Passion/Holy Week
“The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.”
Angel of The Lord (Matthew 28:5-6)
Love and Lordship in Focus…The victory is ours not just because Christ came in the flesh, not just because He lived a perfect life but because He was crucified (killed), buried…and He rose from the tomb, conquering sin, death and hell to save and redeem us for Himself! This victory is not just that we avoid hell and go to Heaven…it is about redeeming our lives to live for Him every day in every part of our culture!
NOTE: Please permit me this lengthy post as I believe you will find it worthwhile…and as always full of Scripture for you to follow and study!
The Set Up for Passion Week (John 11) – The Clashing of Kingdoms
Just to be sure let’s look back at the events that led to the Triumphal Entry (Palm Sunday), Passion Week, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.
In John 11 Jesus is called to Bethany to heal Lazarus and he delays until Lazarus has died…doesn’t seem like a very “Jesus thing” to do.
However, Jesus knows it is for God’s Glory and will stir the religious pot so to speak. He arrives and calls Lazarus forth from the tomb…and Lazarus walks out after being dead 4 days!
I would want to follow this guy at least as long as He’s doing miracles and raising the dead and feeding thousands with meager means (John 6). Of course the religious zealots and leaders knew that if the masses continued to see these things they would follow after Him as they were certainly doing! So they plotted to kill Jesus.
The leaders worst nightmare came true on Palm Sunday when the throngs exalted and worshiped Jesus as He rode through Jerusalem on a donkey, which was a prophetic proclamation of His humble royalty rather than the triumphant and victorious entry on a white warrior stallion. (Zechariah 9:9)
Jesus’ Kingdom was revealed in the power of raising Lazarus from the dead and the people wanted to make that an earthly kingdom and just knew that He was The One that would make it happen…both the leaders who knew that would lose power and the common folks who just knew they would gain power. This is the clash of Kingdoms and both the leaders and the masses were wrong because they only saw an earthly, fleshly kingdom.
Isn’t it so interesting how we (even today in many of our churches) craft a Jesus/King of our own making and desires but don’t adhere to His Truth teachings that contradict our own thoughts and motives?
Jesus came to establish His Kingdom that would last forever. Which Kingdom/ kingdom are you seeking and a part of? You answer matters for Eternity! I pray that you know Him for what He revealed about His Father and by His Spirit and not by what you think He ought to be and do to satisfy your fleshly longings.
Palm Sunday, Passion Week, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday (John 12-20)
We’re stepping away from the specific focus on the Love & Lordship message (although not really because all of His Word is about His Love & Lordship) to set our hearts and minds on Christ’s last week on this earth during His first visit.
You ever thought about the fact that nearly half of the chapters in the book of John captures one week of Jesus life, death, burial and resurrection. Chapters 12-20 begin with Palm Sunday and move through Christ’s Resurrection.
What a seemingly glorious day when Jesus rode through Jerusalem to the throngs of “worshipers” who proclaimed him as “coming in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel” (John 12:12-19, emphasis v. 13). Obviously they had finally accepted that He was the Son of God, the Savior of the world and the King of kings…or had they?
As was evident throughout the Gospels, including His disciples, what they were looking for in The Messiah, a Savior and a King was one that would rule here and now and they would “rule” or at least receive the benefits of this Jewish Messiah King that would rule the world.
You see it? It wasn’t really about the King but about them…much like many of today’s churches and teachings! Palm Sunday seemed like a victory, as “the whole world was going after Him” (John 12:19) but it was really revealing the selfishness of hearts that wanted a kingdom and king that would suit them… and that’s what we see as it began to go sideways throughout the rest of Passion Week.
How about you? Are you serving a Savior and Lord, a Messiah, that works for you, fits your agenda and makes things all good for you? Or are you serving Christ for His sake and glory?
Passion Week…Maundy Thursday (John 13) – Jesus Loving Authority
As we continue to look at all the incredible teachings and examples of Christ during His final week on earth there one that perhaps is more moving that anything other than His actual sacrifice on The Cross for us.
In John 13 we see the following that shows us very prominently what His Love is like…
1) Love – Jesus love is full and complete and we should pay close attention to what follows (v. 1)
2) Humility – Jesus knows Who He Is (Humility) and nothing changes that (v. 3)
3) Servant’s Heart – In His loving humility He serves His disciples in the lowliest of ways by washing their sweaty, dirty feet (vv. 4-5)
4) Authority – He reminds them that He is the Authority as they see Him and He agrees with them (vv. 12-13)
5) Discipleship – He describes the blessings of living in humble loving service and true authority when they (we) follow His example as His disciples (vv. 14-17)
BTW – in line with the Love & Lordship message give me the leeway to express the following…Jesus was not only washing His disciples’ feet but as the fathers and founders of His Church, He was washing His Bride’s feet!
Remember that instead of siloing or isolating each of the characteristics or virtues above as we do in our culture and churches, He clearly brings them all together to show us how it is done in His Kingdom. We would do well to heed this wisdom and command to love as He loves us (John 13:34)!
Finally in John 13 we see that Jesus expressed all this love to even the one He knew would betray Him…that’s the kind of Love that we need and it only comes from Him in and through us.
More Messages from The Upper Room (John 14-17)
As we continue with Passion Week we find in John 14-17 some of the most powerful lessons that we need to learn and adhere to in our walk as Christ’s disciples just as He was encouraging and challenging those first disciples that He chose.
Here is a summary of their time together in The Upper Room:
- Jesus knows what His disciples were about to face (and knows what we are facing today) and he comforts them, encourages them that He and The Father are one, and promises The Holy Spirit to them and all who believe (John 14). Are you encouraged by The Father, Son and Spirit in your daily walk?
- Jesus teaches 3 potent lessons in John 15…A) Our relationship (as branches) to Him (The Vine) and that apart from Him we can do nothing (vv. 1-11). Are you trying to produce fruit for His Kingdom when He’s the Only One who can? B) Our relationships to one another as believers (vv. 12-17). Are you loving those in His Church as He loves you? C) Our relationship with the world (vv. 18-26). Are you trying to make your Christianity fit in and be accepted by the world or are you willing to stand firm on His Truth knowing that those of the world will hate the message and even hate you?
- Jesus warns them of how the world will respond to their message, promises The Holy Spirit a second time at this Last Supper (we should pay attention to our need for this), and reassures us of answered prayers because of His and The Father’s relationship (John 16). How are you doing when it comes to sharing a message that the world so badly needs but doesn’t like to hear?
- He closes this time out by reinforcing all of this in the Prayer of Unity or High Priestly Prayer (as it’s come to be known). He does this by praying in the unity that He has with the Father and asking The Father for the unity of the disciples in Him and for all of us who come to know Him as Savior and Lord through their Gospel message! Praise The Lord! But He doesn’t stop there, He also prays for them (and we as believers) to be sanctified or set apart in His Word of Truth and reassures them, as they (and we) walk in unity with Him and one another, of the glory we will share with Him (John 17)!
Have we grasped the reality that all of Jesus prayers were and are answered because He always prayed in line with The Father’s will and The Father always heard and answered His prayers as He proclaimed in His prayer to raise Lazarus from the dead(John 11:42)! If we’re not working for the unity He prayed for in line with His Spirit/Truth, we are not part of the answer to His prayer.
Heavenly Father, help me to take seriously the lessons, encouragements and warnings that you gave as you were with your disciples knowing the horrific suffering that awaited You for my sake. Let me walk in Christ and the Spirit of unity with Him and others for the sake of Your Kingdom and Glory that all who believe in You will share in. In Jesus Name. Amen.
“Good” Friday? Really? (John 18:1–19:42; Luke 23:26–49; Matthew 27:32–56; Mark 15:21-41)
What was one of the worst days in all of history, and eternity for that matter, has come to be called “Good Friday.” How so? Because when all the evil and sin of the world, our flesh and our enemy, satan, seemed to have won the war, God, through Jesus, flipped the script.
I hope you know that it was actually Jesus choice to willingly lay down His life (John 10:18) for you and me and all who would put their faith in Him.
As we jump forward in John’s Gospel to chapter 19 we see the horrific events of “Good Friday” that lead up to Christ’s crucifixion…Abandoned by His closest friends; the crowds who just a few days before laid palm branches and their coats in His path in worship of him now cry out for His death; He is beaten, mocked and spit upon by soldiers and a crown of thorns driven into His battered head; He is flogged (Matthew, Mark and Luke all record this violent beating); finally, He is nailed to a wooden beam and left to die. How can this be good?
Because everything He did was for me and for you so that we would not have to face the consequences of our sins. What was horribly excruciating for Him was the greatest gift ever given to us…to all who by grace through faith accept His sacrifice for their sins and walk by that same grace and faith with Him as Savior and Lord.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the tremendous gift of Christ’s death for my sin. His worst day became my greatest day and for that I can call this day “Good Friday.” Help me to share this Good and Great News with others. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Reflecting on Judas’ Betrayal, Jesus Trial, Peter’s Denial and Pilate (John 18)
Regarding Passion Week, scripture moves pretty quickly from Palm Sunday to Thursday. We hear very little about Monday through Wednesday of that week but go to the Upper Room and the Last Supper Jesus instituted with His disciples and for His Church which we’ve already looked at in previous devotionals.
After the lessons from The Upper Room we come to John 18…Judas betrayed Him, the leaders mocked Him, Peter denied Him and Pilate threw Him “under the bus.”
What does that say to us as His followers and Church today? Are we claiming to enjoy the pseudo-fellowship of “church” while running and hiding when the culture comes against Christ and His Truth? We have allowed the culture to back us into a corner and for the most part are fearful of what they may do if we speak God’s Truth without compromise.
Heavenly Father, forgive us for claiming Christ as Savior and Lord when it’s comfortable and looks good as we avoid that sins and related issues in our day and time. Help us to be willing to actually walk with Christ as Lord no matter the cost. In His Name. Amen.
The words that Jesus spoke to and prayed for His disciples and for us in The Upper Room we find out were very much needed and initially unheeded by those closest to Him. (John 18).
As He is praying in the garden, Judas leads a band to betray Him over to the Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers (vv. 1-11). How often do I betray Him when the going gets tough rather than standing on His Truth no matter what?
Jesus is then led before a “mock” proceedings before the religious leaders that has already been predetermined, thus the “mock” description, even though no witnesses could agree. Since they needed to rubber stamp this with the Roman authorities they took him to Pilate where the mockery became a “trial” with the same outcome already put in motion. Jesus is convicted and sentenced while a murderous rebel, Barabbas is set free. In the middle of this we find Peter denying Christ 3 times when the pressure was on him to reveal his association with Christ (vv. 12-40).
How would you have handled the situation if you were Peter? How do you handle it today?
Heavenly Father, help us to learn from Your Word and the good and bad examples that we read in it so that we can follow Christ at all costs. In His Name. Amen.
Resurrection Day! (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20)
Praise The Lord for His victory of sin, death and hell! Praise Him that all who believes that He is the Savior of the world and King of kings and Lord of Lords share in that victory even as we continue to struggle through the trials and pains of this world and our flesh.
John 20 records His resurrection and appearance to His disciples after He rose from the dead. Matthew tells us the incredible message this way, “He is risen, just as He said” (Matthew 28:6)!
The Apostle Paul shared in 1 Corinthians 15 that the risen Christ appeared to over 500 men and women, including the special revelation to Paul himself (vv. 3-8)!
Our hope and faith is not in vain…He is risen and lives in me and all who believe in His incarnation, life, message, death and resurrection (v. 14)!
Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – What will you do with the crucified and risen Christ? Will you put your faith in Him? Do you believe so much that you want others to know Him? It’s a matter of life and death for both now and eternity!
Love in Action –
- Spend time with Him in His Word and prayer daily – read and study the Scriptures in this post as a way to start.
- Ask The Holy Spirit to teach you.
- How has this Passion Week devotional encouraged or challenged you to want to know and love Christ as Savior?
- What will you do to honor and love Him as Your Risen King and Lord?
Contact us at loveandlordship@gmail.com.
Love and Lordship Prayer Focus…Heavenly Father, thank you that our hope and faith is not in vain. We have a living Savior and present Lord in our lives! Help us to live in such a way that others will want to know Him and be humble and bold to share His message and life with all that we can. In His Precious and Powerful Name. Amen.