THE DAY AFTER

After crucifixion day, I wonder how folks felt.

Judas repented of himself and hanged himself.

One would think that the chief priests and Pharisees who wanted Jesus gone would have been happy.  I find in the scriptures, though, where they must have had a bit of doubt of their thinking that he was not the Messiah.  They asked that the tomb be super secured as "we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, after three days I will rise again"  even though they said they did not want his disciples to come steal him away and claim he was alive.  Yeah, right.

I've said in prior Easter posts that I wondered how others felt.

His disciples had to be sad and scared.  Mary, his mother, had to be sad.  The same for Mary Magdalene and others who followed him.  What about the blind man who could see now, the lepers who were healed, the dumb who could now talk, the lame who could now walk.   How did they feel?

And, of course, the one I think of most is Barabbas.  Ah, Barabbas.  The one who was released and spared from crucifixion.   Chains gone, the breath of air instead of cellblock, freedom.  I hope he had joy because I know that like him, Jesus died in MY place and for MY sins and belief in that brings nothing but joy.

Yes, a sad Saturday.

Tomorrow is Sunday.

Consider........

THE SACRIFICE

I am leaving many gaps in my post today to encourage you to read and study this scripture.

As Judas and the guards approached Jesus and the disciples, Judas kissed Jesus.  Immediately he was taken by the guards and led away.  Betrayed by an act of "affection".  In spite of their voiced devotions and allegiance, the disciples scattered.

Jesus was led away to the chief priests "house" and the long night continued.

Fairly soon after this, the Bible documents that Peter was among those gathered outside this house.  Others asked him, "Weren't you with him?" and questions such as this to which Peter would reply, "I know not the man".  As Peter denied for the third time, the cock crew and Peter was sorrowful.

Jesus went before Pilate also and Pilate could find no fault in him.  Custom dictated that a prisoner could be released so Pilate asked the crowd who they would have released, Jesus or Barabbas (a convicted murderer), feeling assured the crowd would say "Jesus".  The crowd called out, "Barabbas".  When asked as to what should be done with Jesus, the crowd said, "Crucify him, crucify him."

Jesus was scourged and beaten.

Jesus was mocked.

A crown of thorns was pushed down on his head, a robe put on him, and a reed put in his hand.  He was smote with the reed on the head.

He was ridiculed and scorned.

He was led away to be crucified on a cross between two thieves on Golgotha.

After he died, Joseph of Arimathaea asked to take his body.  He took Jesus' body to his new tomb, wrapped him in linen, and rolled a great stone in the door of the tomb.

Jesus, the Lamb of God.  As one of our Easter songs says, "MY Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God."

Why did Jesus die on the cross?  He died on the cross for ME and He died for YOU because of love.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."  John 3:16

Do I understand it?  No.

Do I believe it?  Absolutely!

Jesus paid it ALL.  All to him I owe.

Consider........

REMEMBERING

From Matthew 26:1-56....

Jesus had taught his disciples in parables about many things during this time in Jerusalem.  He had been worshipped with an anointing by Mary (see An Alabaster Box, 3/23/13).  With his arrest and crucifixion only hours away, Jesus was having a last supper with his disciples.  Disciples who had walked with him, learned from him, experienced miracles with him, and were loved by him.

The time had come in Jerusalem for the Passover meal.  Knowing that Jesus had no place of his own and preparation for the meal must be made by them, the disciples asked Jesus where they should prepare.  He sent them to a man (Matthew 26:18) who gave them use of the upper room in his house. Jesus told the disciples to tell the man that "my time is at hand".

The preparation was made. Jesus sat down with the twelve disciples--yes Judas was there.  Jesus told them, "One of you will betray me".  Amazing that Jesus knew all things that would come, yet loved anyways.  He had told them that he would be betrayed, now he told them that one of them would be the betrayer.  Each began to fear it might be him, asking, "Lord is it I?"  Even Judas asked, knowing full well it was he.  When Jesus replied, "Thou hast said",  conviction was upon Judas.

They ate bread signifying Christ's body.  He had said, "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35).

They drank the cup of wine signifying Christ's blood.  "For this is my blood of the New Testament"...

After the meal of remembrance, they left the house and went to the Mount of Olives where conversation continued.  Peter, a big personality of a disciple, asked the Lord questions and told Jesus that he (Peter) would never be offended of him, that he would never deny his Christ.  Jesus answered him and told him that before the "cock crowing" that Peter would deny him not once, not twice, but three times.  Peter adamantly said that he would not.  As for me, I am often a "Peter".

They then went to the garden in a place called Gethsemane.  He took the eleven disciples (Judas had left) and left them outside the garden.  Then he took Peter, James, and John with him into the corner of the garden and told them to wait while he prayed.  Well, we all know how that went....they went to sleep while he prayed in anguish in the garden.   As for me, I am often a sleepy disciple.

I have prayed a few times in my life "in anguish" and it's truly exhausting.  I can't imagine the anguish of Jesus in the garden as he entreated his Father, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me.  Nevertheless, not my will, but as thou wilt."

After this, the guard, led by Judas came and took the Lord away and the long night continued.

Consider......

MARY

Today my thoughts go to Mary, Jesus' earthly mother.  

She gave birth to him in a lowly stable, probably a somewhat scared young girl, with very little material goods in her world but a honorable husband and an assurance from an angel that this was God's plan.  I always determined that Mary was a strong woman to be able to have faith and trust The Plan.  Many times I can't even trust The Plan.  

Not a lot is said of Jesus' childhood and we hear nothing of the time between his staying behind in the temple at age 12 and his baptism by John around 28 or something years later.  As a mother, I thought of surely how many times that Mary played with her son, kissed his boo boos, and kissed him good night.  

My thoughts then go to Mary as she looked up at her son, hanging on that cross, battered and torn, taking on all our sins.  

I think still Mary had hope in her heart that she would see her boy again.  I can imagine her joy as on that third day, He arose from the grave, just as He said He would!  

Consider....

A BETRAYAL

Judas Iscariot.  Any follower of Jesus and reader of the Bible immediately knows Judas Iscariot.  Judas, one of the twelve disciples--disciples who followed Jesus, who learned from Jesus, who loved Jesus.  Supposedly.  I can hear the name of Judas Iscariot and I don't remember the good things he got to experience.  I only remember his betrayal.

I guess for myself when I think of Judas, I find him a lot like some are today--interested in money and what they can do to get it.  Maybe that was the case, maybe not.  We all have our opinions.  I find the "transaction" of Judas in the gospels of Matthew (26:14-16), Mark (14:10, 11), and Luke (22:3-6).  Neither of these gospels need many verses to tell the story.

Judas simply chose to go into the chief priests and scribes and asked, "What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?"  Judas made a deal with them for thirty pieces of silver ($3840).  The gospel of Matthew said from that time on, Judas "sought opportunity to betray him."  I wondered if Judas felt like a really big guy with this deal.

While I know that the plan was for God to give his only begotten son, I wonder at the ways it all played out.  I know there are lessons for us to learn and thoughts to ponder.

I can remember a time years ago when I was at the mall.  There was a teenage girl and her group handing out some sort of religious paper or announcement of an event.  As I passed, there was an elderly man in front of me walking along.  He stopped at the girl and asked what she had.  She said in her reply something about Jesus.  I almost stopped dead in my tracks as the older man asked her, "Who is Jesus?  I've never heard of him."  The teenage girl got a huge smile on her face and replied, "Oh, sir, let me tell you about him!"  That day I realized two things...there ARE people in this world who have never heard of Jesus and I fall short on a daily basis telling others about him.  I need to be like that young girl and be enthusiastic about sharing Jesus.

As for Judas, you probably already know how his life ended....I will get to that later on this week....in the meantime, consider.......

TRICKERY

After Jesus triumphal arrival in Jerusalem, he was preaching in the temple when approached by the chief priests and elders who tried to stop him by tricking him with questions.  (Matthew 21:23--27).  Jesus would not be tricked.

The Pharisees also wanted to find fault with him.  The word, "Pharisee", means separated.  They wanted separation from the people who did not observe the laws of tithing and rituals.  They had a strong influence.  In contrast, Jesus cared about the hurts and needs of individuals which brought him into conflict with the Pharisees.  He believed the Pharisees placed way too much thought on the minor things, while paying no attention to the matters that were more important such as judgement, mercy, and faith.  There were some Pharisees that held different thoughts in the New Testament such as Nicodemus (remember him?), Joseph of Arimathaea (we'll hear more of him later), and Gamaliel (you find who he is--I won't tell you).  :)  The Pharisees are defined as "members of an ancient group of Jews who believed in obeying religious laws very carefully and separated themselves from the ordinary people; a person who thinks they are very religious, but who does not care about others".  In my words, a hypocrite.

As for The Sadducees, they were the top dogs in Jewish society in Jesus' time being priests, merchants, and "big dogs" as we might say.  They did not believe in the resurrection of the dead nor the coming of the Messiah.  I've heard the Sadducees described like this--they were "sad, you see?"

In thinking of these two groups of people who were "against" Jesus Christ, I ponder if maybe some days I fit with them.  It's a question I ask myself and hope the answer is no but fear some days, maybe so.  How about you?

Consider......

PALM SUNDAY

Yes, today is traditionally what is called Palm Sunday which is the Sunday before Easter.  I've been doing my Easter reading and thought that today was the perfect time to begin my Easter week commentary.  Please understand that I am writing this as I see it and interpret and your opinions and interpretations might differ.  I would like to think that my writings would prompt your heart and mind to search the scriptures (or even just read the scriptures).  I'm sure I have said before that I have only watched The Passion Of The Christ one time and it took me a long time before I even watched that time.  My heart hurts when I think of the horrors that Jesus took on himself in my stead and seeing that acted out (even though it was acting) was just too much.

I think that the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is recorded in all four of the gospels about the same way.    This event had already been prophesied years and years and years before in Zechariah 9:9.  That scripture passage says:

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."  (Zechariah 9:9, KJV)

Jesus told his disciples that day to go to the village near and find a donkey and colt tied.  He told them if anyone questioned them, to reply, "The Lord hath need of them."  The animals were brought and Jesus sat upon the donkey and rode into Jerusalem.

Folks followed and cried, "Hosanna; blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."  Now I will admit here that I never had looked up what "hosanna" really meant.  The Bible dictionary says it means "save, now, we beseech thee".  

As Jesus rode, others spread their garments before him and still others cut down branches of trees and placed before him, all the time with their "hosannas" and "hosanna in the highest".

I'm sure some believed Jesus was the Messiah, others might have thought he was there to save them politically.  And still others just might have been like us today--just wanted to see a parade.  There were possibly those there who had been healed of afflictions, some that might have been or had a family member raised from the dead, some who had seen Jesus do these miracles, and then some might have just wondered "who IS this guy?"

What they all saw was a King.  Not a King on a high stepping royal horse as he was dressed in royal attire but a gentle, kind man riding slowly on the lowliest of animals...born in the lowliest of places and riding on the lowly donkey.

After Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, he found moneychangers in the temple and angrily got them out.  He had serious questions from his disciples and answered them back.  He carried on with his life as he prepared for the sacrifice that He would be for us.

I wonder how I would have felt if I had been in that crowd.

Consider....  

IT'S ALMOST HERE!

What is almost here, you ask?  Easter week!  Easter is my favorite celebration season EVER!  You regular blog readers might recall that in the past I have either written each day prior to Easter Sunday OR given scriptures to read that week before Easter Sunday.

If you want to look back at those or some of those, you may see posts as follows:

March 22, 2013 each day through April 1, 2013

April 12, 2014 "Rejoice"

March 25, 2016 "Good Friday"

This year I might take a somewhat different approach.  I'm still SO excited about celebrating my risen Lord!  I am still considering how my thoughts are coming together and I hope to write much next week--if not every day, at least many days.

Also this Palm Sunday is the beginning of our church's Spring Revival.  This causes my mind and heart to return to my own testimony of salvation.  You may read it and see pictures on my post from July 5, 2012 titled "Revival".  My testimony has not changed for my salvation experience but my testimony daily has gotten better and better.  Why, you ask?  The Lord has proved himself over and over and over again in my life, tears come to my eyes much more often than before, and my heart rejoices in my Lord so much more than before.  Occasionally, very occasionally, very very occasionally, at my church, I sing a solo.  Believe me, it's the Lord's idea, not mine.  Standing in front of a congregation and singing alone is not my choice.  The song I always sing a Gaither tune and is titled, "The Longer I Serve Him, the Sweeter He Grows."  Man, that's my testimony for sure.  The words go like this:

Since I started for the kingdom,
Since my life He controls.
Since I gave my heart to Jesus, 
the longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.

The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.  
The more that I love Him, more joy He bestows.
Each day is like heaven, my heart overflows.
The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.

(I love this verse.)
Every need He is supplying.  
Plenteous grace He bestows.
Every day my way gets brighter.
The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.

I get so wrapped up in how this song speaks to me and for me that I get a blessing just humming it!

So as you go through next week....consider the sacrifice of our Lord and consider the blessings....just consider....

A CHILD'S EASTER BOOK

Tomorrow morning at 2 a.m. is the time we officially spring forward and lose that precious hour of sleep that we so need.  I don't mind the falling back, of course, as that means I gain an hour but this springing forward really gets me.  On a brighter note, the springing forward means that it's only a few short weeks until Easter, one of my most favorite of days!  Yes, I do love Easter because my Savior is risen!

On this day I am doing some much needed house cleaning and preparing for The Grandbaby to come and visit and spend the night.  Her parents are entertaining their church youth group and she wouldn't enjoy that at all.  Of course I thought she should be invited to spend the night with us fun folks, if you know what I mean.  :)

I have bought The Grandbaby an Easter book at my county's very economical store that has books at really cheap prices.  This one cost $1.99.  It's a hardback touch-and-feel book that I have just now read as I want to give to her today.  In a child's touch-and-feel book, there are all kinds of surfaces to touch and feel.  After reading this book, I can tell you it has "touched" my heart and allowed me to "feel" the Spirit of the Lord.  What a blessing!  So I decided I would share.  There's a sermon on every page.....book words in black and my words are in blue.

THE FIRST EASTER DAY (by Jill Roman Lord)

"We celebrate at Eastertime when Jesus rose again.  I wonder what I would have done if I had lived back then.

If I had been a bee, I would have zipped out of my hive and buzzed and buzzed to spread the news that Jesus is alive.  (Do I spread that news on a daily basis?  I think not.)

I would have bellowed, as a frog, and joined in nature's chord to shout my hallelujahs to the precious risen Lord.  (Do I should hallelujahs enough?  I think not.)

And if I'd been a bunny, I'd have hopped with all my might, rejoicing in the risen Lord and showing my delight.  (Again, do I?  I think not.)

If I had been a butterfly, I would have spread my wings and flitted through the sky to see the living King of kings.  (Uh, huh, bet you can answer...)

Then, as the rising sun, I would have pointed all my rays to glisten on the risen Lord and show my love and praise.  (I have opportunity for this on a daily basis...do I do it?  Not nearly enough.)

If I had been a kitten, I'd have snuggled in His lap and savored being with Him as I closed my eyes to nap.  (Oh the times I have been comforted by Him as I felt like one resting on the lap of one I love...how He would rub my heart and comfort and assure me all is well...oh the joy!)

But I am not a bunny or a bee of any size.  I'm not a frog or butterfly who saw the Lord arise.  I'm part of God's creation who can jump and shout with glee and celebrate that Christ arose to give new life to me!   Thank you Jesus!"

As I say, consider.....