April 16, 2025

Journey to the Cross, Part 3–The Upper Room, the Lord’s Supper and Gethsemane

It’s much easier to focus on Palm Sunday. The crowd celebrated Jesus as Messiah, waving palm branches and singing “Hosanna.”

Then came Thursday night. Jesus wanted to celebrate Passover with His disciples in the Upper Room. During His ministry, including the last days before His horrible death and glorious Resurrection,  Jesus optimized every moment trying to teach, train and empower his dense, yet teachable disciples. What a Leader, the best Leader of all time. Jesus wanted to ensure He conveyed all He could. In His mind and heart, he knew it was the Last Supper.

In our minds and hearts, it was the First Communion, the first Lord’s Supper. He taught His disciples in that Upper Room that the bread is

“My body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19b) That the wine is His “blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28).

How do you feel when you take communion?   If you’re like me, I admit I sometimes take it for granted.  May we prayerfully savor the bread and cup with deep gratitude each time we are blessed to take communion.

That same night, in a poignant scene in John 13 of unconditional love and humility, Jesus stooped down low to wash His disciples’ feet. They didn’t want Him to, mind you. Feet are gross. He was teaching them, sweetly, softly, tenderly, what it means to be a servant leader. To stoop down low to raise others high.  The upside-down leadership pyramid.

“I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” (John 13:16 NIV)

Jesus then took his three closest disciples–Peter, James and John–with him to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. It is so hard to read the deep suffering and Jesus’ total transparency when He says, almost begs,

“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” (Matthew 26:38, NIV).  Sadly, His three best friend disciples all fell asleep, not praying on Jesus’ behalf.  Jesus prayed three different times asking for the cup to be taken away if possible, for God’s will to be done. While Jesus sweat blood in His deepest distress, His closest friends snored, not able to stay away. When they were faithless, Jesus was still faithful.

Jesus said,“Rise and let us be going.” Matthew 26:46.  Jesus persevered. Keep persevering, friend.

Peter, also known as the “Rock,” denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed, just as Jesus had prophesied to Peter.  Peter wept bitterly and repented.  This original stone walkway at Caiaphas’s house is where Peter denied Jesus and Jesus looked back at Peter.

The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself…The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching…Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest…Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?”  Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.” –John 18: 17-19, 24-27 ESV. 

Judas betrayed Jesus and had Him falsely arrested, in exchange for 30 pieces of silver, just a day’s slave wages.  Jesus was in total control and knew this was God’s will. Jesus was taken before the Sanhedrin. Even with false witnesses, they couldn’t find evidence to convict Him.Judas said he had betrayed an innocent man. Notice he didn’t call Him the Messiah or Son of God. Judas still didn’t recognize Jesus’ sovereignty. He threw the silver into the temple, left and sadly hanged himself.  There would have always been an opportunity for him to repent, but Judas didn’t.

 Reflect:

–Have you considered symbolically washing others’ feet? Are you a servant leader?

–When have you, have I denied Jesus? Are you repentent like Peter?

Renew:

–“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” –John 3:!6 KJV

Recharge:

–How may we live more deeply for Jesus and show love to others?

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March 25, 2025

Journey to the Cross, Part 1–Pouring Perfume

As we prepare for Holy Week next month, my heart is tuned to the vignettes leading up to the most significant event in human history–the death and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. Having been blessed to visit Israel five times over the last 10 years, I’ll try to boost the sensory, experiential journey of the sights, sounds, smells of Jesus’ journey to the cross and tomb. Throughout these weeks and through Holy Week, I’ll bring some of my reflections on the events of Easter.

What a week. What a Holy Week. Isn’t it amazing that the first half of the Gospel of John covers the first 33 years of Jesus’ life, and the last half covers one week?

Just six days before the Passover and Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus was invited to attend a dinner in Bethany in His honor, hosted by  Mary, Martha, and their resurrected brother Lazarus. Can you only imagine what a fun party that would be? For Jesus to have supper with Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead,  AND his two sisters?

“Then Mary took a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” John 12:3 NIV.

What a beautiful, selfless, sacrificial gift Mary gave Jesus. Of course it was disciple Judas who complained that her gift to Jesus at the party was wasteful and too expensive. Judas was the treasurer and thief-disciple who would betray Jesus in just a few days.

When we give sacrificially some people don’t understand. Like Mary, we may looked at as “over the top” or “too much.” Jesus understood Mary and her heart.

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended, that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me.” –John 12:7-8 NIV

Mary got it. She understood the message. Jesus had been trying to tell the disciples that He would die and be raised. (John  10:15-18).

Mary gave Jesus the most valuable possession she had. As we prepare for these weeks leading up to Easter, what valuable possession of yours are you willing to pour out for Jesus and His Kingdom? Whatever we give to Him, He gives much more back to us.

Stay tuned for Journey to the Cross, Part 2.

 Reflect:

–With whom can you relate the most in this stories–Mary, Martha, or Lazarus?  Please comment.

–What are you willing to sacrifice as a beautiful love offering for Jesus for Easter and for your whole life?

Renew:

–“Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘ Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’ ‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.'” –Luke 19:39-20 NIV

Recharge:

–How may we live more deeply for Jesus and show love to others?

March 31, 2024

He is Risen, Indeed, and He will Return!

Happy Resurrection Day! Today is my favorite day of the year!  May the early morning miracle of Jesus’ empty tomb shine hope, love, and a deep faith renewal into your soul.

“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples; He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him. Now I have told you.’  So the women hurried away from the tomb, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.” –Matthew 28: 5-8  

Isn’t it precious that two women found Jesus’ tomb empty and were empowered to tell the disciples the Good News? Women back then typically had no voice or place in society, yet were such an important part of Jesus’ ministry.

Like the women on Easter morning, Beloved, we may be afraid yet filled with joy to tell others about Jesus and what He means in our lives. Have courage. You have a voice to use it for His glory to tell this Good News and encourage others to strengthen their faith.

And even more,  I am encouraged that Jesus will return. Prophetically, Zechariah 14:4 says Jesus as our Messiah will return on the Mount of Olives.

Zechariah 14:4 ESV–“On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.”

Photo taken in March 2023 on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Kidron Valley and Jerusalem. 

Even the tectonic plates are aligned for the “split” to happen.  Jesus is ready. The Bible is all Truth.

Also, Prophetically Jesus will enter Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate. Sitting in the Garden of Gethsemane overlooking the Kidron Valley, you can easily see this Gate and the Temple Mount, currently occupied as the Golden Dome of Islam. Ironically, years ago Muslims blocked the Eastern Gate years ago, so no one can walk through. By doing so they were fulfilling Biblical prophecy that only the Savior, the Prince of Peace, will walk through when He returns.

Ezekiel 44:1-3 ESV: “Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces east. And it was shut. And the Lord said to me, “This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered by it. Therefore it shall remain shut.  Only the prince may sit in it to eat bread before the Lord. He shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and shall go out by the same way.”

Isn’t it exciting to know our Redeemer Lives AND will return again for us. Be encouraged and let’s use our voice to proclaim the Goodness of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Christ is Risen!

I am reminded of the following story about using our voices to tell others about Jesus.

In the mid-1950s, the Rev. W.E. Sangster noticed a strange feeling in his throat and that his leg had begun to drag. He promptly went to visit his doctor. Rev. Sangster was diagnosed with an incurable disease that caused progressive muscle atrophy. His muscles would continue to waste away, including the muscles in his throat, and he would eventually be unable to swallow.

Knowing that his time was growing short, Rev. Sangster decided to use his time in writing for British home mission and in prayer. During this time, he wrote numerous articles and books, and organized prayer groups throughout England. His disease did progress. Eventually he was unable to talk, but he could hold a pen.

On Easter Sunday, just a few weeks before he died, he wrote a letter to his daughter. Barely able to control his pen, he wrote, “It is terrible to wake up on Easter morning and no voice to shout, ‘Christ is risen, indeed!’ But it would be still more terrible to have a voice and not want to shout.”

Amen.

Reflect:

–What does Easter mean to you? Please comment.

–How does today strengthen your faith and how will you use your voice to tell others?

Renew:

–“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than 500 of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.” –1 Corinthians 15: 3-6

–“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” –Galatians 5:22-25

Recharge:

–What will you do this week to spread the Good News? To bear fruit?

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