Banquet With The King

Friday, April 17, 2020

Do You Have Anything to Eat?

Are you hungry…physically or spiritually? Think about Jesus’ hunger.

"Why are you frightened?" he asked. "Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it's really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don't have bodies, as you see that I do." As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet. Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it as they watched. Luke 24:38-43

Jesus ate at the Last Supper with His Disciples. It was the beginning of Passover. I imagine that it was a big feast of a meal—but that was on Thursday. He went through a trial, beatings, crucifixion, burial, three days (Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday morning) in the tomb, and then His resurrection. He walked to Emmaus and almost ate with two of His followers there…but He went back to Jerusalem where His disciples were gathered together. He showed them His hands and feet to convince them that He was Jesus Christ, their Savior and Messiah. Then, overcome with hunger, He asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" He was hungry. Three days without food or water would make anyone hungry and thirsty! It was likely that He devoured that fish…and asked for some bread to go with it. Ahh. Something to fill His empty stomach.

Peter's Broiled Fish
Sea of Galilee - Israel

Have you ever had to go without food for a while? Maybe you had to have surgery or some procedure that required you not to eat for a meal or two? Remember how hungry you were? Do you have anything here to eat? Where were they that there wasn’t food? If you look back, they were in the Upper Room where they had eaten the Last Supper with Jesus. Was there something left over from their last meal?. They must have had a good host that there was broiled fish, not just leftover a piece of hard unleavened bread, since Jerusalem is a ways from the water. Once again, God provides.

Has someone asked you… Do you have anything here to eat? Were they seeking physical or spiritual nourishment? Could you provide them with something to eat?

Prayer ~ Lord, I’m sure You enjoyed that broiled fish. It must have tasted like a delicacy as You savored every bite. Thank You for always providing physical and spiritual nourishment for us.

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

Comfort Food. What is Comfort Food for you? Macaroni and Cheese? Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup? Broiled fish? During this time of isolation due to the Coronavirus we all need comfort. We need to feel something of assurance. Breakfast for supper might fill that need. A new day is coming…morning or night.

Crepes

3 cups flour (I use whole wheat)

2 Tbsp raw cane sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 scant tsp salt

4 cups milk

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 Tbsp melted butter or oil

Blend liquids ingredients, including eggs in a blender, food processor or with an electric mixer until smooth. Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt and gradually blend into the liquid mixture. Let it sit for a few minutes—up to an hour.

Oil a skillet or griddle and heat over medium heat until a drop of water will sizzle when sprinkled on it. Pour the batter onto the grill in the size you want—keeping the crepe thin. Make them small for small people…and larger for those with a big appetite. Cook until lightly browned. Carefully flip and brown the other side. Stack the cooked crepes on a wire rack in a warm 200 degrees or less oven until all the batter is cooked.

Fill each savory crepe with chopped or thinly sliced meat, veggies, and cheese of your choice.

Fill sweet crepes by spreading with jelly, jam, applesauce, warm chopped fruit, like peaches, apples, blueberries or strawberries. Add peanut or almond butter if desired.

Roll the crepes up and serve warm.

Savory crepes can be topped with melted cheese, sour cream or pesto sauce. Sweet ones maybe topped with whipped cream or ice cream. Filling crepes with fruit and sour cream creates blintzes. Enjoy!

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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Thursday, April 16, 2020

Joyous Passover Ends Tonight

Meditate on Joy today.

On the fourteenth day of the first month, you must celebrate the LORD's Passover. On the following day—the fifteenth day of the month—a joyous, seven-day festival will begin, but no bread made with yeast may be eaten. ... The seventh day of the festival will be another official day for holy assembly, and no ordinary work may be done on that day. Numbers 28:16-17, 25

God was pretty specific about when and how to celebrate these days of festivals and holidays. Passover was no exception and it was one that required a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. For Jesus that included a pilgrimage at Passover was when He was left behind as His family started back to Nazareth without Him (see Luke 2:39-52). He was twelve years old at the time. Passover had ended, but He stayed in the Temple talking with the teachers for three days. Three days is an important length of time in Jesus’ life. Lots of life and death things can happen in three days…or in seven days. Here in this Bible passage the Lord is directing Moses specifically how to celebrate the Passover. It is to be a joyous time.

Is the Fruit of the Spirit in your heart?

Has this Passover time been joyous for you this year? Likely you have been isolated from family and friends during this Stay-at-Home mandate with the Coronavirus mandate. The joy you feel is only that which you allow in your heart. That is the key…allow. It is a choice we all make in yielding to God. Will we have joy in our hearts and lives or not? Joy can be felt anytime…but it is a choice to actually feel it. You have probably heard the expression “Happiness is a Choice” that was even the title of a book by Frank Minirth and Paul Meier. Happiness happens as a result of choices and circumstances—but usually only in good times. Joy happens within us as a result of our relationship with Jesus…with God. It is a product of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Joy can happen even during dire and traumatic circumstances, as a choice in yielding to God. That joy is beyond comprehension—but gives us a peace and assurance that God is with us…no matter what. Choose God…get joy. No guarantee, but it is likely to happen. Look for joy. You can create joy—by choice at times when you could be discouraged…and you just choose not to be discouraged…or you see something good coming out of the ashes of regret, discomfort, discouragement, depression or disaster. Looking for good? As the prophet Hosea said:

'Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.' Hosea 10:12

Now is the time to plant good things with those you can contact via phone, email, text messages, letters or cards. Encourage others. Seek the Lord while there is time. And just look at all the time you have now. What will you accomplish in these coming days…watch several more movies or spread joy in the lives of others for the Lord? The choice is yours.

Prayer ~ Lord, as Isaiah wrote…Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. Isaiah 1:17. During this time of isolation, it is easy to be discouraged, but help us not to be discouraged, but to encourage others.

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Wednesday, April 15, 2020

What Does Jesus Look Like?

Think about this Scripture today and about what Jesus looks like to you.

Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country. They rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them. Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead. And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. Mark 16:12-16

Jesus appeared in a different form…different from what, from whom? After His crucifixions He appeared to Mary Magdalene and a couple of other followers.

"Dear woman, why are you crying?" the angels asked her. "Because they have taken away my Lord," she replied, "and I don't know where they have put him." She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn't recognize him. John 20:13-14

That same day two of Jesus' followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him. Luke 24:13-16

Jesus looked different. Imagine how messed up His face became after being beaten and scourged. No wonder He wasn’t recognizable. That was predicted in the book of Isaiah.

But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man. Isaiah 52:14

The Heavens opened

No one really knows what Jesus looks like. What do you think? Tall, short, handsome, rugged, smooth, sleek? Is He just a baby in a manger to you? Is He a prophet, a teacher, a rabbi, or a healer? Do you imagine Him seated on a huge golden throne or riding on a majestic white horse coming to save the world?

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. Revelation 19:11-13

So who is Jesus to you…no matter how He looks. Is He your Lord and Savior? Think about it and decide while there is still time.

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, on the night You were arrested the Roman guard came looking for You. They didn’t know what You looked like.

Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. "Who are you looking for?" he asked. "Jesus the Nazarene," they replied. "I AM he," Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) As Jesus said "I AM he," they all drew back and fell to the ground! Once more he asked them, "Who are you looking for?" And again they replied, "Jesus the Nazarene." "I told you that I AM he," Jesus said. "And since I am the one you want, let these others go." John 18:4-8.

Help me to see You for who You are and know You more deeply day by day. I love You.

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Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Help Our Unbelief

Consider Jesus’ appearance after His resurrection. Mediate on the disciples’ response.

After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened. But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn't believe her. Mark 16:9-11

They didn’t believe her? That is what Mark wrote. Take a look at what is recorded in Luke, Matthew and John:

Then they remembered that he had said this. So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples--and everyone else--what had happened. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn't believe it.

Luke 24:8-11

Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! Matthew 28:16-17

One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side." John 20:24-25

Empty GardenTomb
Jerusalem

The disciples who had been with Jesus from the beginning of His ministry, who had seen His miracles of healing and feeding thousands, and who had heard Him say that He was the resurrection and the life, just didn’t believe. Some of them doubted that Jesus was resurrected—that He was alive. How could they NOT believe? It must have been devastating to have their teacher, their leader arrested right before their eyes, tried, beaten, and then killed in such a brutal way by crucifixion. In their eyes, no one can live after that. But He appeared and spoke to several women and then to some of the disciples, so it was true. Jesus was alive. Some couldn’t believe. Can you?

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, we believe. Help our unbelief.

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Monday, April 13, 2020

How Did It Feel to Ascend into Heaven?

Meditate on the Resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. John 11:25

Up from the grave He arose…. Jesus was resurrected. The Firstborn of the resurrection.

In this Scripture today Jesus was talking to Martha, Lazarus sister, just before He raised Lazarus from the dead. He declared then that He was the Resurrection. The Resurrection, the raising from the dead, occurred first with Jesus. Jesus raised several people from the dead including Lazarus, a little girl, and a young man in a funeral procession—but I assume those people all died again. Jesus did not die again. He not only was resurrected from death, He ascended to heaven right in front of His disciples and followers. Jesus was just the first to be resurrected into heaven.

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:29

Live—even after you die. What a great promise. Of course, part of that promise has a key word…believe. It isn’t difficult to believe in Jesus…but some people just can’t do it. What are their excuses? I’m not worthy…I’m too much of a sinner…I just don’t think He really came back to life—someone stole His body out of the tomb. Jesus gave up a lot…His very life…just for us. Considering what He did so that mankind could have a chance to live is humbling. Personally, I’m so unworthy, so I just feel privileged to know that Jesus died for me—for my sins. And accepting His sacrifice makes me

part of God’s family. That is awesome. What do you think?

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, how did it feel to ascend into heaven? You are the Resurrection…You are the Life. I believe in You.

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Sunday, April 12, 2020

Resurrection Sunday

Hallelujah! Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Meditate on that. Rejoice.

And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Romans 6:8-11

The Empty Tomb
Jerusalem

Hallelujah! The Tomb is Empty…Christ has risen from the dead! Imagine how overjoyed the disciples were…and all of His followers. Every year on Resurrection Sunday we relive this rejoicing. Hallelujah!

It is encouraging and exciting to know that we live because of Christ. His willingness to go to the cross…to die for the sins of each of us…is so encouraging, exhilarating, and emancipating. It is overwhelming that someone…anyone…would lay down his life for a friend…but to have the Son of God be that friend is just extremely humbling. Who am I that anyone would give up their life for me? And yet that is just what Jesus did. I’m the one who deserved to die on that cross…but Jesus did it for me…and for you. It was God’s plan for Jesus to be the sacrificial lamb…and to take away the sins of the world with the shedding of His blood. Then the miracle continued and Jesus was raised from the dead, just like He said.

"The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things," he said. "He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead." Luke 9:22

There it was. He told His disciples He would be raised from the dead. Didn’t they believe Him? They were surprised when it actually happened just as He said. It is easy for us to believe…being on the other side of the cross so to speak. And all of this was recorded for us in the New Testament. The disciples didn’t have that advantage. They were living it—and rejoicing in His resurrection.

Have you accepted the fact that Jesus died on the cross for you…that His blood can wash away your sins? If not, consider that today and believe it. It is the truth.

Prayer ~ Jesus, You said… I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6. I believe in You. You are my Lord and my Savior. My Messiah.

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Saturday, April 11, 2020

Do Not Fear

Meditate. Jesus was in the grave…the tomb.

But I called on your name, LORD, from deep within the pit. You heard me when I cried, "Listen to my pleading! Hear my cry for help!" Yes, you came when I called; you told me, "Do not fear." Lamentations 3:55-57

So what was happening in that depth of the pit…the tomb?

The Apostles Creed speaks to our belief in God. It tells us that Jesus descended to the dead. He went into the grave…but only for three days.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Is this your cross?

Afraid of dying? Do not fear. Jesus was in the tomb three days…dead. He wasn’t afraid of dying. Was there any fear? Certainly on the part of the disciples, since they were afraid that they would end up on a cross, too. Jesus had told them that they needed to pick up their cross…

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24

What does it mean to take up your cross? The cross was a symbol of death. In “taking up their cross” Jesus was telling His disciples and others…even us…that we needed to die to ourselves as Paul taught in Romans.

For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. Romans 6:4-8

Have your sins been crucified? Or are you calling to the Lord from the depths of the pit? What do you fear?

Prayer ~ Lord God, Well then, should we keep on sinning so that You can show us more and more of Your wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? We have not forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death. Romans 6:1-3 NLT

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Friday, April 10, 2020

Abandoned at the Finish

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. At about three o'clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, ["Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?"] which means "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" Matthew 27:45-46

Good Friday. What is “good” about today? Their Savior had been arrested. Then He stood before the Sanhedrin, Herod and Pilate as He was sentenced to crucifixion. A painfully humiliating death. Now, He hung on that cross…crucified. The disciples were afraid…that could be them on a cross next. But I imagine that they covered their heads and snuck around to catch a glimpse of Jesus on the cross.

Abandoned - Alone
Holy Family Shrine - Gretna, Nebraska

Abandoned. Left alone. Imagine Jesus’ thoughts…Why? Dad, where are You? You’ve turned Your face away from me. Why am I left alone—here—on this old cross—humiliated by these Roman soldiers—with no family or friends here to encourage and support me? Well—it’s not about “me.” It is about that horrible sin…the sin of mankind. It is about You. This is Your plan to allow people to come into Your presence once they have had their sins forgiven…and been washed clean by My blood. Their sins are now forgiven. The work that I came to earth to accomplish…it is finished.

Prayer ~ Lord God, Do not abandon me. Jesus, You promised to never leave us or forsake us (Deut. 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5). You know what it means to be abandoned…don’t abandon me. Wash away my sin and make me white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

It should be a day of fasting. Imagine how the disciples felt—totally not wanting to eat. They had had a Passover feast with Jesus just hours before his crucifixion. It was true. He was dead. They were mourning their loss. No supper tonight. No…Feasting at the King’s Table today.

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Thursday, April 9, 2020

The Final Supper with the Disciples

Read Luke 22:7-53 and meditate on the meal, the betrayal, the prayer time, and the arrest of Jesus.

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed.

... When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, "I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins.”

... He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me. After supper he took another cup of wine and said, "This cup is the new covenant between God and his people--an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you."

Luke 22:7, 14-15, 19-20

Jesus knew He would be going to the cross…and this would be His last meal. He told His disciples, His friends, that He was really looking forward to eating with them. Have you ever just so looked forward to a big meal with your family or friends? Maybe it was a holiday meal, or a birthday meal? I’m sure you have thought about the food you’d eat as well as the conversations and expressions of love that would flow around the table—greeting each other with hugs and kisses—at a time when we could do that! Luke doesn’t record it, but read in John 13 that Jesus used this time to give His disciples a lesson on being a servant as He washed their feet before the supper.

The bread and the cup....broken and shed for each of us.klj

Since He would be going without food for a while, this meal would be a good time for Jesus to eat up…carboload. Lots of bread, veggies and fruit would have been available and possibly a roasted lamb. Lamb, just like at the initial Passover meal there in Egypt. An important part of the Passover meal was the sharing of the bread and of the cup. That is just what Jesus was doing. The bread—that was pierced representing His body, broken for us all. He took a cup, one of four special cups of wine during the meal, and He gave thanks and offered it to all the disciples as His blood which would be poured out for the sins of many (Matthew 26:28). Did they understand? He kept telling them that He would be dying and now it would happen very soon…the next day. Do this…the Passover, the bread, and the wine…in remembrance. Remember Him. Don’t forget the Passover…the Lamb, the blood, the unleavened bread…for you.

Prayer ~ Dear God, during that Last Supper, Jesus gave thanks for the bread and for the wine—His own body and blood. He knew what was to happen and yet there with His friends, He Thanked You. Thank You for Your Son—the very life and light of the world who gave His body and allowed His blood to be shed for the sin of all mankind.

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Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Passover Begins Tonight

Consider this Scripture as you meditate on this Holy Week, the coming Passover and your traditions.

So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him, "Why don't your disciples follow our age-old tradition? They eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony." Jesus replied, "You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.' For you ignore God's law and substitute your own tradition." Then he said, "You skillfully sidestep God's law in order to hold on to your own tradition. Mark 7:5-9

Traditions. Most Christians don’t celebrate Passover. In fact if you really look at the Christian Easter Traditions it includes dressing up on Easter Sunday, having an Easter Egg Hunt…either the day before or right after church…and a big meal—probably with ham, which would offend most Jews. Remember Jesus was Jewish—no pork. Then after gathering the eggs, deviled eggs were whipped up from all those hard-boiled colored eggs. What does the easter bunny have to do with Jesus and Resurrection Sunday? This year there won’t be many Easter Egg Hunts. For those following social distancing and not shopping this week it is kind of hard to make deviled eggs from dried eggs, if you happen to be out of fresh eggs.

Sunrise or Sunset?

Actually, my favorite Easter—Resurrection Sunday—tradition is getting up early for Sunrise Service. Up early just like Mary Magdalene, Mary and Salome.

Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus' body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. Mark 16:1-2

Just at sunrise. A couple of years when our church didn’t have a Sunrise Service I even hiked the 1.3 miles to the top of a nearby mountain…Badger Mountain…with an altitude of 1,593 feet. Good hike and great view of the Tri-Cities at sunrise. It was a special time of worship…just the Lord and me. What will this year hold? With the Stay-at-Home directive and social distancing, especially for us “older folks” Easter will be a bit different this year. I still want to get up at sunrise…and worship our risen Savior at that time of day.

Traditions. Tonight at sunset Passover begins. Jews celebrate Passover in remembrance of the first Passover in which God spared them from the angel of death…the tenth plague which finally released the Israelites from captivity in Egypt. They recognize the plagues as part of the Haggadah tradition in the Jewish celebration of the Passover meal. Those plagues were:

Blood

Frogs

Lice

Flies

Pestilence

Boils

Hail

Locusts

Darkness

Death of the Firstborn

Have you ever looked at these plagues and tried to make a correlation between the plagues and tribulation events? An interesting study I hope to pursue soon. In the meantime…look at your traditions. What do you do year after year at Passover or Easter?

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, help us to see more to the Resurrection Sunday celebration than traditions. May we honor You with our hearts.

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Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Sound the Alarm

Think on this…as you consider Passover beginning tomorrow…as you prepare your heart for Good Friday.

Sound the alarm in Jerusalem! Raise the battle cry on my holy mountain! Let everyone tremble in fear because the day of the LORD is upon us. It is a day of darkness and gloom, a day of thick clouds and deep blackness. Suddenly, like dawn spreading across the mountains, a great and mighty army appears. Nothing like it has been seen before or will ever be seen again. Joel 2:1-2

Passover begins tomorrow. Can you imagine how the Israelites felt on that first Passover when the Lord God declared that the first born would die…if they didn’t follow directions and prepare. They were quietly huddled there in their homes…preparing their Passover meal after they had put the blood of their sacrificial lamb on the lintel and doorpost of their home.

Moses had announced to Pharaoh, "This is what the LORD says: At midnight tonight I will pass through the heart of Egypt. All the firstborn sons will die in every family in Egypt, from the oldest son of Pharaoh, who sits on his throne, to the oldest son of his lowliest servant girl who grinds the flour. Even the firstborn of all the livestock will die. Then a loud wail will rise throughout the land of Egypt, a wail like no one has heard before or will ever hear again. But among the Israelites it will be so peaceful that not even a dog will bark. Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites.” Exodus 11:4-7

Take special care of this chosen animal until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month. Then the whole assembly of the community of Israel must slaughter their lamb or young goat at twilight. They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the sides and top of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the animal. That same night they must roast the meat over a fire and eat it along with bitter salad greens and bread made without yeast. Exodus 12:6-8

Sound the alarm in Jerusalem! Let everyone tremble in fear because the day of the LORD is upon us.

Jesus....Our Passover Lamb

Just like at the first Passover. The alarm has been sounded. Jesus’ blood was shed for you. He is the Passover Lamb. Put the blood of Jesus on the doorposts of your heart, so that the angel of death will Passover you. Sound the alarm for those around you…for everyone you know and love…and for all the lost in this world. God gave His Son for us. God so loved the world (John 3:16) that He let His Son be the sacrifice…the death for our sins. Will you mourn His death…or rejoice in His resurrection?

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, It is beyond my comprehension that You were actually willing to go to the cross and die for me…to die INSTEAD of me. Thank You seems hardly enough, but Thank You! I humbly bow before You now…and always. Forever.

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Monday, April 6, 2020

Jesus Went to the Temple

Meditate on this as you consider this week was Jesus’ last week in His human life on earth.

Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices. He said to them, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves." After that, he taught daily in the Temple, but the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders of the people began planning how to kill him. But they could think of nothing, because all the people hung on every word he said. Luke 19:45-48

The palm branches dried up…and the people gathered up their cloaks. But the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was not just another day. People were longing to hear Him teach—so He went to the Temple.

Model of the Temple
Jerusalem

The Temple mount where Abraham had taken his son, Isaac, to sacrifice him as God had requested…but God provided a ram instead. The Temple where Jesus Himself had been dedicated as a baby. The Temple where as a twelve year old He had listened to and challenged the teachers. The Temple where Satan had taken Him to tempt Him to test God and have angels save Him from falling. The Temple where He cleansed His Father's house of thieves. The Temple should have been a House of Prayer. The Temple where He taught the people every day that week. The Temple where lambs were sacrificed each day.

He knew that He was to be a lamb one day…a sacrifice for the sin of all mankind. Jesus knew where He was headed. The cross. Not that He wanted to go there…but He went down that path in obedience to His Father’s will. How can we show our obedience?

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, help us to humble ourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time You will lift us up in honor. We give all our worries and cares to You, God, for You care about us. We need to stay alert! Watch out for our great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Help us to stand firm against him, and be strong in our faith. Remember that our Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering we are—and more. From 1 Peter 5:6-9. During this time of isolation—it is comforting to know that You promised to never leave us or forsake us (Deut. 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5). We are not alone and we hang on Your every word.

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Sunday, April 5, 2020

Palm Sunday Reflection on Righteousness

Meditate as you consider Jesus’ Triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

"'What?' you ask 'Doesn't the child pay for the parent's sins?' No! For if the child does what is just and right and keeps my decrees, that child will surely live. The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent's sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child's sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness. But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die. All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done. Ezekiel 18:19-22

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.
A humble beast...as predicted in Zech. 9:9.

There were crowds who wanted to make Jesus the King of Jerusalem—the King of Israel. They were throwing palm branches and then their cloaks down onto the road ahead of Jesus riding on a colt into Jerusalem. Hosanna! Jesus message at the beginning of His ministry was “Repent”

"Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." Matthew 3:2

After His resurrection Jesus Christ appeared to the disciples and spoke to them about what had happened to Him and about forgiveness.

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said, "Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: 'There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.'" Luke 24:45-47.

That Sunday before Passover He entered Jerusalem, riding on a donkey.

The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, "Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Hail to the King of Israel!" John 12:12-13.

They were proclaiming Him to be King of Israel, yet even now the Israelites are still looking for their Messiah—their King as a ruler, not as one who has already sacrificed His life for their sins. For them...and for each of us around the world, now is the time to Repent. There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent. God hasn’t changed His standards or rewards. He expects people to live right and to accept what Jesus did for them. The righteous will be rewarded.

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, those people on Palm Sunday were honoring You for what they expected You to become for them…a King. May we honor and praise You for what You did do…dying on a cross…being the sacrifice for all the sins of mankind for all of time. What a heavy burden You bore. Thank You for Your obedience to Your Father…and Your love for us.

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