Vatican Statue Resolve

Resolve is one of my favorite words. The word just “feels” like toughness, doesn’t it? The online Merriam-Webster dictionary has several meanings for the word “resolve.” At the first of the year, many people reflect back and look ahead. They take into account their successes and failures, their regrets, and they plan ahead for a change. They resolve to do things differently.

But for most people, New Year’s resolutions don’t last. A survey put together by Forbes‘ website found that 8% of people found their resolutions lasted a month, while 21.9% announced their resolutions lasted two months. The survey found that the average resolution – a total of 22.2% of people – lasted just 3.74 months. Only 1% of the people were able to keep their resolution for the entire year. Why such a low number?

When the students in my speech class begin to talk about persuasion, we discuss that a person can be persuaded to think differently about a subject, to feel differently about a subject, and to do something differently about a subject. We talk about which is the most difficult and how to successfully accomplish each.

So most people resolve to “do” something in the coming year. They want to lose weight, or promise to exercise at the gym. But, as we just discovered, most people are not successful. What could happen to increase the chances for success?

Things to Resolve to Consider

There are several things that we need to consider. First, understand that changing behavior is a process. You cannot change behavior until you first change thinking and then change your feelings. If I want to begin to consistently exercise, I must first change how I think about exercising and then how I feel about exercising.

Second, I must clearly define my purpose and my plan. Both need to be simple and clear. If my goal is to lose weight, I need to more clearly and concretely define the weight loss. I want to lose 5 pounds in 7 days and a pound a day for the next 10 days. My plan needs to be specific. I will not eat out for the next 3 weeks. I will not drive by the Dunkin’ Donut shop on the way to work.

Third, I need to make the changes in my behavior be simple enough that they can become a habit.  How long does it take to form a new habit? Depending on the complexity and degree of difficulty of the activities, four studies have shown that forming a habit takes from about 60 days to 154 days.

Finally, I need to establish a support community to encourage and structure my behaviors. Some circles call this accountability partners, but I am not in support of the term. It gives the impression that there is someone standing over you with a yardstick waiting to smack your fingers when you do wrong. The partner helps you find the resources, courage, and strength to continue your habit.

A Specific Method

Let’s put it this way: Have you ever noticed that when you play golf by yourself, you have some of the best shots and you end up with the best score that you ever remember? Why can’t you ever shoot that well when you are with someone? When you are with someone, their presence keeps you more honest.

So, as we approach the Easter holiday, let’s prepare ourselves for this holy season. First, let’s resolve to change some ideas about how we think about Easter. We are going to look at it from a little different, a little deeper perspective. We will consider a handful of doctrines that build the foundation for our understanding of the Christian faith.

Next, we will do a couple of things to change how we feel about the Easter season. Two of our activities will make a significant difference. On a regular basis, we will develop the habit of praying to God to change our hearts. We will also spend time trying to understand forgiveness from the perspective of others.

Finally, we will resolve to change how we behave. We will set in motion a plan to make some specific changes in your life.  You will begin to do things differently. Next, you will build the structure to read the Bible on a regular basis. Then, you will also build a foundation for a regular time with God in prayer. Finally, you will also have a chance to select an area of Christian discipline that you would like to personally improve upon. All of these actions will be done in a way that will build a habit of behavior in your life that will last.

Be specific in your resolve. What changes do you need to make? What difference will it make in your relationships? How can you accomplish the changes? What steps must you take?

Vatican

It is difficult to believe, but Ash Wednesday is already upon us, ushering in the Lenten Season for 2026. Join us two or three times each week as we enjoy Lent Devotions, which help us prepare our minds and hearts for Easter.

Lent 2026 Scheduled Posts

There are so many ways to meditate in the days before Easter. Often, people will spend time reflecting on the suffering and endurance Jesus went through. Occasionally, the Lent Devotions will ponder the resurrection.

For Lent Devotions this year, we will spend time in the Psalms. The book stirs our emotions in a wonderful and meaningful way. We will spend our time pondering the very reason for Holy Week – our sins. By reflecting on Christ’s suffering to defeat sin, we will gain new motivation to rid our lives of the presence and plague of sin.

During most weeks, there will be new posts on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The chart above tells you the theme and Scriptures involved in each post. Also, notice the first and last weeks of the season contain Lent Devotions each day.

Purpose of Lent Devotions

While Lent is a Catholic tradition, many other denominations follow similar practices, including Western Orthodox Churches, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians and Episcopal churches. In a study conducted in 2014, a little over 70% of adults knew what Lent was. Of those who participate in Lent, almost 90% if people were giving up a food item for the 40 days. Chocolate was the food people were most likely to give up.

The practice of observing Lent remains in the discretion of each believer. While it is not an observance required by the Bible, the benefits of 40 days of prayer, fasting and study seem obvious to most. It is impossible to over-estimate the value of keeping traditions in the lives of the faithful.

 

Before the Resurrection

The resurrection is arguably the most unique and yet, critical, doctrine of the Christian faith. The resurrection changes our understanding of our future. It alters how we perceive our value and purpose. The resurrection validates the truth of Christianity’s teachings and claims, as it motivates and moves each step we take.

Even though all four gospels tell the resurrection story, each writer approaches the event from a unique perspective. For example, only Matthew describes the events of nature at the time of the resurrection. As the women approached the tomb, the ground suddenly begins shaking under each step – the result of an earthquake. These tremors are followed by a blaze of lightning, which actually turned out to be an angel. This unique combination put the Roman soldiers so filled with fear they could not even move.

This Easter season, let’s look at five ways being “raised with Jesus” touched the lives of the gospel writers even before the resurrection.

Perhaps you would like a quick reference all of the stories of the resurrection in one place. The chart below will give you a peek of each gospel writer’s perspective, written from several translations. The chart is followed by the resurrection perspective given later by the Apostle Paul.

 

raised for such a time as this raised to walk sabbaths rest raise hallelujah do not be afraid

Gospel Accounts of Resurrection Morning

  Matthew Mark Luke John
NIV Matthew 28:1-10 NIV Mark 16:1-8 NIV Luke 24:1-12 NIV John 20:1-18 NIV
NASB Matthew 28:1-10 NASB Mark 16:1-8 NASB Luke 24:1-12 NASB John 20:1-18 NASB
ESV Matthew 28:1-10 ESV Mark 16:1-8 ESV Luke 24:1-12 ESV John 20:1-18 ESV
NLT Matthew 28:1-10 NLT Mark 16:1-8 NLT Luke 24:1-12 NLT John 20:1-18 NLT
MESSAGE
 Matthew 28:1-10 MESSAGE Mark 16:1-8 MESSAGE Luke 24:1-12 MESSAGE John 20:1-18 MESSAGE

 

Paul – 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 NIV

 

 

Vatican, Rome

We focused our thoughts during the last few weeks on our freedoms. Going forward, we will attempt to prepare the passion of our hearts for Easter during the season of Lent. Valentine’s Day provides the perfect setting for transition between the two.

A day to think about romance and passion dates back to pagan rituals of the Greek and Roman gods and goddesses. As the Christian faith developed, believers established a tradition of setting aside a day to honor and celebrate those who had become Christian martyrs during the days of Roman persecution.

Officially, Pope Gelasius I established St. Valentine’s Day on February 14th in the 5th century to replace the celebrated pagan festivals.

Roman Catholic Traditions

The Roman Catholic Church recognizes at least three different third-century martyred saints named Valentine or Valentinus. One legend holds that Valentine was a priest in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than married men with families, he outlawed marriage for the younger men. The tradition holds that this priest named Valentine defied the order and continued to marry couples in secret. Claudius discovered Valentine’s defiant behavior and ordered him executed.

Others recall a bishop in modern-day Terni, Italy, named Valentine. Claudius executed Valentine for refusing to renounce his faith and continuing to convert others to Christianity.

There are other traditions that link a Valentinus to a martyr’s death for helping Christians escape the harsh Roman prisons. The Romans beat and tortured believers for their faith. One legend identifies an imprisoned Valentine who sent the first “valentine” greeting himself. The story says that while in prison, Valentine fell in love with the jailor’s daughter who would be kind to him and bring him food. Before his execution, the tradition says that he jotted her a note signed, “From your Valentine,” a phrase that is still in use today.

The celebration of a day of passion was high on the minds of the Romans since the day of the Roman founders, Romulus and Remus. As pagan traditions were replaced by Christian rituals and traditions, shifting the celebration of passion to a remembrance of the passion of the Christ seemed almost natural.

The Passion of the Christ

Easter week often refers to the “Passion of the Christ.” You might recall the Mel Gibson produced movie of the same name. It is called the “Passion of the Christ” because the word passion comes from the Latin passio, which means “to suffer” or “to endure.” The intense physical, mental, and spiritual suffering that Jesus endured during his final week of life on earth speaks not only to suffering but to the depth of his love and endurance of pain for others.

The season of Lent is a 40-day solemn time of preparation for Easter. The time begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Maundy Thursday. Technically, the time does not count Sundays as a part of the 40 day period.

The days focused on spiritual renewal, repentance, and self-reflection. The Roman Catholic Church defined those reflections through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (giving offerings to the church). Common traditions included giving up the luxury of eating meat on Fridays, sacrificing activities that were done for pleasure, and performing acts of charity for others.

Giving vs Taking

People usually give up items of comfort and pleasure for Lent. Over the years, chocolate, sweets, coffee, alcohol, sodas, and meats were the most common sacrifices for people. Lately, people have given up using social media, watching television, or going out to eat at restaurants.

This year for Lent, what if we thought about “taking up” instead of “giving up.” Jesus said that we were to “take up our cross and follow him.” We usually associate that with total surrender and daily sacrifice.

What if, during Lent this year, I took up the challenge of not arguing with people about politics for 40 days? Perhaps I could be less judgmental towards people who are different than me, or who hold different beliefs.

Maybe that would help me understand what Christ’s passion really was all about.

Unlike many of the other Penitential psalms, we want to spend the entire week focused on this one passage of Scripture. Psalm 51 contains some important truths for us to consider. This well-known passage is perhaps the most difficult to expound of all of these special psalms.

The Words of an Expositor

Charles Haddon Spurgeon was the prince of expositors. He and D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones could get more out of a passage of Scripture than anyone I have either heard or read. In the preface to the second part of his first large volume on the psalms, Spurgeon tells that he postponed working on Psalm 51 week after week. He concluded:

It is a bush burning with fire yet not consumed, and out of it a voice seemed to cry to me, “Draw not nigh hither, put off thy shoes from off thy feet.” The psalm is very human, its cries and sobs are of one born of woman; but it is freighted with an inspiration all divine, as if the Great Father were putting words into his child’s mouth. Such a psalm may be wept over, absorbed into the soul, and exhaled again in devotion; but, commented on—ah! where is he who having attempted it can do other than blush at his defeat.

This is the fourth, and surely the greatest, of the penitential psalms.

Derek Kidner

Psalm 51

Psalm 51 provides the first of a series of Psalms that are credited to David. In the second book of the Psalter, all but four of the psalms are ascribed to David. Psalms 66, 67, and 68 are unnamed. Psalm 72 is credited to Solomon. Let’s talk for a moment about the sin that led to the writing of this psalm.

David was guilty of enormous sins. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and later, after discovering that she was pregnant, arranged to have her husband, Uriah, killed in battle. The sins color one of the darkest times in the life of Israel’s great king (see 2 Samuel 11 and 2 Samuel 12). We are unsure how to handle the difficulties of when a leader falls. But it was this very black darkness that led David to the light.

David’s Sins

Murdoch Cambpell writes,

The story of David’s sin and repentance is a story of transformation. Nowhere is the power of God’s word more strikingly evident than in the pages of David’s story.

David had committed two sins for which the Mosaic law provided no forgiveness. For deliberate murder and adultery death was the inevitable penalty. He knew that before God there was no forgiveness through any sacrifices which he might offer or any gifts which he might present. With Micah he could have asked the solemn question: “Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” No! By such offerings God cannot be appeased. David might have said: “If I build him an house, a magnificent temple; if I plead my hitherto circumspect life and all my good deeds in his service, will these not compensate for my lapse, and restore me to his favor?” No! “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.

David’s Words

The significant lesson to learn from David’s response to his sin. David becomes profoundly aware of his sin and its true nature. Not masked by pleasure and pursuit, he sees the sin for what it is. He uses three words in Psalm 51 to describe his own sin.

First, he uses the word “transgression.” The Hebrew word refers to crossing a forbidden boundary with the intent for serious rebellion. If you recall from the life of Julius Caesar, as long as he remained north of the river Rubicon, he was on peaceful terms with the Roman Senate. But once he crossed the Rubicon, he was at war with the legislative body. Civil war was the result.

The second word he uses is the word “iniquity.” It actually means “perversion” and is the word often used in connection with the original sin or our sinful natures.

The third word is simply the word “sin.” It means falling short or missing the mark. We miss God’s high mark of perfection. It is not that we get really close to the center of the target – it is that we fall short of even being close to the target.

Our Conclusions

It is only when we come face to face with our sin that we can begin to realize, understand, and appreciate our need to be cleansed from sin. In verse seven, David asks to be cleansed. It is such an interesting Hebrew word. It literally means “purge” and is based on the word “sin.” David is asking God to “de-sin” him.

In the first century, the material used upon which to write was called papyrus. It was scarce and valuable enough that if for some reason the writing was no longer needed, people would purge and clean the material “whiting out” the prior ink and words so the material could be used again. But because the cleansing was not perfect, shadows of the previous words were often still visible. When a new manuscript was written, they would turn the material sideways so the prior words could not be noticed. The material when used properly could be considered purged.

God wants to purge your heart of sin by writing a new story, a new covenant, a new life on a heart turned upside-down.

How do you feel about sin? You may be tempted to answer, “I feel guilty” or “I am filled with remorse.” Certainly, we should feel badly or negatively about the fact that we have been lured into Satan’s snare. Reading Psalm 38 gives a peek into how David felt. Though he does not actually name the sin, his confession reveals that he asks for mercy and help from God because of the terrible sickness, loneliness, and isolation he feels because of sin.

More than a psalm, the words in Psalm 38 are more a lament or a prayer. P.C. Craigie says, “Psalm 38 is a prayer … evoked by the experience of sickness and the consequent sense of alienation from both God and fellow human beings.”

Responsibility for Sin

Let’s look at some verses of the Psalm and notice how David must feel about sin.

David begins by pleading with God not to continue to rebuke him in anger (Psalm 38:1). It is the same way that Psalm 6 begins. He sees the physical and emotional problems that he goes through as either caused by God or at least allowed by God. David is begging for mercy (note Psalm 6:2). Mercy is not getting what you deserve. David understands that he deserves everything that he feels and gets, but he asks God to give mercy.

When we go before God feeling the consequences of sin, we first need to admit that we deserve punishment because of sin. On the surface, we act as if our sins are not that bad, or that we don’t sin very often. David understands the nature and depth of his sin. He accepts full responsibility.

Notice David says, “I am deprived of my health because of my sin” (Psalm 38:3). In verse 5, David adds “because of my foolish sins.” When we are in the midst of sinning, the path seems like the answer. We can escape the stresses of the world. We can pursue pleasure in the way we choose. When the dust settles – and eventually it will – the pursuit and the sin have been nothing but foolish. Look at the cost of our sin.

It is interesting that the psalmist uses the word “overwhelm” to describe what sin does to him. Sin after sin places amazing weight on our shoulders. It damages all of those around us.

How We Should Feel About Sin

How do you feel about sin? Notice some of the powerful words that David uses.

  • Humiliated (Psalm 38:6)
  • Shame (Psalm 38:7)
  • Numb (Psalm 38:8)
  • Anxiety (Psalm 38:8)
  • Heart beats quickly (Psalm 38:10)
  • Friends distance themselves (Psalm 38:11)
  • Words used against him are destructive and deceitful (Psalm 38:12)
  • Incapable of trying to argue to defend himself (Psalm 38:14)

Two Actions to Take

David gives two specific things that we should do – but neither of them are easy. First, David says we must wait for the Lord (Psalm 38:15). We tend to be impatient, wanting our circumstances and our feelings to change. Waiting on God to redeem and restore is not an easy thing to do.

The second thing David suggests that we do is equally difficult – and one that we do not completely understand. He says it is vital that we confess our sins. Our “image” of confession probably takes us to a private meeting with a priest. We will talk about confession in more detail on Friday.

As we continue our journey through the season of Lent on the way to the resurrection of Easter, how do you feel about sin?

Has there ever been a time – maybe even right now – when you have so much going on that you are struggling to cope with it all? Perhaps you don’t have too much going on, but one thing is so stressful that you are having a difficult time making decisions or functioning. What are the signs of being overwhelmed, how does it make you react, and what are some ways to cope with it.

When a person is overwhelmed, thoughts, emotions, and even physical sensations can become difficult to manage. Everyone feels overwhelmed from time to time. It is a completely normal response to the stresses of everyday, according to Sabrina Romanoff, a clinical psychologist and professor at Yeshiva University. Being chronically stressed and constantly feeling overwhelmed can take its toll on your mental and physical health.

While one or two events causing stress are normal for most, when a series of stressors accumulate and pile up, the weight of them all can be overwhelming. A lack of coping skills can also contribute to the sense of being overwhelmed.

Often there are triggers that can cause you to feel overwhelmed. Death or loss of a loved one, excessive workload or a very stressful work environment, conflict in personal relationships with family or friends, financial problems, health concerns, traumatic experiences, political issues, and major life changes can be the triggers.

Mental health conditions, such a depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or obsessive compulsive disorder might predispose a person to feeling overwhelmed.

For a believer, does the presence of personal sin contribute to stress? Sin is not the normal behavior for a believer. Sin probably triggers the following emotions and resulting stresses.

Signs of Being Overwhelmed

Irrational Thoughts

Paralysis

Disproportional Reactions

Withdrawal

Pessimism

Mood Changes

Fatigue, Depression

Physical Symptoms

Strategies for Coping

Coping Mechanisms

Change Your Perspective

Challenge Your Assumptions

Seek Support from Others

Simplify – Calm Down Your Life

First, sin breeds sin. Sin often involves a cycle of action and cover-up. Sin rarely travels alone. If you cave into one sin expect a parade to follow. Sins often travel in pairs. The Bible gives several examples: rebellion and malice; immorality and anger; laziness and theft; anger and disobedience; jealousy and strife; bitterness and fornication; as well as hatred and murder.       

Next, sin leads to guilt and shame. We misuse the word “guilt” often. When we say that we are feeling “guilty,” we are mistaken in our use of the word. Guilt is an objective, legal term. Guilt is our status when we break the law. We are guilty. Shame is the feeling we have when we are guilty of breaking the law. We feel shameful in relationship or comparison to those who have not broken the law.

How can we cope with the overwhelming presence of sin in our lives?

Psalm 32 provides instruction for dealing with our sins. James Montgomery Boice suggests that Psalm 32 and Psalm 51 need to be understood together. David has committed adultery with Bathsheba, He has sinned by manpulating battle plans so that her husband Uriah would be killed. He tried to hide the sins for awhile, but when Nathan confronted him, David confessed and was restored.

Psalm 32 is given the title “Maskil” which means “a psalm of instruction.” It is one of twelve psalms which bear the title.

The first step is handling our sin is to let God’s Word instruct and convict us of the sin. Nathan brought God’s Word to David. Though we are not condemned because of our sin, we are certainly damaged by it. Our sin can also damage others.

We need to hear God’s teaching, and like David, understand that we stand before God both guilty and shamed.

The second step in this psalm is to confess our sin. Although we will go into much more detail on Friday about the meaning of confession, at this point let’s define it by saying we do not rationalize our sin, we admit it and accept its consequences.

The beginning verses of Psalm 32 provide a classic example of Hebrew poetry. It perfectly describes Hebrew parallelism. There are three terms for sin in verse one. The psalm begins with the word “blessed.” Literally the word is plural, meaning “blessednesses.” A man is blessed – trifold – when he has sinned, has repented, and knows the joy of restoration.

The first word for sin is “transgression.” The word in the Hebrew literally means “a going away” or a “departure” – in this case a rebellion against God and His authority. There is something powerful here that we should not miss. Even when it appears that our transgression is against another person, who may be hurt by our sin, ultimately the sin is against a God who tells us how to behave with our neighbor. This is why in Psalm 51 David can proclaim “Against you, and you only have I sinned” even though David’s sin was directed toward Uriah and Bathsheba. As Alexander Maclaren writes, “You have not gotten to the bottom of the blackness until you see that sin is a flat rebellion against God himself.”

The second word for sin in verse one is translated sin. It means coming short or falling short of the standard. The term was used in archery to describe a person who shoots at a target but the arrow comes up short of hitting the target. It is not that the arrow barely misses the bull’s eye, nor that it powers past the target. God’s Law is the target and this word describes that we fail to measure up to it.

The third word for sin is iniquity in verse two. The word means “twisted, crooked, or corrupt.” These three words round out our understanding of sin: first, we are seen as being in rebellion against God; second we fall short of what is necessary because of the Law; and finally, this type of sin describes what the sin does to us – it mars and disfigures who we are.

Because of Christ, our sin does not leave us with eternal consequences, we need to see that our sin has consequences in our lives and in our relationships. Jesus covers our sins.

Corresponding to the three words for sin, there are three words in this Psalm that speak to how God deals with our sin. The first word is forgiven. The word literally means “to lift off.” The weight of sin on our shoulders is a burden that we cannot bear. Do you remember the words to the hymn? “My sin – O the bliss of this glorious thought – my sin, not in part, but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul.”

The second word is covered. It is a strong word taken from the imagery of the Day of Atonement. In Greek, the word means “propitiation” – turning aside the wrath of God. In Hebrew the word is covering, the term that David uses here.

The third word speaks to what God does not do. He “does not count” the sin against us. The word “count” is the word impute. It is a bookkeeping term. It means to keep a person’s account activity on a ledger. God does not “count” our sins against us.

We need to consider one last thing from Psalm 32 as we think about what we need to do with the sin in our lives. Look again at verse 10. I like the NET version of this passage because it captures the meaning of the word from its Greek translation of the Hebrew.

An evil person suffers much pain, but the Lord’s faithfulness overwhelms the one who trusts in him.

Sin causes pain. The pain touches the people around us. Like a cancer, it eats away the threads and strength of our soul. Sin in our lives causes suffering and much pain.

Sin can overwhelm us.

But as sin slowly dissolves the foundation of our lives, the faithfulness of God overwhelms the one who trusts in Him as a tsunami overwhelms the ocean’s coastline.

Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you who have been forgiven. Indeed, you are blessed.

the journey begins renewal

Articles in this column over the last several weeks have considered ways that Christians can confirm their calling into the faith. Tangible actions and attitudes contribute to affirmation and confidence in the process of maturing as a believer. Christianity’s cornerstone doctrine, and foundation of one’s calling, is the resurrection.

Paul calls the resurrection of Jesus the matter of “first importance” in the gospel message (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The apostle reasoned that the resurrection was based not on hear-say and tradition, but upon historical evidence and proof. The resurrection of Jesus was crucial to his arguments in the chapter, and for the spiritual behavior and decisions of the believers. But the resurrection did not come without sacrifice.

Christianity’s Holy Week immediately precedes Easter Sunday. It is the last week of the season of Lent and is often referred to as “Passion Week.” Liturgies and services have traditionally celebrated different events each day of the week, though today’s church culture often sees larger churches offering the same Easter service repeated throughout the week. Traditionally the services of Holy Week and Easter draw the largest attendance to church of the entire year.

Earlier in March, the Christianity Today magazine and website ran an article asking “Will Easter Resurrect Pandemic Church Attendance?” Most churches have had limited in-person congregational worships since Easter 2020. Even as groups begin to gather again, church attendance has been limited in returning to pre-COVID numbers. Leaders anticipate more than half of evangelicals to return in person, but many Catholic and mainline Protestant churches are still hesitating to return.

Whether you return to a church building this year or not, gather your spirit with the Christian community during Holy Week this season. Prepare yourself spiritually, mentally and emotionally to celebrate the resurrection this year. The paragraphs that follow will point you to passages in the Bible to accompany each day. Set aside a time each day to read the Scripture and to pray.

Jesus’ ascent to Jerusalem on the Sunday before Easter has become known as Palm Sunday in most church cultures. The Lord’s arrival as King and Sacrifice follows the Jewish Passover traditions for the selection of the sacrificial lamb. Shouts of “Hosanna” and the waving of palm branches were both declarations from the people that their political and spiritual hopes were resting on the Messiah.

All four gospels record the events of what is known as the “Triumphal Entry” on Palm Sunday (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44 and John 12:12-19). Select one or more of the passages for your Scriptural reading, mediation and prayer time for the day. Ask God to lead your week to the cross and beyond.

The chronology of the remainder of Christ’s last week on earth has been a topic of theological debate for centuries. The Roman Catholic Church’s tradition for the week has been the most widely accepted and is used for the formation of Holy Week services.

Holy week

 

There is often confusion about the days of the Hebrew week. Their “day” began at sunset and proceeded until the next sunset. Their Sabbath – Saturday – actually started at sunset Friday evening.

On the Monday of Holy Week, most traditions see Jesus cursing the fig tree and cleansing the temple (Matthew 21:12-19). These events are also described in the gospels of Mark (Mark 11:12-18) and Luke (Luke 19:45-48). There may be many spiritual applications in these passages for Christians today, but an over-riding theme seems to be that it is easy for religious leaders to be so immersed in the details of the faith that it is easy to miss the larger significance of what God is accomplishing. Read one or more of the passages and pray that you never miss the forest while looking for the trees.

During the Tuesday of Holy Week, Jesus taught in the Temple area. His teaching not only looked to the future, but hinted to His own death (John 12:20-36 and John 13:21-38). Jesus had predicted His death at least three times in the synoptic gospels (Matthew 16:21-23, Matthew 17:22-23 and Matthew 20:17-19; all three occurrences are also recorded in Mark and Luke). On your Tuesday of Holy Week, notice how all of Scripture looks toward the sacrificial death of Jesus. Offer prayers of thanksgiving to God for His attention to the details of salvation.

On Holy Wednesday, most churches remember the story of Judas arranging the betrayal of Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16). Many Western churches hold Tenebrae services on Wednesday, the word coming from the Latin for “shadows” or “darkness.” Betrayal is horrendous, but easy. This day, as you read this passage, join the other disciples in asking Jesus, “Is it I, Lord?” (Matthew 26:22)

The Thursday of Holy Week is known as Maundy Thursday in many church cultures. The day commemorates the institution of the Last Supper (Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:17-25; and Luke 14-20). Paul summarizes the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. Select one of the verses for your reading and prayer time today, remembering what the symbols of communion stand for.

Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Many church cultures observe Good Friday as a day of fasting. The Roman Catholic traditions include the Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion on this day. Scripture readings from Isaiah 53, the book of Hebrews, and the passion narrative from John are focal points. The death of Christ is recorded in all of the gospels (Matthew 27:35-56; Mark 15:24-41; Luke 23:33-49; John 19:18-30). Select one of the passages for your reading and prayer time.

Saturday before Easter is the Sabbath in the Jewish tradition. Following His burial (Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:42-46; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-42), guards were placed at the tomb to assure its security (Matthew 27:61-66). The Sabbath is a day of rest, a commodity more valuable than gold in our society today. As best you can, allow this day to be a day of rest for you. Remember that the disciples had a day of rest prior to the resurrection.

Remember the events of Holy Week in the life of Jesus, and anticipate the amazing work that God is about to perform. Reflect on how God has taken the “death” of your life, worked it together for good, and brought deliverance. Anticipate Him doing even more.

Have your heart ready for the resurrection.

 

raise hallelujah

Palm Sunday celebrates the commemoration of Jesus’ final entry into Jerusalem before His crucifixion. Remembering the day in worship can be traced back to the late third century. [su_quote align=”right” cite=”Johnathan Edwards”]To pretend to describe the excellence, the greatness or the duration of the happiness of heaven by the most artful composition of words would be but to darken and cloud it; to talk of raptures and ecstasies, joy and singing, is but to set forth very low.[/su_quote] Observances included hymns, prayers and Bible readings. Early in Jerusalem people would travel through the holy places in the city as they read Scriptures and sang songs. As the end of the day approached, the people would return home declaring, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

 

The “Triumphal Entry” is one of a handful of incidents in the life of Christ that is recorded by all four gospel writers. It is the Sunday that begins Holy Week, remembering Jesus’ entry into the city as prophet, priest and king. By the sixth and seventh centuries palm leaves were added to the celebration. Early in the eighth century, an early morning procession replaced the evening one, and the Roman Catholic Church had institutionalized the celebration of Palm Sunday.

Scriptural passages | Palm Sunday
Matthew 21:1-9 Mark 11:1-10 Luke 19:28-39 John 12:12-18

The contrasting events of Holy Week perplex many Bible readers. Was the crowd so fickle that they are praising the name of Jesus on Sunday and yelling, “Crucify him!” days later? While some people may have joined into the exuberance of the crowds, the best explanation sees two separate groups of people dictating the direction of the sentiment. On Palm Sunday, the crowd was driven by faithful Jewish followers praying for redemption from the enslavement of Rome and sincere disciples of the rabbi from Galilee. The crowd that later would yell for Jesus’ execution was driven by Jewish leaders and people the leaders had paid off. The majority of those praising Jesus on Sunday were not present in the crowd later in the week.

Praise Beyond Words

The Gospel writers describe a crowd gathered outside of Jerusalem filled with excitement. Don’t picture they were outside the city gates waiting on Jesus to finally arrive. The Passover was at hand and every faithful Jewish male was required to be at the Temple to celebrate the event (Deuteronomy 16:16 NIV). The paths leading up to Jerusalem were filled with excited Hebrews. The people were not sure whether Jesus would be attending the celebration (John 11:56-57).

Like the Sabbath, the celebration of the Passover stirred a time to remember God’s activities and His promises. It was a renewed and invigorated time of Messianic hope and expected deliverance. The people came to Jerusalem expecting the miraculous intervention from God.

Pharisees and temple soldiers, along with a small Roman presence, lined the way to Jerusalem assuring peace among the people. Some religious leaders were concerned that Jesus’ followers were making so much noise that the Romans might become fearful of a riot or revolt and step in with force (Luke 19:39).

It Was What the People Said

Luke tells us that the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully praising God in extremely loud voices for all of the miracles they had seen (Luke 19:37 NIV). The shouts of the people seemed simple:

Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! (Luke 19:38)

The Pharisees immediately tried to get Jesus to silence the followers. They understood. This isn’t just a cheer devised by the disciples. The phrase is found in the Hebrew scripture. Listen to the words of Psalm 118:1-29 NIV. While affirming that the loving kindness of the Lord endures forever, a vital truth is declared, “I will give thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation” (Psalm 118:21 NIV). The next verse sheds new light:

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone (Psalm 118:22 NIV).

Peter makes sure that we understand that this verse is speaking about Jesus (1 Peter 2:6-8 NIV). Peter’s words also reference Isaiah 28:16 (also quoted by Paul in Romans 9:33 and Ephesians 2:20) and Isaiah 8:14 (again found in Romans 9:33). Matthew (Matthew 21:42) and Luke (Acts 4:11) quote the Psalm 118 passage.

This phrase finds its use only regarding Israel’s savior. This marvelous work that the Lord is doing launches the day of salvation (Psalm 118:23-24). The day of the long-anticipated salvation from Lord arrived. Many disbelieved the day would ever come. But it will come – indeed, it has come. Hope captured and displayed.

Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! (Psalm 118:25 ESV)

Matthew, Mark and John indicate that a word used in the chanting is the Hebrew, Hosanna. The word means “to save, to rescue” and it can denote a “savior.” The word referred to the Messiah as “the Son of David” as its only use.

This reaction of the crowd angered the religious leaders (Matthew 21:15-16 NIV). The scribes and Pharisees displayed jealousy toward Jesus more than anything else. Concern also arose that the Romans would not like to hear Jesus proclaimed as King while the Romans believed that Caesar alone occupied the King’s throne.

Raise Your Hallelujah

As we prepare for the resurrection, we have talked about being raised for such a time as this, about being raised to walk, and about our need for a Sabbath’s rest to prepare for the resurrection. It is also vitally important that we raise our “hallelujahs” because of what the Lord has done. As Jesus said, if we do not do it, even the rocks will cry out (Luke 19:40).

Bethel Music released a praise and worship song in 2019 called “I Raise a Hallelujah.” Since its release, the song earned nominations for Billboard’s top Christian song of the year and the Dove Award for Best Worship and Praise Song of the Year. Listen to a few of the words:

I raise a Hallelujah in the presence of my enemies.

Up from the ashes.

I raise a Hallelujah louder than my unbelief.

Hope will arise.

I raise a Hallelujah in the middle of the mystery.

Death is defeated. The King is alive!

Spend this week raising your hallelujah. You live the resurrection.