Well, we have made it to the end of the series from Vicki on why we celebrate this Holy week. I really do hope that those of you who have read through the series have enjoyed it and most importantly learned something from it. 

Was something moved in your heart?

Did you understand something in a different way?

We’re getting so close to the end of the Holy Week series! Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday is tomorrow and we will celebrate  something so wonderful… so amazing that there is nothing we can ever do in return other than give thanks. 

Please take a few moments to visit my good friend Vicki’s site and check out some of the wonderful books that she has written. 

After Jesus’ affirmed death on the cross (I say affirmed because many falsely believe He didn’t really die there—the ‘swoon’ theory—and others believe someone was substituted for Him on the cross—the ‘substitution’ theory); Jesus was removed from the cross before the eyes of many witnesses. Two men—who secretly believed He was the Messiah, yet were afraid to openly proclaim their faith before Jewish leaders—took His battered body and laid it in a garden tomb because the Sabbath was fast approaching. He was wrapped in linen grave-cloths but a complete preparation of the body wasn’t done due to Sabbath laws and time constraints. Witnesses watched as a stone was rolled into place and a seal was set to assure that no one tampered with Jesus’ body. That happened on the same day as the crucifixion—on Good Friday.

Imagine the impact the events of that day made upon the people in Jesus’ life. His mother, Mary, had watched her beloved son humiliated, belittled, falsely accused, beaten, scourged and crucified unto death. The Apostle John, Mary Magdalene and other faithful believers watched as Jesus suffered but also watched the horror of Mary’s darkest day. What about the remaining apostles and disciples of Jesus? In His time of greatest testing… they scattered in fear, hiding and hoping that what was happening to Him wouldn’t happen to them because they had walked beside Him!

Judas Iscariot was dead… but Peter must have felt just as dead inside. He—the attention-seeking boaster who would ‘go to death with Jesus’—had instead denied Him three times during His sham trial. And what about that ‘look’ that passed between Peter and Jesus at the moment of the third denial? How would Peter ever erase that from his mind? That day of entombment must have seemed to stretch on forever for each of these groups of people. Because it was the Sabbath no work or preparations for a proper burial could be done. Can you feel the fear? Can you feel the sorrow? Can you feel the shame? Can you feel the utter hopelessness?

As they faced the future of life without their Messiah… the Jewish leaders gloried in their victory! Jesus was dead! The head of the insurrectionist snake was cut off! Like other trouble-making groups before—the ‘Christians’ would fade away without their leader! V-I-C-T-O-R-Y was theirs… as long as there were no claims of a resurrection from His death. Repeatedly, as they had watched and listened for grounds to accuse Jesus, He had talked about ‘leaving… going where they could not go… returning for them… preparing a place for them.’ They had no idea what those words meant but set guards at the tomb to insure His disciples wouldn’t remove His body and lie about a resurrection. Witnesses watched.

I have talked about ‘witnesses’ throughout this passage and there is an important reason for that. From the time of Jesus’ birth until the dark days of His death, there were always people watching, seeing and observing His life. The shepherds witnessed Him wrapped in swaddling clothes… and told others. His disciples witnessed Him multiply one boy’s lunch to feed thousands… and told others. The Samaritan woman who had an encounter with Jesus at the well… told others. Those who watched His trial, His death on that cross and His burial… told others. Why are eyewitnesses vital to this story? Eyewitnesses attest to the truth of an event.

Eyewitnesses wrote down the events they observed throughout history…that is how we know George Washington was the first President of the United States and Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth. That is how we know Hitler existed and killed six million Jews. Eyewitnesses have documented the wars in our history, revolutionary medical advances, and transportation changes with railroads, steamships and automobiles. Today, eyewitnesses help the police make an assessment of a crime scene helping law enforcement to find the perpetrator. Eyewitness accounts are absolutely necessary to corroborate or prove a story.

And this story is no different! John witnessed! Matthew witnessed! Jesus’ brothers witnessed! Witnesses gave Luke an account of Jesus’ life! Witnesses would have refuted untruths because their eyes would have seen truths. We can trust this account—and many other non-Biblical accounts of these events—because they were witnessed and written down. In order to dismiss the historical account of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection we have to dismiss every other historical account ever written!

Today, as we picture the events of the end of the Holy Week, let us remember that Jesus willingly walked the journey we have been on with Him. He took our lashes. He became our sin. He substituted Himself for us. This is GRACE: favor we do not deserve and cannot buy. He gave Himself for us. This is MERCY: we don’t get what we deserve; because Jesus took our blows. Hopefully, you fully understand why Holy Week is the consummate celebration of the Christian.

SCRIPTURE: “And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”
Luke 22:59-62

Today is day 5 of the Holy week and Good Friday. I hope that you’re enjoying the series and hope even more that you’re getting something out of it. 

Please welcome Vicki back as she takes us through what Good Friday is and what it’s all about to Christians around the world.

On this day which Christians call Good Friday, let us look at the events between the dinner Jesus shared with His disciples and His crucifixion. After Jesus sent Judas Iscariot on his way and the Passover meal was completed, the remaining group made their way to the Garden of Gethsemane—where they often met together according to John 18:2. That is significant because Judas was going to the Jewish leaders, collecting his 30-pieces-of-silver for betraying Jesus and then telling them where ‘the Troublemaker’ could be found because of a pattern He established for praying there.

As Jesus prayed alone and at a distance from even John, James and Peter—His inner circle—He asked His Father if there was any other way for the redemption of the human race to come about. Drops of sweat-blood, which poured from His head, punctuated each prayer. As a man, Jesus felt every panic and fear you and I would feel in the same situation. He earnestly prayed for another way but followed that prayer with these words: “…if this cannot pass away unless I drink it (the cup of God’s wrath on sinful man), Thy will be done.” Jesus had perfectly fulfilled every mission God sent Him on… but now; this final step enveloped Him in abject terror. Nevertheless… the journey, which began at His birth in Bethlehem, would end in His death.

Judas along with Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers arrived in the evening darkness at Gethsemane; and according to a pre-determined sign, the traitor walked to Jesus, kissed Him and betrayed Him into enemy hands. Jesus had taught every day in the public square, and if guilty of a crime could have been arrested in daylight. Instead, fearing the growing number of disciples of Christ, they arrested Him in darkness and thought to deal quickly and cleanly with His trial before His followers knew what had taken place. Jesus was brought and tried in a ‘kangaroo court’ with false accusers giving testimony, horrible beatings, painful humiliations and a sentence of death.

During those agonizing hours, Peter denied Jesus three times (as prophesied), the apostles scattered in fear and Judas regretted his betrayal and attempted to return the money he had been paid. When his evil couldn’t be undone, Judas Iscariot went and hanged himself—leaving no hope of reconciliation between betrayer and the betrayed. The people who had worshipped and shouted, “Hosanna!” as Jesus entered into Jerusalem just days before… now began to join in the chant of the Jewish leadership. “Hosanna” changed to “Crucify Him!” as Jesus continued on His journey to reconcile undeserving man to his Creator. Beaten beyond recognition, Jesus began the long walk through the streets of Jerusalem to Golgotha where He was to be crucified.

The information regarding the crucifixion—and the physical manifestations of what this barbaric Roman form of torture and death involved—are too many for me to write here. I will leave you to do your own research on the horrors of crucifixion but will say that arms and feet were nailed in place on the crosspiece and upright of the cross. Gravity pulled the body down below the arms and the crucified had to push up on those nail pierced feet, take a breath and continue to do so until they suffocated. Those who didn’t die within a matter of hours had their knees broken to stop the pushing-up process. No one survived crucifixion; and the convicted often didn’t make it to the actual nailing because they died from the unrelenting beatings and dehydration before that point. Read Psalm 22 for just a glimpse of what Jesus suffered—on a day we call Good Friday!

From the cross and through that nightmare Jesus did what He always did… He ministered to the needs of others. Seeing the Apostle John near His grieving and horrified mother, Jesus encouraged them to care for one another. One of the men crucified at His side confessed that he was a sinner deserving the punishment he was receiving for all the evil of his life. He also could see that Jesus was indeed a man falsely accused and undeserving of His sentence. Jesus, hearing repentance and faith—promised that man eternity with Him. The Centurion (Roman soldier in charge of 100 men) watched the events—as he likely had watched many crucifixions before. Yet this time was different. Jesus didn’t shout out or curse at His killers. He refused gall to deaden His pain. He quietly listened to His detractors. That Centurion was left to understand that Jesus was “…indeed a righteous man.”

Jesus died that day after saying, “IT IS FINISHED!” What did those words mean? Every single thing God sent Him to do was done. He became the final sacrifice for our sins. He did what lambs, rams and bulls could never do. He offered man-flesh and man-blood for man-sin! Jesus took every sin ever committed before His birth and after His birth upon His body. He took the lashes we deserve. He received what we justly merited punishment for. Jesus tore apart the heavy impenetrable veil separating a Holy God from Sinful Man. Jesus became the Substitutionary-Atonement for us. What a gift! What a blessing! What love!

And that is why we call this day, Good Friday!

SCRIPTURE: “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 (Written by the Prophet 700 years before Jesus’ birth.)

Thursday, day 4 of Holy week. Have you learned something new? Have you read these posts and remembered something that you may have forgotten? Have they sparked something in you?  I hope so.

Every time I read and re-read a piece of scripture I learn something. I pull a little bit of information out of it than I did the previous time I read it. There are AH-HA moments as well as times of confusion. 

I hope that you’re enjoying these posts as much as I have and take a moment to stop by Vicki’s website too. She is a wonderful speaker and teacher and a force to be reckoned with!

During the week of what we call ‘Easter’ another holiday (Jewish feast) was held. That holiday is called the Feast of Unleavened Bread or more commonly the Passover and was a time of remembrance for God’s provision and deliverance of His children in the days of Moses. (Learn more by reading Exodus 12) Many people forget that Jesus was a Jew. He was raised in all the Jewish traditions and celebrated the mandatory feasts and festivals just like His Jewish brethren. John 13 opens with preparations being made for Jesus to celebrate the Passover with His disciples.
Jesus added teaching, some new customs and His special prayers to the traditional events being celebrated throughout the Jewish world. The first variation came when He arose from the table, girded Himself with a towel and began to wash the feet of His apostles. Peter—always ready with a comment—tried to stop the Lord from performing the work of the lowliest household servant on his feet. Jesus made it clear that this was more than simply an act of cleansing dirty feet but was a word-picture of unhindered service to the needs of others. Jesus wasn’t ashamed to wash their feet… and they mustn’t be afraid to be servants after He was gone.

Adding more depth to this story is the fact that Jesus washed the feet of ALL of His apostles—and that included the feet of Judas Iscariot who would in a matter of hours betray Him to Jewish leaders in exchange for the price of a common household slave. Just as He was fully aware of His quickly approaching suffering… He was aware of Judas’ part in it. Jesus chose Judas knowing full well he would betray Him. God’s plan was set in place and nothing would stop it from coming to completion. During the Passover meal Jesus began to explain more carefully what the events of the coming days would hold for Him as well as for them. When Judas stood from the table and departed from the gathering, none of the apostles knew what he was about to do… betray the Man who moments before had washed his feet!

Jesus then proceeded to make the most of every last moment He had with His friends. Some of the topics of their conversations (John 14-16) included:
• Jesus was about to leave them for a place where they could not travel with Him. (They didn’t understand that.)
• He made the very exclusionary statement that He was THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE and the only way for them to ever enter His heavenly realm was through faith in Him. (The world still doesn’t understand or accept that.)
• He then promised them a ‘Gift’ He would send to them. He was referring to the Holy Spirit to guide, lead, teach, give revelation and cause them to remember His words. (They didn’t understand that part either.)
• He showed them they were Branches coming off of Him the Vine. Those Branches drew all nourishment from the Vine and would die apart from it. This was a warning that they could try forever to be ‘holy in their own power’ but that apart from Him their works would be fruitless. (They didn’t understand… and most of us don’t either.)
• He chastised boastful Peter who was willing to ‘lay down his life for Jesus’ by telling him in actuality, he would soon deny him three times. (Peter didn’t understand that; but later would be haunted by Jesus’ words… and his three denials.)
• He spoke of coming persecution for the church. (They didn’t understand then… but ten of the twelve apostles would become martyrs for Christianity!)

That very eventful evening held two more important moments between the Lord and His dearest friends. Jesus shared the bread and the wine with them in a way they had never witnessed before. He broke the bread—and told them it represented His body—soon to be broken for them. He then shared the cup of wine with them—telling them it represented His blood—about to be poured out for them. Jesus told them that whenever men gathered and shared these elements together they would remember what He had done for His children. Today, we call this event Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper and celebrate it as a rite within the Church called by His Name.

Finally, Jesus prayed for His disciples in a deep, heartfelt, loving and reverent way. John 17 contains what is called the High Priestly Prayer. Jesus stated that all the Father had given Him to do… He had done. He prayed for the apostles, disciples and future church—wishing He could take them with Him out of this evil world—but entrusting them into the Father’s hands. He prayed they could be ‘in’ the world but that they not be ‘of’ the world. Sobering isn’t it? He prayed for unity in the church, strength in the face of tribulation and a saturation of them from the Word of God.

Jesus, as always, focused on others just hours before He would be arrested, tried, crucified, buried and resurrected. No Wonder We Celebrate This Week…

SCRIPTURE: “O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
–John 17:25-26

Check out Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 too!

Okay, so by now you have noticed that I have 4 posts all on the same day. Well, that’s because the idea to share Vicki’s posts with you came about on Wednesday of this week so I am playing catch up. 

All of this information is wonderfully valuable from both the Christian and historical perspectives, I think.  No matter what your walk in faith is, it is always good to try to understand other peoples feelings and beliefs even if we do not agree with them. Learning to get along with others in this world is vitally important, especially this day in age. 

We have looked at the events of Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem and the reasons for why the Jewish leadership wanted to remove His influence from their midst. Let’s look today at events early in the week of His death and Resurrection. I am taking these accounts from the Gospels of Matthew and John and will give you Scripture references so you can read them on your own. 

Even though Jesus had walked with His apostles for the better part of three years, they didn’t yet fully understand some of the cryptic words He spoke about His death, return to heaven and even His divinity. (John 12:23-50) Jesus purposed to do everything, say everything and act fully in accordance to God’s plan to redeem His lost children. 

Many did not believe His words and attributed His signs and miracles to Satan. Note how Jesus defined Satan in verse 31: ‘…the ruler of this world.’ The events we are studying are part of the consummate battle between good and evil—a battle, which began in the Garden of Eden when Satan challenged Eve by questioning what God had really commanded the first couple to not do. It is important to note that Satan still works the same way today. “Did God really say _________________ is wrong?”

Imagine Jesus striving to teach, encourage, alleviate fear, prepare and equip His apostles and disciples. He had walked with them for three years but would soon be gone; and they would be left to carry the Gospel message without Him.

In Matthew 21 Jesus was found entering the temple in the Holy City and in righteous indignation, overturning the moneychangers’ and dove sellers’ tables. God’s holy temple was no longer a place of worship and honor; but instead was treated as a marketplace to line the pockets of those who should have been protecting it. Jesus—knowing His end was near—spent precious time healing the sick, teaching parables (word picture stories with moral applications) to His disciples and challenging the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Sadducees—the two denominations of Jewish leadership.

Add to all those things the very serious warnings Jesus made to His people about coming events and times of testing. In Matthew 24 alone he warns of these things:
• The coming of False Prophets and False Messiah’s claiming to be Him.
• Divided kingdoms, wars, famines, earthquakes and heavenly changes.
• Family division and betrayal over faith issues.
• Arrests, trials, persecution, lawlessness and false accusations.
• A general apostasy—falling away by those who paid lip service but would abandon their faith in the face of tribulation.
• A sense of hopeless, which only in God’s mercy would come to an end.

Jesus also explained that He would return for His people and take them to the heavenly home He was preparing for them. One final caution was that God’s people had to be ready, prepared for these events and Jesus’ return and not caught sleeping or drifting at that moment. When asked for more specific signs or dates of His return, Jesus told His apostles no one but the Father knew that exact day.

Think about the urgency of those last days. How amazing it is that instead of dwelling upon His coming suffering Jesus tended others’ needs, prepared for their futures, gave glory to His Father and set an example for all to see. Jesus came as a Servant, lived as a Servant and would die as a Servant… as He assumed the sin of undeserving man upon His flesh. A Servant such as that is worth our unhindered worship. That is why we celebrate this Holy Week.

SCRIPTURE: ‘And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.’ MATTHEW 24:4-5

If you missed Day 1 and Day 2 be sure to check them out.

Welcome back!

I am new in my faith. For so long I had believed that there was more out there something bigger than me but I never truly believed in the Christian God. I believed that Jesus was a real person and that he walked the earth as you and I do now and that he did some incredible things in his life.

Something in me changed. I began to read and study and learn. My eyes and heart were opened and I finally understood things in a different light.

I still read almost every day and work with people to help me understand and grow in my faith. Vicki is one of those people and I am thankful to have her in my life.

In yesterday’s entry, it was mentioned that ‘the Jewish leaders were threatened’ by Jesus and His teaching. Because this is part of the Holy Week story, today we will try to understand why they had such disregard and even hate for Jesus and those who followed Him. 
There is comfort in rituals and in maintaining the status quo in most situations. Few of us like drastic change or being shaken from the sameness and routine of our life habits. The Jewish people were no different. For thousands of years their way of life had not changed. They performed religious rituals, worshipped in the same ways, ran the nation of Israel with the same laws and were ‘comfortable’ in their routine. They had control and certainly did not want to loosen their grasp on it.

Jesus came into Judea and immediately began to challenge what He saw as hypocrisy among the Jewish leadership. Their practices had become routine habits producing no real passion or worship. They taught their young to follow in their footsteps. They were filled with pride and believed a cursory obedience to laws made them more righteous than anyone else. Position and education meant everything… and those who had neither one were rendered of no value.

Jesus… born to a humble Jewish virgin and raised in the workshop of His earthly father, Joseph, was insignificant in their eyes…. That is until He began His short ministry in earnest. Jesus knew that the religious leaders put on a great show but were often hypocrites in their real lives. He challenged their manipulation of the laws of God. For example, they conducted their false sense of righteousness in not committing the physical act of adultery; and Jesus told them heart lust was still adultery. They had disdain for the poor woman who gave her last two small coins into the temple treasury; and Jesus commended her for giving all she had.

One day they brought a woman ‘caught in the very act of adultery’ and cast her at Jesus’ feet—hoping He would do something they could accuse Him of—like show her mercy. Jesus knew that Jewish law said both parties to adultery were to be stoned. Hypocrisy permeated the air in that they only brought the woman to Christ. She was merely a tool they could use to accuse Him of breaking either Jewish or Roman law. Jesus distracted them, took their eyes off of her, bent and wrote in the dirt and challenged them. He said simply—“He who is without sin should cast the first stone.” Suddenly they were left shamed and humiliated as they dropped their stones and turned and walked away. Every one of them was led to self-examination and came to the realization that his own sin rendered him unworthy to judge hers. Jesus—in love and not ignoring her sin—told her He didn’t judge her but that she was to go and sin no more.

As you can see, the Jewish leadership was desperate to remove Jesus and His ministry from their midst. He was like a rapidly growing cancer tumor, which was threatening the body of control they held. Throughout His three-year ministry, they constantly watched for grounds to accuse Him in their attempt to cut out the cancer, which was having a great impact in Judea. Their part in the Holy Week story cannot be ignored.

SCRIPTURE: “And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse Him.” Matthew 12:10

You can find Day 1 here in case you missed it.