Tag: Holy Week

New week – New focus

It’s Holy Week and I have a new focus.

I have definitely been looking inward and had forgotten some things. But this week, my focus has shifted.

Holy Week begins with the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and ends with the triumphant resurrection of His earthly body.

But in between – there were some hard things. Betrayal, pain, rejection, hurt, more pain and rejection. Death.

I wonder how Jesus’ mother Mary felt watching this unfold. I wonder how Mary Magdalene felt. And Peter…. Whew – from ‘I’ll never leave you’ to ‘I have no idea who that man is’ in a matter of hours.

Jesus died for them. Jesus died for me. And Jesus died for you.

And we don’t have to get cleaned up and ‘right’ first. “…God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (ESV)

He took the penalty of all sins – past, present and future – in order to have a relationship with us. We don’t have to pay for our sins – it is finished.

We just need to believe and confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Continue to surrender every area of your life. I tend to surrender and then go back and collect it again and again.

And every time, I surrender, confess, and repent, He is there. Loving me and welcoming me back.

Is something missing in your life? Do you need peace and hope? Jesus has that and more. He is there. Loving you and welcoming you as His child.

Time for Reflection

It is Holy Week. The week before Easter Sunday.

A time to reflect more purposefully on what Jesus did for us.

Just some things to think about. He knew what was going to happen at the end of the week. How did He spend His final week?

He got His house in order. He drove out the merchants who were selling animals for sacrifices.

He persisted in living out His calling by continuing to teach in the Temple.

He spent time with His closest friends.

He served others. He washed the feet of his disciples – including the one who would betray him.

He worshiped God (His Father) and sang a hymn.

He prayed earnestly, honestly, fervently.

If you knew you had less than a week to live, would you do any of these things?

Thank you, Lord! For living and dying for me. For continuing to teach me, being with me and loving me. In spite of all of the betrayal…all my sin. Thank you, Jesus!

(Suggestion – spend some time in the Bible this week reading about the Triumphal Entry, the clearing of the Temple, the Last Supper. Picture yourself in the story. Because you are. He did all of this for your heart. For your redemption.)