.

J.W.:  Do what?  Are you crazy?  You’ll get yourself killed.  Anyway the body will get eaten by dogs before you know it.

Joseph:  Exactly, that’s why someone needs to bury it.

J.W.:  But where?

Joseph:  In our tomb of course.

J.W.:  Our tomb?  But that’s meant for you and me!

Joseph:  Not now it isn’t.  And anyway, I’d rather we shared it with Him.

And off he goes to do the right thing.  We don’t know a lot about this Joseph of Arimathaea, except that it says he was a good and righteous man.  I’m wondering what good and righteous thing I might do today in anticipation of my Savior’s resurrection.  In many ways it will be a typical Saturday.  I’ll do a little work in the yard, help get things cleaned up for all our company tomorrow, and coach my daughter’s soccer game.  In the midst of that and whatever else the anticipation will continue to build.  As we all anticipate let’s be mindful of how we can share with others why we’re so excited about tomorrow.  That seems like a good and righteous thing to do.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, I’m thankful that I know what’s coming.  Sunday’s coming!  Easter Sunday!  May my anticipation be known to all.  Amen.

* Just a reminder, that unlike previous Sundays there will be a devotional tomorrow for Easter Sunday.

The Good Forgiveness of our Savior

Luke 23:26-46

Today on this Good Friday we read about the Passion of our Christ.  It’s something most of us have read many times, but it seems like I always come away with something new.  Today I find I am amazed by Jesus’ attitude of forgiveness all the way till the end.  We see that distinctly with His famous words in verse 34, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  In saying those words Jesus fulfills His own teachings about loving one’s enemies.  So who do you suppose Jesus is referring to when He says “forgive them?”  I think the question might be better put who is He not referring to?  There’s the obvious people involved with the crucifixion itself; the ones who flogged Him and nailed His body to the cross, but it goes way beyond that.  There were both Jews and Romans involved in His hour of suffering, and I think He’s referring to all of them. 

Jesus was right in acknowledging that they did not fully understand what they were doing.  They didn’t understand that He was indeed the Christ, the Son of the Living God.  I suppose many of them didn’t really want to understand.  Their hearts were too hard towards Jesus.  And yet Jesus is still practicing what He preaches in asking the Father to forgive.  Jesus forgives one other person in our account today as well.  It was the criminal hanging next to Him who asked “remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  And Jesus responds with those wonderful words “today you will be with me in Paradise.”  I think there’s one very important thing that criminal did before Jesus responded with those words though.  He first had to acknowledge his own sin.  He did so in chastising the other criminal who was mocking Jesus.  He knew he was guilty and said so when he said “we are receiving the due reward for our deeds.”  That criminal may have died that day alongside Jesus, but he’s living forever with Him in heaven.  We too will die someday, but if we’ve repented of our sins and given our life to Jesus we will be with Him in paradise too.  That’s why they call it GOOD Friday.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus I thank you today for Your forgiveness.  I thank you that I can look at the terrible suffering you had to go through as You were beaten, flogged, and nailed to a cross, and as hard as it is to think of such suffering, you did so and died in my place for my sins, and I call that good.  Amen. 

Rejoicing in Christ's Body and Blood

Luke 22:14-38

Today is Maundy Thursday.  Next to Easter it might be my favorite day of Holy Week.  It commemorates the last supper of Jesus Christ with His disciples that we read about in our scripture passage.  I enjoy it so much because of the tradition we’ve started at our church.  We have a simple soup and bread meal and after the meal we read some of the scripture passages leading up through the last supper and then we share in communion as a church family.  It’s a very meaningful time, and I love having all our families gathered around the tables taking communion together in such an intimate setting.

Sometimes communion can become more of a rote ritual, and that’s the last thing it should ever be.  When Jesus takes the bread and says “this is my body given for you”, and He takes the cup and says “this cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” these are powerful life changing statements.  When Jesus says “new covenant in my blood” He’s saying it’s no longer about the old covenant; as in the one God made with His people, the one that involved animal sacrifice for one’s sins.  Under that Covenant the sacrifice was said to cover our sin, Jesus’ death on the other hand removes our sins all together.  There is no more need to sacrifice animals because Jesus is our forever sacrifice.  There is great freedom in this new covenant of Christ.  There is also great joy in knowing His sacrifice has removed our sins. 

I encourage you to find a new way to take communion today.  Maybe your church also does something like mine, but if not there’s nothing in the Bible that says you have to take communion from a priest or a Pastor.  Maybe you could even do something around your dinner table with the family.  Whatever you do, take the time today to be thankful His body was broken for you and His blood was shed for you.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus I thank you for Your New Covenant.  I’m thankful for your shed blood.  Help me to always remember Your sacrifice as I live my life in joyful thankfulness to You.  Amen.

Our Fortune in Christ

Luke 23:2-25

I’ve always found it interesting how much Jesus gets bounced around in His final hour; first the council and then Pilate, and then Herod, and then Pilate again.  By hook or by crook this mob was determined to see Jesus crucified; so much so that they were willing to release a murderer in His place.  There was a custom of releasing a prisoner at the time of Passover so you would think it might make sense to let Jesus go.  You know, the guy who was performing miracles, healing the lame, raising the dead, loving on others, and preaching and teaching a new message and a new way with great authority.  It makes perfect sense that Jesus should be the one who gets released at this point.  Unfortunately this mob was not about making sense.  They were more about protecting their own interests and power structures.  As I write I’m realizing my use of the word “unfortunately” was perhaps not the best choice of words.  I say unfortunately thinking of the pain, suffering, and shame, he’s about to go through, but it’s quite fortunate for us that He did.

I wonder if Barabbas ever came to realize just how fortunate he was.  He might have escaped death that time, but it’s still coming.  If Jesus died for the sins of all mankind then He died for the sins of Barabbas too.  I hope for his sake somewhere along the way Barabbas realizes that not only did Jesus save his life in that moment, but that Jesus is also the one who can save his life for all eternity.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, because of the unfortunate circumstances of Your death I am most certainly fortunate today.  I’m thankful that in Your divine will and sovereignty they released Barabbas and not You.  You loved me that much Lord Jesus, and I’m forever thankful for such great fortune.  Amen.  

Choose Wisely

Luke 22:66 - 23:1

Here it is again, Jesus claiming to be the Son of God.  Luke first records him doing so early on when He is rejected in the temple by His own hometown people of Nazareth.  It happens many more times throughout His ministry and now here He is again saying He will be on the right hand of God.  This is what ultimately brings Jesus the death sentence.  So in the end, Jesus is going to be put to death for telling the truth. 

So who is Jesus to you?  Is He the Son of God who came to this earth to save us from our sin, or was He just a good man, or a prophet?  I would argue those last two options are not really options at all.  Jesus really didn’t leave us with that choice.  He was either who He said He was, or He was a lying lunatic.  The choice is yours to make.  Pray about it, and choose wisely.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, I’m thankful that You are who You say You are.  I’m thankful that You did what You said You came to do.  I’m thankful that you sit on the right hand of God the Father Almighty.  I pray that the truth about You will go forward this Easter Season like never before.  Amen.

How do we Deny Christ?

Luke 22:54-65

I’ve always found the account of Peter denying Jesus a tough one to read.  If you’re like me, it makes you wonder what you would do if you were in Peter’s shoes (or sandals).  Some might have a self-righteous attitude towards Peter and ridicule him for his lack of courage and conviction, but I just can’t do that.  The fact of the matter is I don’t know what it’s like to be in his shoes.  I’ve never been in a situation where my life might be in danger if I didn’t deny Christ.  I think I wouldn’t do the same as Peter and I can say so, but it’s nothing more than cheap talk.  All I know is that I’m thankful Jesus had the courage that Peter didn’t seem to have in that moment.  At any point Jesus could have bowed out, but He had already said to His Heavenly Father “not my will but yours.”  Jesus was going to that cross whether Peter would be there to support Him or not.  And on that cross He died for all of Peter’s sins, not just his denial that evening. 

I know Peter was thankful for His Lord’s forgiveness.  After His resurrection Jesus asks Peter three separate times if he loves Him.  Of course Jesus knows Peter loves Him, He’s just giving Peter the chance to declare His love for Him three times, almost as if to make up for Peter denying Him three times.  And Peter will go on to be a mighty disciple for Christ feeding His sheep and being the rock on which Christ builds His church.  Kind of makes you glad Jesus doesn’t hold grudges.  Like Peter, we can do great things for the Lord despite our past sins and failures.  For me it’s about making sure I’m not denying Him in the little opportunities.  If I have a chance to share about my faith in Christ with someone and I pass it up, I feel like I’ve denied Jesus.  For that matter I’ve also denied someone the opportunity to hear His life changing message.  If I have a chance to serve someone else with a simple act of love or encouragement and I pass it up, I feel like that’s a denial too.  Let’s face it, unlike Peter our opportunities to represent Christ to others will not have life or death ramifications for us.  For that we should be thankful, but Jesus still wants us seizing those opportunities for Him. 

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, help me not to deny you in the little things of life and to represent you well both in my words and in my actions.  Amen.   

Leading Up To and Including His Passion

Luke 22- 23:49

Today we read through the entire account of Jesus’ passion; from Passover to the last supper, to Judas’ betrayal of Jesus, to His arrest and trials, and to His flogging and crucifixion.  It’s good to read the whole thing as we head into Holy week.  For now I’m not going to elaborate on any of it.  Just take it in.  In the coming days we will talk in more detail about the specifics of Jesus death and resurrection, but for now I simply encourage you to get to know every intimate detail.  And remember He did this for you.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray I will know Your presence in a powerful way as I ponder the passion of your Son in these coming days.  Amen.