Via Dolorosa

Scripture for Wednesday in Holy Week

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”~ Matthew 26:20-25 (ESV)

Lord, it is beyond my comprehension that Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, yet He willingly accepted the betrayal as necessary for God’s plan. In the end, Judas was the one who was hurt, and Jesus triumphed over death. Thank You, Lord, that through Jesus’ sacrifice, I have eternal life. In His name. Amen.

Scripture for Tuesday in Holy Week

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” ~ John 13:34-35 (ESV)

Heavenly Father, may the world know I am Your disciple by the love I show for my brothers and sisters. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Holy Week and Salvation

Yesterday, Palm Sunday, began the holiest week of the Christian year. The week began with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, but the “Hosannas” of the crowd quickly turned to cries of “Crucify Him!” Jesus shared a Last Supper with His disciples, then prepared to die. He bore my sins and yours on the cross. He died so we might live. He endured the pain and suffering we rightly deserve so we can be forgiven and washed clean.

Without Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection, we would be mired in sin and facing eternal damnation. With His ultimate sacrifice, we are washed in the Blood of the Lamb and looking forward to eternity with the Lord … IF we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. I have accepted Jesus, and I pray that if you have not already done so, you will do so now.

If you have questions about sin, salvation, and eternal life, Jesus Christ is the answer.

During Holy Week, I will attend the Holy Eucharist and Foot Washing Ceremony on Maundy Thursday and the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday at my church, All Saints Anglican. I will spend one hour in the Vigil at the Altar of Repose. These are solemn occasions to reflect on Christ’s Passion and my own sin and salvation.

Then on Easter Sunday, I will be ready to rejoice in the Resurrection of our Lord!

Scripture for Monday in Holy Week

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” ~ John 12:1-8

Holy God, may I always worship You with extravagance and reckless abandon. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior who reigns with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Scripture for Palm Sunday

And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” ~ Luke 19:28-40 (ESV)

Lord, the crowds in Jerusalem hailed Jesus as an earthly King. When I say blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord, I recognize Jesus as the King of Heaven. Hosanna to the Son of God! Amen.

Scripture for the Sixth Saturday in Lent

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. ~ John 11:45-53 (ESV)

Thank You, Lord, for the great sacrifice that Jesus made for me and for the whole world. In His name. Amen.

The Face of Christ

Scripture for the Sixth Friday in Lent

“If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” And many believed in him there.~ John 10:37-42 (ESV)

Lord Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of the Father because You have done wonderful things in my life. Thank you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scripture for the Sixth Thursday in Lent

Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. ~ John 8:51-59 (ESV)

Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who was and is and is to come. Amen.

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