Spy Wednesday of Holy Week

Here in my community, it only slightly looks like Easter is near. Here in my community, it only slightly looks like Easter is near. There are a few cardboard signs and metal crosses in lawns. What I prominently see are white ribbons on neighbors’ trees. The word spread for us to tie white ribbons on our trees to show our appreciation to those who are front-liners in this pandemic. I’ve also seen red ribbons around the doorposts of many homes that represent the blood of Jesus’ protecting them. This is definitely not like any Easter we’ve ever known. But, lest we think it’s cancelled or even long for the “good ole days” – Easter has NOT changed. And, neither has the reason for the season. Christ lived, healed, saved, was brutally murdered, buried and came back to life and lives forevermore. Those are the facts that remain. He lives and is here with us right now!

But let’s get it straight. It does seem strange, surreal – in fact, almost unbelievable that we are experiencing this Holy Week like this. But, no less unbelievable in what Jesus experienced this week. On this day, things started really amping up for His final days. His short 33 years of life on this earth were expeditiously coming to a close.

Jesus spent this day in Bethany. It had been two exhausting days in Jerusalem and tomorrow would be the Passover. Bethany is where Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha lived. They were close friends of Jesus. and probably hosted Jesus and the disciples. John 12:1-9 tells us that it was on this day that Mary anointed Jesus with costly perfumed oil. Judas (same guy plotting to betray Jesus) remarks to Jesus: “Why this waste? This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” We know Judas was the money keeper for Jesus and the disciples and he sure wasn’t thinking about the poor, but about His own schemes. Jesus rebuked him and said Mary anointed Him for his burial

Imagine Jesus’ thoughts on this day. Wednesday meant one day closer to His suffering and crucifixion. This day was called “Spy Wednesday” because it was on this Wednesday before the crucifixion that Judas conspired to hand Jesus over to the chief priests. “What will you give me if I betray Jesus to you?” They counted out thirty silver coins and gave them to him. From then on Judas watched for a good chance to hand Jesus over to them. (Matthew 26:14)

Jesus spent this day in Bethany. It had been two exhausting days in Jerusalem and tomorrow would be the Passover. Bethany is where Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha lived. They were close friends of Jesus. and probably hosted Jesus and the disciples. John 12:1-9 tells us that it was on this day that Mary anointed Jesus with costly perfumed oil. Judas (same guy plotting to betray Jesus) remarks to Jesus: “Why this waste? This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” We know Judas was the money keeper for Jesus and the disciples and he sure wasn’t thinking about the poor, but about His own schemes. Jesus rebuked him and said Mary anointed Him for his burial

I'm literally walking with Jesus this week. And, hopefully you've joined hands with me and we're walking this journey together.
Somehow I think this week is just what the doctor (rather, God) ordered. We need a rescuer. And, His name is Jesus Christ. I'm thinking that God is loudly declaring: "STOP! This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased! And You should be pleased right along with Me! Pay attention to Him. Pay attention to what He did for you. This is the answer to EVERYTHING that you need.

This week I went to a doctor's appointment. I thought to myself that it feels like a Sunday -- a Sabbath day because there were so fewer cars out and about. Just maybe God called this time of "essential" services -- a Sabbath for us to slow down and think about He Who is the MOST ESSENTIAL in our lives.

We are walking with Jesus on His journey to Calvary. With great gratitude, we remember Jesus because of Who He was and what He did for us. All of humanity – ALL OF US -- were cursed and doomed to death, but Jesus assumed the guilt of humanity. Imagine that heavy load He carried on this Holy Wednesday. He must have been mustering up every fiber of His strength to go the distance to the cross that awaited Him. The cross – that would symbolize an emergency rescue – it would forever represent rescuing humanity for all time. How could we not stop, listen, and express so much gratitude for our rescue? Yes, He is our "Rescue Story"!

Thank you, Zach Williams, for putting our "Rescue Story" to words and song! May it bless you today! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yr48Berkqc

The Twilight Zone on the Monday of Holy Week

Yesterday was a most unusual Palm Sunday and 25th birthday celebration with my grandson. I wasn’t at church and I wasn’t in Austin celebrating with my family. But, I was still present for both. I watched four beautiful church and mass celebrations via livestream and I was on FaceTime with my family. The day before, my Canadian cousin FaceTimed me so I could meet her two-year-old foster child. Tonight, and tomorrow night I will be on Zoom calls which provides for many of us to see each other, be together – while apart. Isn’t this something?

It is amazing to be in tumultuous yet tremendous times and be provided with far greater innovations than what any other generation has ever experienced when they encountered plagues, epidemics and pandemics. I’m providing a little motivation for us, lest we forget to be grateful for the blessings we have been afforded.

In the 60s there was a TV series called “The Twilight Zone”.Rod Serling welcomed us on a journey into the Twilight Zone. Each episode presented different stories where characters found themselves dealing with disturbing or unusual events, an experience described as "entering the Twilight Zone". It often had a surprise ending and a moral. Now, the phrase “twilight zone is used to describe surreal experiences -- like these surreal times we are in today.

Speaking of surreal, I think about Monday of this most blessed Holy Week of our Lord’s passion. The predominate happening on this day was Jesus chasing out the money changers from the temple. He was on purpose with every act, healing, and teaching. If we knew it was our final week of life, wouldn’t we be taking care of “loose ends”, like getting some things right that were very wrong? Wouldn’t we be giving family and friends some of our wisdom from life, encouraging and giving clear thought-out messages to help them carry on? If He knew He would soon lay down His life for us, then wouldn’t He make sure that everything He did was for our good to be used as visual references for us to follow?

On this day of Holy Week, Jesus returned to Jerusalem and came upon the shameful, greedy practices at the Temple. He was so passionate about His Father’s House of Prayer being abused. Formerly, it had been where the blind and lame came when they heard Jesus was in the Temple. As the children saw Jesus standing there and teaching, they began to shout again, “Hosanna, to the Son of David.”

On this Holy Monday, He cleansed the temple. Back to the “surreal” time we are in right now. The churches, temples, and synagogues have been cleansed, so to speak. Not only are the stores inside many of the mega churches closed, but so are the places of worship – everywhere. My take on this season that we’re in – is God is setting things straight – setting His people straight – getting His house in order. That the principal thing isn’t really about the church building. It is about His Body – THE CHURCH – being set right. Getting down to the nitty gritty of what really is most important to Him. Jesus will soon come back for His bride without a spot or wrinkle or blemish. He cares more about us than He does brick and mortar.

Today He desires to cleanse us and purify our hearts and minds so that we are more like Him – in our thoughts, our words and our actions. Maybe, this surreal time is about our Sovereign Lord getting His Body in shape for bringing the family home – sooner than later. Today I take this message personally. It is taking this cleansing of the temple as cleansing of my temple. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” (1 Corinthians 10:19) The Lord cares more about the “stuff” that has cluttered up Who we are and Whose we are. It’s time to get the temple squeaky clean! This Monday of Holy Week is a really good day for cleaning house!