Holy Week Devos

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Easter Sunday – An empty tomb

Mark 16:1–3 (ESV) - When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”  Lots of people refer to Easter as “Resurrection Sunday” - and…

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Saturday – empty space

In three out of the four Gospels after the burial of Jesus on Good Friday, there is no mention of anything that happens on Saturday. Matthew talks about how the Jewish religious leaders, still manipulating Pilate, convince him to seal the tomb and place a royal guard around the entrance to the tomb for fear of the disciples stealing the body (which will become very important later as evidence for the resurrection), but other than that, not one of them…

Tuesday – It’s a trap

There’s a scene from the Star Wars movie, Return of the Jedi, where a Mon Calamari veteran soldier called Admiral Ackbar yells out a very famous line. Yes, I realize I just lost over half of you, but please, try to stick with me. In the scene the rebel fighters are attacking something called the ‘Death Star’ which is the main ship of their largest enemy, the Evil Empire. As they approach, they are attempting to determine whether the shields…

Monday – What did that tree ever do to you?

I’ve never really cared much for figs. I guess when they come in the form of a Newton, they seem to be tolerable, but in any other situation, I think I’d rather eat a prune. To be completely honest with you, if not for the story in the Gospels, I wouldn’t even have been able to tell you that they grew on trees. They’re silly little fruits that most people prefer to eat all dried up and shriveled. That should…

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Palm Sunday – Not a throwaway line

There’s this one verse at the end of the story of the Triumphal Entry in Mark 11 - that seems like it might be a throw away line. Honestly, I’ve probably read the story tens of times, and I can’t remember thinking anything of it, in any of the times I have. Maybe it’s because it seems inconsequential, or maybe it’s because the story feels over already; but in any case, like all of scripture, it’s probably there for a…

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The greatest story ever told

John 20:1–10 (ESV) Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with…

Today, we weep

John 19:38–42 (ESV) After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in…

Was I, worth that?

John 15:5–15 (ESV) I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be…

Wash us clean

John 13:4–16 (ESV) He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him,…

“Please tell me that’s not what He said…”

John 12:44–50 (ESV) - Jesus Came to Save the World And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge…

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