WATCHWORD:
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1
Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Matthew 16:21
Meditation:
In Their Shoes, Imagined
He’s dead! I thought He would live forever. He was to be our Savior, our new King who would lead us to freedom. Just this week we saw Him bring Lazarus back to life…why could He not save himself? I don’t know what to do! I don’t know where to go! I don’t know what to believe. He made so many promises, and now He is gone!
I couldn’t be there. I couldn’t watch. He was my friend, my Lord and now He is gone! I stayed with my brother, Peter. He was so upset. He thinks he was the reason that our Jesus was crucified. He and James, and I think Philip, are planning to go back to Capernaum. I should go with them, too. Staying here is not safe.
John was there on Calvary, with Mary, Jesus’ mother, and Mary, who lives near us in Galilee. He told us all that had happened, Jesus’ death and where they buried our Savior. We didn’t want to hear it, but we had to know. It was sad, so very sad!
We tried to tell Mary how sorry we were, but she just smiled, and comforted us, saying we should remember and find peace. Remember what? How can we find peace? Yet, there she was smiling, so peaceful! How could she do that? How could she remain calm? She saw her son killed, and yet…
Saturday was awful. We all huddled in our secret place, afraid of those who would harm us now that Jesus was gone. Some spoke of going back to Galilee, as soon as they could get safely out of Jerusalem. Barnabas, also known as Bartholomew, and Matthew repeated what Mary had said about remembering Jesus’ words.
Then on Sunday, women had gone to the tomb and, came hurrying back, excitedly told us what the angel had said. John and Peter took off running back to the tomb to see for themselves. We all felt a sense of excitement and disbelief. Could it be that He is Alive! They returned and said the tomb was empty! Empty!
We were excited, yes, but could it be true? Some doubted. To go to Capernaum was three days of hard walking. Not an easy journey. Barnabas, reminded us what Jesus had told us several times that He would be killed and raised to life on the third day. This is the third day, Barnabas pointed out.
There was grumbling, there was debate. Do we believe the angel? Do you not believe our Lord, after all we have seen these many months? I want to believe, but… Finally, Barnabas spoke again, saying some of us must go, while the others stay here in this safe house and await word. Five of the disciples (Peter, John, Matthew, Barnabas and Andrew) along with Mary started toward Capernaum, that very afternoon.
Can you imagine what it was like for these disciples, for the two Mary’s, and for all of the followers that heard the news, first of the death of Jesus and then stories of his resurrection, often denied by the Pharisees and the teachers and the Romans?
The small group that traveled to Capernaum, saw Him there on the beach and followed Him up the hillside where they gathered around, defies even our imaginations. How could we know? Their love of Him had grown as they had supported His ministry, had witnessed the miracles, the healings, the teachings. And, then, His death and burial, and now, there on that hillside, the proof of the Resurrection, a fact on which we build our faith. Hallelujah! Amen.
Today’s Lenten Passage to Ponder:
Matthew 21:1-11: Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5 “Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Lenten Prayer:
Jesus, we, like your disciples, have denied and betrayed you. We have doubted you, deserted you. We have failed to live perfectly like you showed us, yet you love us anyway. Thank you, Jesus. We are undeserving of your grace and your sacrifice. Lord Jesus, you are the only one who is truly holy. As this Holy Week begins, still are hearts and our minds and allow us to enter into your presence. We want to wholly reflect on you this week as we follow your journey to the Cross. Amen.
