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Gleanings From The Word

Tag: Devotional

  • Passion Week – Maundy Thursday

    Passion Week – Maundy Thursday

    foot washing

    It’s Maundy Thursday today. We commemorate the events of  Jesus’ final day before His crucifixion.

    Our Lord demonstrated servant leadership by washing His disciples’ feet, a job reserved for the lowest of servants or slaves. They ate a Passover meal together, retired to the Garden for prayer, and he was betrayed sometime in the early morning of Friday. 

    Those events were followed by his mock trial, false conviction, torture, humiliation, and death on the cross, being buried in a borrowed tomb, and raised from the dead victorious.

    So what makes today “Maundy?” The word is derived from the Latin mandatum, meaning commandment. On that final day, Jesus left His followers, and by extension, you and me, with two commandments, one implicit and the other explicit.

    When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. John 13:12-17

    The second instruction, or command, is far more explicit. Jesus implements the ordinance of communion.

    And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Luke 22:17-20

    We are to take the bread and cup to remember what He has done, will do, and is doing for us. The Maundy Thursday “celebration and communion” service has largely been lost in the evangelical community. The church community is poorer for that.

    Take some time today to remember in preparation for Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. As we remember His sacrifice, may we remember to love one another as He loved us.

    There will be no Gleanings until Tuesday, April 22. See you then. Happy Easter, my dear friends.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

    Why does it matter? The Season of Lent


    Triumphal Entry – Fickle People
    The Gospel – the best news you will ever hear
  • Triumphal Entry – Fickle People

    Triumphal Entry – Fickle People

    Yesterday was Palm Sunday, a remembrance of Jesus’ entry into  Jerusalem just before he was crucified. It must have been an incredible sight. It’s an event recorded in all four gospels (Matthew 11, Mark 11, Luke 19, John 12)

    When you look at the four accounts, you begin to recognize how significant an event it was. We can see prophecy fulfilled, Jesus treated as king, and more.

    Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” Matthew 21:8-11

    The crowds welcome Jesus as king, a slap in the face to their Roman conquerors. Yet, in less than a week, the crowds will turn on Him. Some of the people present for His entry will be crying out for His death by crucifixion.

    Jesus didn’t change in those few short days. The crowd grew disenchanted with Him, and His religious leader enemies wanted to be rid of Him forever.

    Even Jesus couldn’t please everyone. People are fickle. Today’s friend may be tomorrow’s enemy. The road from hero to zero can be short.

    Yet, we’ve all done it. At some point, we’ve hidden or denied our faith to please others. We kept quiet when we should have spoken up so that others wouldn’t reject us or ridicule us.

    It’s something the Bible addresses in a number of places.

    For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

    But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4

    The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. Proverbs 29:25

    When confronted by those situation where we might feel like holding back, we can ask the Lord for strength. We might still be rejected or mocked, but in the eternal scheme of things pleasing God is far more important.

    The Spirit can give us courage. He can encourage us when we are feeling abandoned by friends.

    Jesus knew that pain intimately. He forgives us when we stumble but is glorified when we proclaim Him and act in His name.

    We’re unlikely to face death for our faith next week (although that is still a reality in many parts of the world and may come back in our lifetimes). 

    Let’s lift our brothers and sisters up in prayer that they may have the courage to stand for Jesus. May we all have the ability to stand when tempted to hide our faith.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Read the Word. Read the Word. Read the Word.

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