Daily Devotionals for Holy Week

Isaiah 42 is the perfect scripture to reflect on as we celebrate this Lenten season. We see in verses 1-4 a prophetic description of the Messiah’s character. The character of the servant is to be perfectly just, faithful, and gentle. This follows Chapter 41 where there is talk of Cyrus who is the King of Persia and in this scripture is referred to as “the one from the east”. Cyrus was a pagan ruler, but he was a helper to the nation of Israel and God used him to protect his chosen people. This scripture suggests that the coming of this servant will be far greater than Cyrus and that He will ultimately redeem us all. Though Cyrus was great, the servant mentioned in chapter 42 is on a much higher level. In verses 5-7, God addresses the servant directly. He calls Him to be the light for the Gentiles.

Israel had also been referred to as God’s servant. God chose Israel to serve Him and spread His light and message to the Gentiles, but because of their sin and brokenness, they failed. But God loved us, the sinners, the lost, the Gentiles, so much that He sent His Son to fulfill this mission. He did this so that all of those who are in darkness can see the light and no longer be ruled by sin.

Throughout my time at the Academy, I have studied numerous military leaders. All of them are very impressive in their own way. They have all had successful careers and great moral character, but none were perfect. Each has wavered, faltered, and stumbled. And who can blame them? They are human. Though they strive, none of them are the perfect leader. That’s where Jesus comes in. He is the only perfect example of a leader. I’m so very thankful for His life as an example. It is my prayer that as believers and military officers, we embody the character that Jesus showed us by example in His life. This is what our nation and what our military desperately needs. God, I ask for the strength of your Spirit, I ask that I can be an example of your love and your character in this dark world. And I thank you for allowing us to be a part of Your kingdom and of Your mission here on Earth!

Lord, I thank you for loving us. I thank you for caring for us enough to send your Son to earth. He is an example of perfect character. He is our Savior and our Redeemer. I ask that during this season You keep Him at the forefront of our mind. Help us to live a life that reflects Him everyday. I ask these things is Your Son’s precious, holy name. Amen!

The Gospel of Matthew and Mark both precede Judas deciding to betray Jesus (v. 14) with Jesus’ anointing by the woman at Bethany (vv. 6-13). The arrangement of these events should not be overlooked because of the comparison provided between Judas and the woman who anointed Jesus. Matthew describes how Jesus disciples “were indignant” (v. 8) at the woman pouring expensive perfume on Jesus head because “it could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor” (v. 9). Jesus, however, tells them her action is “a beautiful thing” (v. 10) and exhorts her because she has rightly used her time in His presence to worship Him.

Conversely, Judas who spends a considerably greater amount time in Jesus’s presence fails to respond in worship or adoration of the Lord, but instead hands him over to the chief priests (v.15). While it is easy to meet the actions of Jesus betrayer with reproach, we do not always respond to the presence of God in worship either. After Jesus died and was resurrected, God bestowed His Holy Spirit upon the Church, therefore His Spirit indwells us all. When we worship in the presence of God we effectively acknowledge that His unwarranted grace is the only thing which bridges the gap between our sinfulness and His holiness.

Like the woman at Bethany, we must realize that Jesus changes everything! We have access to our Creator and Redeemer! Let us not forget this fact, but instead, as His holy church, we must respond to the power of Christ within us in faithful obedience as we keep in the forefront of our minds that we serve a risen Savior!

The Lord’s Supper - As the table is set in the presence of our enemies and the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is given our hungry souls, what words could come but those of thankfulness for the unmerited love of our God? Oh how sincere the wonder we ought to have, seeing the bread and cup our Lord Jesus has given us to freely partake of! Such glorious mercy and grace, why do we daily forget how our Savior has loved us? Let us today be mindful of the power of the name upon which our justification and redemption lies.

Do our feeble minds fail to see the depth with which He loves? Surely we can cry with the Psalmist that we lie down to rest and rise again only as the Lord sustains us. Fully dependent on our God for rest, for nourishment, the very breath in our bodies even as we read. “What is man that you are mindful of him” oh Lord? For in your hand is my very life and the “breath of all mankind” (Job 12:10). And yet, the Lord takes thought for us, giving a sign of the perfect and all-sufficient work he has already done that we may see and seek him. The body of the Savior was broken for us, that our bodies may be mended for Him. By faith we are first united with Christ in a death like his and then we celebrate his resurrection that we may know true life. We should let neither the cup nor the bread pass our lips without effect. Rather, in remembrance of the gift of God, let us seek to glorify Christ as our highest treasure and be humbled at his love.

Heavenly Father, you alone have given us freely from Your storehouses of faith. Surely they are always full so a man might take all that he can carry and never return hungry! Remind us daily of the cross. Give us hearts of flesh that we would be humbled at the foot of the glorious tree. In our weakness, help us understand how you have loved, even as we walked in darkness. Lord, make our heart’s desire to gain Christ and no more, for a man whose gain is Christ has gained the most precious treasure. Amen!

Today is Good Friday. So every year on Good Friday we gather to hear the story, to be reminded of the crucifixion and to make a choice. Today, the suffering, violence and brutality that we human beings inflict on one another are caught up in remembering the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. So what does it all mean? What difference does the crucifixion make? Does God love us more because Jesus died on the cross? Are we somehow more acceptable, more tolerable, to God because Jesus suffered?

Good Friday neither appeases God nor improves humanity. It reveals the depth of God’s love even in the midst of rejection. Today, the sacrifice of Christ is saying: “I have seen your tears and heard your cries. I have listened to your questions. I have held your hands and hugged you.

I have watched death take from you what you did not want to give up!” The years, the deaths, the suffering, the tears, the betrayal, the violence, the darkness and the Good Fridays have taught me that no matter how far or fast we run we can never get away. Through the repeated inquiry, “Were you there?” each one of us is invited to stand at Golgotha and admit our collusion in its evil. Thank God that we are NEVER abandoned. Golgatha reveals that security is in vulnerability, freedom is in surrender, and life is in death.

Lord, on this Good Friday, we are kneeling before the broken, crucified body of Jesus. Empower us to feel your love and join in thanksgiving for your wondrous love. Amen!

During this special time of the year, many Christians pay attention to the more emphasized days of the Holy Week: Good Friday and Easter Sunday. We observe Good Friday as the day that Jesus was crucified and died and Easter Sunday as the day on which He rose again. But how much time do we spend reflecting on this in-between time? Scripture says that when Christ’s body was taken down from the cross, one of His disciples, Joseph of Arimathea, wrapped it with myrrh and aloe, and then placed it in a new garden tomb. For all intents and purposes, Joseph embalmed Christ’s body like he would with any other deceased person.

Imagine you were there as a bystander on the day after Christ’s death. For some time before, you had heard the good news that this man, Jesus Christ, was the Son of God. You had heard that He was performing miracles - healing the sick, making the blind man see. And you had heard that He had come to save the world from death and to bring the gift of everlasting life to those who believe in Him. Then you watched Him being nailed to the cross, saw the crown of thorns draw blood from His brow, and heard His final cry. The One whom you believed would be your Savior now appeared to be just a lifeless body being prepared for the tomb. Would you not feel that your hopes of salvation would be buried with Him as well?

Of course, we have the advantage now of knowing how the story goes: It would not be long before Christ would rise to be among the living. But if you were in that moment, would you ever have been able to fathom the plan that God would unfold for His Son in just a few days? Would you ever be able to guess that this Man could actually be resurrected from a tomb that was supposed to seal His body away forever? That He would defeat death itself, not only for Him but for all of humanity? As you go about this Saturday, take time to reflect on this. Our lives are all pieces of God’s story. If God could surprise you in the ultimate way by raising Jesus from the dead for your salvation, what other unseen plans does He have in store for your life?

Father, I know I am a part of Your bigger story, and that You have a plan for my life. But it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of this world and feel like my work, my relationships, or my obligations are the things that are in control. Take me in your arms, O Lord. Give me faith to take refuge in You, because I cannot do this alone. Help me to realize that You are the one who is actually in control, and You have things in store for me that I cannot even imagine. You are my strength and my shield, O Lord, and I am thankful for the peace that You provide me. Amen!

CHRIST IS RISEN!

A story is told about a college professor who wished to communicate the essence of Christianity. His best student, a star athlete, scholar and devout Christian was very popular. As a willing participant for an in-class presentation, he agreed to perform push-ups in sets of ten.  Two hundred pushups were his nightly routine; however, this challenge would push him well beyond his normal regimen.

As the professor sequentially offered each member of the class a doughnut, ten pushups were completed by the star pupil. Initially, students accepted the gift with ease. However, doughnuts were declined once the magnitude of the price was considered. Regardless, ten push-ups were performed, even if the gift was refused.

Students began to weep as they watched their hero struggle with each repetition. As other students entered the class to observe the spectacle, it only added to his strain. Although several insisted, the professor allowed no-one else to perform pushups. When all students (in excess of thirty) had received a doughnut, the professor commended his star pupil, saying, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

The class was astounded when the professor explained, “Jesus Christ was the only One who could perform what was required. Jesus was put to death on the cross; but God raised him on the third day. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, God offers the gift of salvation.”

CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED. HALLELUIAH!