Read: Luke 17-21

As we celebrate Holy Week this week it might be helpful for us to look back on that last week of Jesus’ life before his death and resurrection.  Luke 17-21 is a good place to start when recalling some of these events but here is how that last week was for Jesus….

Saturday and Sunday – The weekend before the cross and empty tomb found Jesus in Bethany.  He was anointed at the house of Simon the leper by a woman who was weeping at his feet as she worshiped him.  Many people came to Bethany this weekend to see Jesus and he shared words of hope and life with them.  He indicated that the time of his death was near and about his resurrection but many did not understand what he was saying, including his disciples.

Monday – Jesus rides the donkey into Jerusalem with what we know as the triumphal entry.  This fulfills prophecies of the Old Testament and many people worship and praise him by laying palm branches and shouting praises along the route.  Many of these would turn on him later in the week and deny him.

Tuesday – The religious leaders begin to plot ways to kill Jesus on this day.  As accusations begin to swirl among them Jesus reminds his followers that following him would look different than following the ways of the world.  Jesus also curses a fig tree on this day warning the people about spiritual blindness.

Wednesday – Jesus predicts that in two days he will be crucified during the time of passover.  He teaches timely lessons to his followers on this day and prepares them for his eventual ascension into heaven.  He also promises of his return and tells hs disciples to be ready and on guard at all times.

Thursday – Maundy Thursday is when Jesus shared the last supper with his disciples in the upper room.  The bread was to represent his broken body and the wine was to represent his shed blood for he sins of all mankind.  The sacrifice of the cross is still recognized and remembered today around the world through Holy Communion.  Later this night Jesus is arrested after his disciple Judas betrays him.

Friday – Often referred to as Good Friday because of what Jesus did for the good all humanity.  His death on the cross bought the grace and forgiveness of all who believe in him and receive his pardon.  The cross of Calvary was the end result of a day of trials, beatings, and Jesus carrying his own cross through the streets of Jerusalem.  Later on Friday the curtain in the temple was torn in two and Jesus proclaimed “It is Finished!”

Saturday – Holy Saturday is when the body of Jesus lay in the tomb with Roman guards keeping watch.  Little did they or others know what was about to happen the following morning.

Sunday – The most glorious day ever for Christians and those who believe.  Jesus is risen from the tomb and death is defeated once and for all.  The women discover the empty tomb and run back to tell the others.  Some of them run to see it for themselves.  Jesus continues to appear to the disciples and others in the days that follow until he eventually ascends into heaven.

Read: Proverbs 2 & 3

Read: Acts 2:42-47

How important is the Sabbath and corporate worship?  Many years ago between my four years of college I lived in Holland for a year in a Mennonite exchange program.   Holland was once part of the ocean but the industrious Dutch built great dikes far out in the shallow sea, and so reclaimed the land.  As their dikes hold the ocean back, on the landward side the people occupy their homes, farmers till their land, and the wheels of commerce turn.

There is an illustration in those dikes that pertains to the Sabbath day of corporate worship.  In fact many of the rural lowlanders in Holland have a quaint way of referring to Sunday, the Christian Sabbath.  They speak of Sunday as God’s dike because what God’s people do on this day each week serves society in the same way a dike serves the land.  As the dike holds back the sea, so does Sunday and the worship experience help to hold back the flood of evil which is forever threatening to overflow the people.

God interposes the instruction and inspiration of Christian worship as a bulwark against wrong.  The Christian Sabbath is civilizations strongest social buttress against the flood of evil, fear, and despair which press up hard against us.  What we do in worship each Sunday is strengthen our dikes, to help keep them in good repair.  In worship we are not merely doing something for ourselves, we are also doing something for the world.  We are taking part in an unceasing effort which involves many millions of people and stretches over many centuries of time.  Let’s be aware of this vast body of Christ called the church that we are involved in, and let’s be glad in it just like the early believers were in Acts 2.  Acts 2:42 says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer.”

Make it Personal:  How important is Sabbath day worship to you and your family?  Are you a part of it so that you can hold back the things that are trying to pull at you and pull you away from the Lord?  Worshiping together with the brothers and sisters in Christ is so very important and this past year we have realized this in a new way.  Hope to see you this Sunday!

Read: James 3:13-18

In the book of James the question is asked, “Who is wise and understanding among you?”  Anyone want to raise their hand and take the first question?  The verses following this talk about humility and living a good life filled with wisdom that comes down from heaven.  This kind of wisdom is not earthly as in the knowledge of things that are temporal.  This wisdom from heaven is a pattern for living as Jesus would want us to live out our faith here on earth.

What does it look like?  Verse 17 makes it clear for us.  “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”  How are we doing in those things?  They are not always easy to follow but they do make for a blessed life and a life that honors God.

Verse 18 then speaks of being peacemakers in this world.  It says, “Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”  Just like farmers will harvest in the Fall what they sow this Spring, the same is true with our lives.  If you sow the characteristics listed above you will find your life reaping the goodness of God and the blessings He has for you.  You will also find yourself getting along much better with family, friends, co-workers, and others in your life. 

Make it Personal:  Who do you need to offer mercy to right now?  Who needs you to be the peacemaker that these verses are speaking of?  The Holy Spirit will guide us each in the disbursement of this wisdom that comes from heaven.  Let’s go out and sow it plentifully.