On My Mind...
It was Passover week. There was always excitement this time of year. Faithful Jews made the pilgirmage to the holy city to celebrate God’s deliverence of His people. Year after year they gathered. Remembering the lamb slain, the blood applied and God’s deliverence. The city was crowded, there was a festive mood. This year was a bit different. There was a lot of talk about an itinerate rabbi from Galilee. Miraculous things have been done. His teaching was unlike any they had heard. Some wondered if this might be the Messiah. Suddenly there was a noise. It sounds like singing and/or shouting. Where is it coming from? It’s coming from the direction of Bethany. Upon examination we find it’s a parade! But what kind of parade is this? A man seated on a donkey covered with old clothes. People are placing their clothes on the street before him, others are waving palm branches. There are shouts of, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” The whole city is stirred as the word stread, “It is the prophet Jesus from Nazaeth in Galilee.” Thus began the week that changed the world.
By Friday, this adoring crowd had become an angry mob crying, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” In between was a whirlwind. Their were acts of divine sovereignty, of love and compassion, of bitterness and betrayal. The Lord of glory was handed over to Roman authorities for execution. How? Why? It was not because of the corrupt, unrighteous acts of a power-hungry religious establishment nor the result of cruel betrayal by one of His own. It was because it was the eternal plan and program of our Sovereign God. This was the fulfillment of a divine covenant made in eternity past, before the world began, as God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit determined to redeem a people. Strange, we know He came to die. We know that He willingly submitted, for with a word, He could have forbidden it. Something so significant, so important and essential to God’s plan is told in such a stark way. “And there they crucified Him.” After three hours of suffering, His lifeless body was removed and placed in a borrowed grave. For those three hours darkness covered the land. But now, there seemed a greater darkness. The light of their existene had gone out. Hope was lost. Fear and doubt now reigned. But that’s not the end of the story. After the Sabbath, early on the moring of the first day of the week. Some women made their way to the tomb. Heart-broken, weary they came. They had hoped to further anoint his body. They came to grieve. But on arrival, they found an empty grave and an angelic messenger, “He is not here. He has risen just as He said!” The sorrow of crucifixion had been swallowed up by the joy of resurrection!
Sin’s debt had been paid. The grave had been conquored. The way home had been secured. This week we gather to remember and to celebrate. On Friday, we will gather to look back to the lamb slain for our redemption. At 7:00 pm we will gather to sing, hear the Scripture read and celebrate the Lord’s Table. Then, Sunday mornning we will gather to rejoice, for He is risen, He is risen indeed!
Take some time this week to read through the Gospel account of that week. Then join us to remember and rejoice. Have a blessed week.
Rod
By Friday, this adoring crowd had become an angry mob crying, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” In between was a whirlwind. Their were acts of divine sovereignty, of love and compassion, of bitterness and betrayal. The Lord of glory was handed over to Roman authorities for execution. How? Why? It was not because of the corrupt, unrighteous acts of a power-hungry religious establishment nor the result of cruel betrayal by one of His own. It was because it was the eternal plan and program of our Sovereign God. This was the fulfillment of a divine covenant made in eternity past, before the world began, as God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit determined to redeem a people. Strange, we know He came to die. We know that He willingly submitted, for with a word, He could have forbidden it. Something so significant, so important and essential to God’s plan is told in such a stark way. “And there they crucified Him.” After three hours of suffering, His lifeless body was removed and placed in a borrowed grave. For those three hours darkness covered the land. But now, there seemed a greater darkness. The light of their existene had gone out. Hope was lost. Fear and doubt now reigned. But that’s not the end of the story. After the Sabbath, early on the moring of the first day of the week. Some women made their way to the tomb. Heart-broken, weary they came. They had hoped to further anoint his body. They came to grieve. But on arrival, they found an empty grave and an angelic messenger, “He is not here. He has risen just as He said!” The sorrow of crucifixion had been swallowed up by the joy of resurrection!
Sin’s debt had been paid. The grave had been conquored. The way home had been secured. This week we gather to remember and to celebrate. On Friday, we will gather to look back to the lamb slain for our redemption. At 7:00 pm we will gather to sing, hear the Scripture read and celebrate the Lord’s Table. Then, Sunday mornning we will gather to rejoice, for He is risen, He is risen indeed!
Take some time this week to read through the Gospel account of that week. Then join us to remember and rejoice. Have a blessed week.
Rod