Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.
Matthew 28:1, 5-6 NASB
🌹And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Hebrews 1:3 NASB
Praise our glorious Lord and King!! He rose just as He said. He is coming again. Do you believe?
Happy Resurrection Day!!!
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
Tag Archive | God
Holy Week – Saturday
Jesus is buried. . . in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.
Joseph, a Sanhedrin, was part of the Council of religious leaders who called for the crucifixion of Jesus. But he was a secret follower of Jesus and opposed the sentence placed upon Him.
Joseph was a good and upright man and a wealthy man. He was very brave to ask for the body of Jesus, as it was a risk to himself and His reputation.
Jesus is buried in the tomb of a rich man:
🌹His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
Isaiah 53:9 NASB
Have a blessed day, looking to celebrate the Resurrection of your Savior!
Hallelujah!!
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
Holy Week – Good Friday
The day Jesus died.
Jesus’ crucifixion can be found in all four gospels:
Matthew 27:1-56; Mark 15:1-41; Luke 22:33-49; John 19:16-30
I recommend reading all four accounts.
Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor. But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. Pilate *said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all *said, “Crucify Him!” Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified. Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
Matthew 27:1-2, 20, 22, 26, 45-46, 50 NASB
And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last.
Luke 23:46 NASB
Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
John 19:30 NASB
🌹But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5 NASB
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
Holy Week – Thursday
I neglected to mention yesterday, Holy Week – Wednesday, that Judas met with the religious elite and agreed to betray Jesus.
The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might put Him (Jesus) to death; for they were afraid of the people. And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them. They were glad and agreed to give him money. So he consented, and began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them apart from the crowd.
Luke 22:2-6 NASB
Thursday was very full . . .
Jesus humbly washed the feet of His disciples.
John 13:1-20
Jesus partakes of the Last Supper with His disciples.
Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-19
Jesus, and Judas’ Betrayal . . .
Matthew 26:17-25; Mark 14:17-21; Luke 22:21-23; John 13:21-27
The Mt. of Olives/Garden of Gethsemane
Matthew 26:31-46; Mark 27-42; Luke 22:40-46
Betrayal and Arrest
Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:54, 63-71; John 18:1-11
Long night ahead:
Jesus before Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and elders were gathered.
Caiaphas accuses Jesus of blasphemy. The chief priests and Council (Sanhedrin) answered, “He deserves death” and they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists and rods.” (vs. 65-68)
Matthew 26:57-68
You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. Some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received (treated) Him with slaps in the face (blows with rods).
Mark 14:64-65
Mark 14:53-65;
Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.
John 18:14 NASB
John 18:12-24, 28-40
🌹He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?Isaiah 53:3, 7-8 NASB
Lord Jesus, may I never take for granted what You went through to bring me life. May I learn from Your example to hold my tongue, trust that You always have a plan, and remember that they can kill the body but my soul is secure in You, Jesus!!!!! Amen
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
Holy Week – Wednesday
Silence. . . . . . .
Not much is written regarding the Wednesday of Holy Week. It has been mentioned that this was the preparation day for the Passover which is Thursday, the day before the week of Unleavened Bread.
‘These are the appointed times of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at the times appointed for them. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover. Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.
Leviticus 23:4-6 NASB
Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare for Passover:
And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.” They said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?” And He said to them, “When you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters. And you shall say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’ And he will show you a large, furnished upper room; prepare it there.” And they left and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
Luke 22:8-13 NASB
Where do you suppose Jesus was during the preparation?
Could Jesus have been with the Father in preparation for His death?
As I’m reading and meditating on Holy Week, I am noticing Jesus emphasizing the things the disciples are going to need. Faith and discernment were two things I noticed Jesus sharing.
Could Jesus have been away praying for His disciples?
🌹Jesus knew where to go in His despair. He has shown us where to go also. Jesus is our Advocate. He knew what lay ahead for His disciples then and for His disciples now. Jesus knows what lies before us and He preps us by the blessing of His word and prayer. Thank You, Jesus.
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
Holy Week – Tuesday
The withered fig tree:
As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. Being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God.
Mark 11:20-22 NASB
And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Matthew 21:21-22 NASB
Confrontation with the religious elite:
They came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him, and began saying to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?” And Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question, and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? Answer Me.”
Answering Jesus, they *said, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Mark 11:27-30, 33 NASB
Jesus follows up with several parables in Mark 12
Judas . . . . The Plot
The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people. And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them. They were glad and agreed to give him money. So he consented, and began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them apart from the crowd.
Luke 22:2-6 NASB
Back to Jesus . . .
As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples *said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.”
As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?” And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.
Mark 13:1-5 NASB
Jesus continues in Mark 13:6-37
🌹Jesus spent three years building a relationship with His disciples, especially with those closest to Him. Do you wonder how Jesus felt in leaving them? As yet I don’t think the reality of Jesus dying was even on the disciples radar. But Jesus knew what was coming for each one of them. I can’t help but believe Jesus was heartbroken over what was about to happen to His disciples’ world – their confusion, desperation, doubt, brokenness and hopelessness over what was about to take place. Not only was Jesus carrying His own burden and anguish but also the same for His disciples. And soon Jesus was to carry the burden of sin for all mankind.
Lord Jesus, thank You for loving Your creation so much that You feel our pain, our anguish, and understand. I pray we would keep our eye on the Lamb, staying focused, and remembering and trusting Your teachings, Your word. Amen.
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
Holy Week – Monday
Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly. . .
On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.
Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves; and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.” The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching. When evening came, they would go out of the city.
Mark 11:12-19 NASB
The Temple. A place to commune with God. A sacred holy place of worship. What had happened? Commercialism. Neglect. No longer a house of prayer, a place to commune and worship God. It had become a “den of theives”. A money-making place of business.
The Temple. Where God resides, takes up residence. Today, we believers are the Temple of God. What condition is your house in?
🌹God, today, as we observe Holy Monday, may our hearts turn to the worship of Jesus, our Savior. Forgive us for the condition of Your Temple as we repent of any dishonor to You, that is going on in us, Your Temple. Amen
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
Triumphant Entry
When He (Jesus) approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes.
Luke 19:41-42 NASB
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”
Luke 13:34-35 NASB
Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Matthew 21:8-11 NASB
took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”
John 12:13 NASB
🌹As Palm Sunday ushers in Holy Week, may our thoughts meditate upon King Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem and what He was about to face on our behalf. The joy of the people praising Jesus to the bitterness of what was thought to be defeat to the victory over death forever.
I hope you will experience the true peace found only in Christ and be ready to celebrate the risen King on Resurrection Sunday.
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
Road to Triumph Pt. 4
They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their coats on the colt and put Jesus on it. As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road. As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully (rejoicing) with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”
Luke 19:35-40 NASB
Jesus. Proclaimed as coming. Coming as a king! The true just and righteous king.
“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land.
Jeremiah 23:5 NASB
Jesus. Proclaimed not only as a just and righteous king but a humble king endowed with salvation. Coming humbly for the sake of others over His own glory.
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zechariah 9:9 NASB
Jesus. Came just as proclaimed.
“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
Matthew 2:2 NASB
Witnessed as a king.
Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”
John 1:49 NASB
King Jesus.
The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!”
Matthew 21:9 NASB
🌹“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
Luke 2:14 NASB
Jesus. Came humble and lowly. Are you ready for the triumphant return of King Jesus when He returns in all His glory?
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
Road to Triumph Pt. 3
When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ” So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord has need of it.” They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their coats on the colt and put Jesus on it.
Luke 19:29-35 NASB
Remember from yesterday’s devotion, Jesus was telling a parable and mentioned, “they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately”.
As this passage unfolds you will notice that Jesus and His disciples were not on the same page, the same wave length.
But back to this passage section. . .
Isn’t it wonderfully fascinating how Jesus sends the two disciples on a mission stating exactly what they were to look for and what to say if they faced opposition?! Jesus spoke. Jesus sent. Disciples obeyed. What an experience they encountered.
God’s Word is the same. It tells us what to look for, how to accomplish His plan and what to say when facing opposition. Jesus was present then. We have the Holy Spirit present in us, the believer, now. How many experiences have we missed because we don’t know God’s Word, Jesus Christ, intimately?
🌹God, guide me by Your word and Your presence so I may fully experience what a joy it is to serve You.
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
Continually Seeking Him 