Holy Week - Part Four

Even though my beloved Tigers are playing tonight at 7:00 in the Sweet Sixteen, which for them never happens, I am looking forward to worshiping with you tonight as we take Communion at 7:00. Some things are simply more important than others. I have no regrets. I believe tonight will be a beautiful evening of worship, especially if we all come spiritually prepared.

Thursday is most known for two events: Jesus eats the Passover meal with His disciples in the upper room and institutes the memorial supper that Christians/Baptists consider one of the ordinances of the Church. In other words, believers have been reenacting their version of this meal for 2,000+ years. I hope you have some understanding of the history of Passover. It traces back to the children of Israel being held captive in Egypt recorded for us in the first chapter of Exodus.

Read Exodus 12

When the blood of the lamb was applied to the doorpost, Death would pass over the home and the curse would not be applied. Thus, Jesus entered and died during the week in which Passover was being celebrated. God's program is always conducted with purpose and precision. Jesus was the Lamb without spot. Jesus was the Lamb sent to take away the sins of the world. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. Life is in the Blood. Our Lord purchased out redemption by paying the Father's ransom price of death by bloodshed, and, by doing so, reconciled a sin-sick sinner to a Holy and Just God. The Just died for the unjust. Him for us. The righteous Judge of this universe stepped out from behind the bench and took the accused and condmned's spot. He paid His own required penalty. Wow!!

I digress.

Read John 13:1-30

The other major event in the late hours of Thursday evening is Jesus' time in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Read John 17

The horrible events of Good Friday occur in the early morning hours. Before you do anything else Friday morning, no matter how early you have to start your day, or if you're off from work, no matter how late you sleep in, do this for me:
Have your devotional time by reading Friday's blog-end timeline.

We will all do what we will do on Friday, I get it. Just remember, while you are having your second cup of coffee at 9:00, Jesus was on the cross.

See you tonight.

In Christ,
Pastor Todd