|
|
 |
Thoughts of...The Week of the Lord
This week we remember the most intense week in human history.
The last week of Jesus Christ’s ministry begin with the triumphant jubilation of the people singing a Messianic song as He entered into Jerusalem (). It ended with those same people whipped into a blood-lustful frenzy demanding His crucifixion (). That week started with the Lord cleansing His father’s house (). It ended with the Lord cleansing His followers (). The week started with Jesus passing with flying colors all contrived tests and challenges directed at Him (Matt 21, Matt 22). It ended with all men, including Judas, the Pharisees, the scribes, the Sadduccees, Pontius Pilate, the Roman soldiers, the convicted criminals, and all passers-by, failing the truth. Jesus started the week surrounded by well-wishers but ended the week absolutely alone, forsaken by all, including the Father in heaven (, ; ).
Jesus started His week by weeping over Jerusalem (). He ended it by preaching the Good News to the captives (). At the beginning of the week, Jesus’ face was the most recognizable in all of Israel. At the end, He was unrecognizable (, , ). He entered the week sinless, pure and spotless (). He left it as sin (). The week started with Jesus as the Blessing of Israel, but ended with Him as a curse for all men (). Jerusalem was alive with anticipation at the outset of the week, hanging on the every word of Jesus Christ. By the close of the week, Life that had taken on mortality died, hanging on a Cross outside the city, and the city was numb by the events that are the crescendo of human history. The week started with unfinished business but ended with the proclamation of “It is finished!” ()
As violent as the reversals and His enemies were, the Lord was in complete control. The everlasting covenant between God the Father and God the Son established before the universe was created was the order of every day that week ().
And what about the following week? The Victory of all eternity burst on the human condition (, , , )!
Most remarkable of all – He did it all for me ()! Truly, Jesus Christ is Lord! What do I do with that truth?
When Jesus Christ is the Lord of my life,
1. He has free and unhindered access to every area of my life.
2. I recognize that He is the Source of my every need.
3. I acknowledge His ownership of all that I am, all that I have, all that I ever hope to be.
4. I immediately obey the initial promptings of the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit.
5. I am committed to following His will, even when I do not know what His will is.
6. I am available to serve Him no matter where He leads me.
7. Pleasing Him takes precedent over pleasing others and pleasing myself.
Pastor Doug
|