Holy Week Devotionals

The celebration of Palm Sunday is a sweet memory for many of us. Reminiscing on the days gone by when we would design palm branches in children’s church and shout, “Hosanna! Hosanna!” Still today, as you walk by the children’s wing, you may hear young, sweet voices doing the same.

Yet, the truth of the moment is not as sweet when the curtains are pulled back. The Pharisees and religious leaders plotted against Jesus in hatred, He was no king to them. Many of the people chanting “Hosanna!” to their King now would soon be among those chanting “Crucify!” as He was brought before them just days later.

Yet, the beauty of Palm Sunday is not in the reaction of the crowds, it’s not in the laying of palm branches. The beauty is that Christ the King is king whether men worship Him as king or not. The King who was coming into Jerusalem, celebrated by an innumerable crowd, was still King when He hung on the cross as “King of the Jews.” That same King would raise from the dead three days later. Forty days after that, He would ascend to the throne to reign – King of kings and Lord of lords. And one day, that King will come again to judge.

The King has come. The King is here. The King will come again. Will you worship King Jesus?

The Temple had become a marketplace of sin. What should have been a house of prayer, sacrifice, and repentance became a den of thieves. People were cheating others by selling inferior animals to sacrifice. Others were "tipping the scales" in their favor. No wonder Jesus was angry. He twisted together a whip and drove these people out of the Temple.

He cleansed the Temple. Cleansed.

We are the Temple. The Holy Spirit of God indwells all believers. At our salvation our sin is driven out when the Holy Spirit comes in. Unfortunately, we sin again and again. Our Repentance allows the Holy Spirit to cleanse our heart, our "Temple".

This Easter season, just as Jesus cleansed the Temple before Passover, will you allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse your heart - the current Temple. Will you allow Him to evict those He deems trespassing? Will you allow Him to drive out those things that are making a mockery of His House of Prayer? Will you allow Him to clean His dwelling place?

For further study: Isaiah 6:1-6; Psalm 51:1-7; Hebrews 9:11-22

As the rumors spread throughout Jerusalem of Jesus’ exchange with the money changers in the temple, a provoking question arose among the religious elite: “What kind of authority does Jesus possess?” Now, to be clear, the chief priests weren’t asking because they marveled at Jesus’ teaching and were awestruck by the miracles he performed; they were irritated that someone had come to undermine, and possibly usurp, their religious power structure. After all, they had the credentials: the training, the education... they “paid their dues” to hold their positions; essentially, they were self-made men. They earned the right to wear the fancy clothes and sit at the high tables. Who was this Nazarene? Who was this carpenter’s son? Where does he get off messing with our temple operations?

Who is this Nazarene? He is not a carpenter’s son. He’s the Son of God the Father! Where does his authority come from? Jesus’ authority is self-attesting, having come from eternity past. Jesus didn’t need to get in the mud and tangle with the chief priests in theological debate; however, they came to call Him out. How foolish to argue theology with the Author.

And yet, anytime we look to undermine (or downplay) what the Bible defines as sin, we are no different than these zealot priests whose hearts were hardened. We feel like we can debate and justify actions when we should recognize Jesus’ authority. Let us find freedom in release. Bend the knee to Christ and live as joyful subjects to the King.

Holy Wednesday focuses on the events of the final days of Jesus’ life on earth. Its theme is one of betrayal, love, and devotion. It was on this day that Judas bargained the life of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Judas was not just a casual friend of Jesus. Judas was a close friend, a disciple, who had walked with Jesus and had witnessed Jesus’ many miracles and heard His teachings. He had seen the crowds and experienced the love of Christ. Yet, in spite of all this, he gave in to the worldly desires for riches.

At the same time, we see another narrative. While Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, Lazarus’ sister Mary approached him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. After pouring the entire contents over Jesus’ head, the disciples became frustrated at what looked to be a waste of resources. However, Jesus saw her actions as worship: “she has prepared me for burial.”

Notice the irony: Judas was willing to sell Jesus out for money; Mary was willing to pour her “money” out for Jesus. Both were confronted with Christ. Both had very different responses. Judas saw Jesus as useful; Mary saw Jesus as beautiful.

How is it with you? May you be like Mary and pour out your devotion upon Christ, His Bride (the Church), and His mission. Let your devotion reach all the way to the ends of the earth. Let your gifts carry this gospel to every tribe, tongue, and nation.

As Jesus prepares to celebrate the Passover with His disciples, one of the twelve is already making plans of his own. Judas Iscariot is making a deal with the chief priests to sell Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver. Matthew records for us in 26:16 that from that time he (Judas) sought opportunity to betray Him.

I can’t help but think of the fact that Judas saw Jesus walk on water; he saw Jesus raise the dead and open the eyes of the blind; and he no doubt saw Jesus’ eyes and His love for people whom the religious crowd had no use. Judas saw Jesus walk with sinful men and yet never saw Jesus do anything wrong. He sat with Jesus and broke bread with Him at the Last Supper.

Judas knew Jesus was the Son of God and yet refused to acknowledge Him as Savior and Lord. He betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Judas was so close to Jesus, and yet so far.

I believe this serves as a reminder to us that we too can be close to Jesus, and at the same time, be so far from Him.

Recently, I have had a different view of Good Friday...

I have seen a lot of beautiful things in my short 22 years of life. Last year, as summer was ushered in, Zoe and I took a trip down to Orlando for a Bible Conference. The first evening we were there we traveled to the beach and found an isolated spot where we could be alone – just Zoe and I, and the occasional seagull. Looking over the ocean, my wife holding my hand, I stopped and thought to myself, “This is beautiful – it takes my breath away! But I wonder what is more beautiful than this. I wonder what the most beautiful scene in the universe must be?” I thought back to our honeymoon, a couple months earlier, when we got to see some of the most beautiful scenery and night skies in the world as we explored Zion, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon. “Those were beautiful scenes that I got to enjoy with my beautiful bride,” I thought to myself, “but are they the most beautiful?” Suddenly, it hit me, bringing a tear to my eye. I realized what truly was the most beautiful scene of all! I wrote it in a poem...

Beauty, true beauty!
Not the ocean, not the mountains, and not the starry night.
But on Calvary, that sacred place where my Savior died for me.
There He was, the Perfect One, hanging on a cross made by imperfect hands.
There He was, the Righteous One, laying down His life for unrighteous man.
There He was, Son of God, pouring out His life for the ungodly.
There it flowed; the crimson tide that washes sinners white.
Beauty, true beauty!

Good Friday – the most beautiful scene of all.

Are you silent?

If we sit in silence and read the brief Scripture reading for this “Silent Saturday” of Holy Week, we might think that not much happened on this day. But we would be wrong. Activity abounded.

The chief priests and Pharisees had a meeting with Pilate. A meeting probably put together at the last minute. This is not a meeting of friendly minds. Jewish leaders who had called out for Jesus’ crucifixion and the leading Roman ruler of Palestine who wanted to wash his hands of this whole ordeal.

Jesus is identified in this meeting of the minds as a “deceiver.” Now that Jesus was dead, they think Jesus will pull a fast one on them. They remember Jesus words: “After three days I will rise.” Could it really happen? That surely would break the silence of “Silent Saturday.”

Orders are given! Secure the tomb! Set a seal on the tomb! If this is not done then those in the meeting said: “His disciples might steal Jesus’ body and tell the people, who called for Jesus’ crucifixion, He had been raised been raised from the dead.” Their thinking–the last deception would be worse than the first.

But no matter what they tried to do on “Silent Saturday,” nothing could stop the glorious hallelujah of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday (the Lord’s Day). And the Church of the risen Savior has not been silent about the resurrection of Jesus since. Don’t be silent, but actively and daily declare “He’s Alive!”

As the sun rose early that morning, Mary Magdalene and James’ mother, Mary, were traveling to the tomb when they something truly amazing. This angel of the Lord whose appearance was like ‘lightening’ moved the massive stone that was placed in hopes of keeping people away from Jesus’ dead body. The act of this angel of the Lord’s moving the stone caused the temple guards, who were positioned as guards in hopes of keeping people away from Jesus’ dead body, to fall to the ground as if they were dead men. And, in the same way that the temple guards were perceived to be dead (even though they were alive) the angel of the Lord (reclining on the heavy stone) informed the women: “I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified (dead). He is not here. For he as risen, just as he said. Come and see...then go quickly and tell...”

And this is the same message we have today. Come and see the truth of the gospel in the Scriptures, in our lives, and in our families. Come and see the saving message about Jesus and what He’s done. Then, go and tell others about the joy and freedom you’ve found in the good news of Jesus Christ our Lord.

As the sun rose early that morning, so did the Son. And, because the tomb is empty, death has been conquered; because the resurrection of Jesus is a reality, our future resurrection is a reality; and because Jesus lives forevermore, so shall we who believe.

This is our Reality. Come and see, then go and tell.