Easter Morning

That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was.

He asked, "What's this you're discussing so intently as you walk along?"

They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, "Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn't heard what's happened during the last few days?"

He said, "What has happened?"

They said, "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn't find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn't see Jesus."

Then he said to them, "So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can't you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don't you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?" Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.

They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: "Stay and have supper with us. It's nearly evening; the day is done." So he went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared. Luke 24:13-31 The Message

Don't let Jesus disappear from your life. Keep him with you every day in everything you do.

Holy Saturday

When the captain there saw what happened, he honored God: "This man was innocent! A good man, and innocent!" Luke 23:47

Jesus’s body is hanging on the cross. He has just breathed his last. The captain, the man put in charge of making sure that this man actually dies, looks up at the lifeless form. He realizes that the man in the middle, the one they called Jesus, was innocent, had been wrongly accused and killed. He thinks “nuts we screwed up!”

Ever feel that way? Like you have just made a big mistake and you just don’t see any way to turn back? But that is the whole point of Jesus’s death on the cross. There is no mistake we can make that won’t be forgiven. He died for every one of our sins, so that we would receive forgiveness.

Yes, Jesus was innocent, but he still paid for our guilt.

Good Friday

One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: "Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!"

But the other one made him shut up: "Have you no fear of God? You're getting the same as him. We deserve this, but not him—he did nothing to deserve this."

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom."

He said, "Don't worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise." Luke 23:39-43 The Message

If it is possible to like anything about the crucifixion, this would be the scene. Two convicted criminals both sentenced to death, but one is going to eternal death and one is going to eternal life. Jesus is breathing his last, having endured horrible pain and suffering, but he is still willing to reach out and offer salvation to yet another miserable sinner.

And that promise, “Today you will join me paradise.” Don’t we all someday want to hear that?

Maundy Thursday

But they kept at it, a shouting mob, demanding that he be crucified. And finally they shouted him down. Pilate caved in and gave them what they wanted. He released the man thrown in prison for rioting and murder, and gave them Jesus to do whatever they wanted. Luke 23:23-25 The Message

It is so hard to believe that this same crowd was the one who welcomed Jesus to town just days before. Shouting praises and hosannas, they saw Jesus as their victor, their savior from Roman rule. How did the tide turn so quickly?

What happens when you drop a tiny pebble into a still body of water? That ripple continues in every direction. And all it took was one voice in the crowd to turn it into an angry mob.

When you have a chance to be the pebble, which way will you turn things?

Holy Wednesday

He pulled away from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed, "Father, remove this cup from me. But please, not what I want. What do you want?" At once an angel from heaven was at his side, strengthening him. He prayed on all the harder. Sweat, wrung from him like drops of blood, poured off his face. Luke 22:41-44 (The Message)

Just like everybody else out there, I think I know what I want. I think I know what would be best for myself and my family and friends. If I pray to God that relatives with medical issues would be healed or that friends with financial difficulties would have a sudden windfall, I know that He hears my prayers. But when my prayers are said with total sincerity and unselfishness, why doesn’t He answer? I am not asking for anything for myself; I’m asking for help for loved ones. Surely God will answer those prayers.

For anyone who thinks that God doesn’t answer our prayers, or even hear them, this is the line to remember. “Not my will, but thine will be done.” God knows what is best for every one of us. He didn’t bail out His own son in his time of need, because He knew what had to happen next. And God isn’t going to bail us or our family or our friends out every time. He’s going to bail us out when He knows it is the right time.

But no matter what we pray for, God will be there and He will hear us.

Holy Tuesday

I can’t believe that I have neglected Lent so much this year. I don’t know where the last six weeks have gone, but here we are in Holy Week already.

When it was time, he sat down, all the apostles with him, and said, "You've no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you before I enter my time of suffering. It's the last one I'll eat until we all eat it together in the kingdom of God." Luke 22:14-16 (The Message)

So this is how Jesus began the Last Supper. What a downer. Can you imagine what the disciples thought after hearing a line like that? Little did they know what the next 24 hours would bring.