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RESURRECTION SUNDAY

Reading: Mark 16:1-8 Focus: Mark 16:6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he told them. “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they put him.” Reflection: The empty tomb has stood as an historical stumbling block to all who doubt the claims of Jesus. Notice this reading doesn’t even have the risen Christ in story! These women who watched where Jesus was entombed on Friday, came at the crack of dawn on Sunday so that they could anoint him but they had forgotten that he had already been anointed a few days earlier (see Mark 14:3-9)! They arrived questioning and soon were curious, alarmed, astonished, and overwhelmed. There was not natural or understandable explanation for why his body was not in that tomb. Also, did you notice that the “young man” not only said that Jesus was risen, he was already on mission and was inviting the disciples to join him where he was going next?! How great is this story?! Today, we celebrate the ...
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BLACK SATURDAY

Reading: Mark 15:42-16:1 Passage: Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they could go and anoint him. Reflection: For anyone who has had to lay a loved one to rest, it is difficult to imagine what that day of waiting must have been like. In addition, there was the way Jesus died, and on top of that, there was the devotion to him as the fulfillment of God’s promise to send an anointed one who would lead Israel into a Kingdom that would never end. This may, quite frankly, be impossible for us to imagine. However, Mark holds this time as a dark gap between when the women noted where the tomb was on Friday, and went out early the day after the Sabbath (Sunday).  What was to happen would alter the scope of reality. For us who are walking through troubling, uncertain, and seemingly hopeless moments this day is useful. We recognize the reality of the space between Friday and Sunday and appreciate the sover...
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GOOD FRIDAY

Reading: Mark 10-:35-45 Focus: Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man   did not come to be served, but to serve,   and to give his life   as a ransom   for many. Reflection: We sometimes refer to the Cross in such a casual manner. During this time of Easter, we can reflect and appreciate the magnitude of what Jesus has done for us. We can have hope in God and his promises. For he who promised is faithful. The work on the Cross was complete and Jesus was miraculously resurrected. Jesus in his humanity must have struggled with his emotions knowing that his last days before this divine act would be difficult ones. But in the Spirit, he yielded to the call on his life and the will of the Father. With this divine act he displayed the ultimate measure of love by dying on the Cross for all of us. He held nothing back and he poured out his life as a sacrifice for others. Let us not forget the sacrifice and suffering he endured for all of us. His blood paid the pric...
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MAUNDY THURSDAY

Reading: Mark 14:22-26 Focus: Mark 14:26 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Reflection: What a beautiful finish to this story! At the close of Jesus leading his disciples in the Last Supper, he sings a hymn with them. How precious is our worship together to our Lord? We must never lose the wonder of what it means to have multiple families of Christ followers gather together, lift up the name of God in song, and demonstrate our unity through serving our King in worship. This is a piece of the story that does not usually get read out loud when we take Communion together, but it shows such an intimacy and friendship among them that it is profound in its simplicity. Prayer: Lord, may we be one, as you and the Father are one. May we hold fast to the privilege of corporate worship and grow closer together as we draw near to you. May our praises be like incense as they rise from our sanctuary, and may every household of faith be strengthened in unity every tim...
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SPY WEDNESDAY

Reading: Mark 14:1-11 Passage: Mark 14:10-11 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.  And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money. So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him. Reflection: Here we read of the “Spy” among the disciples, but Jesus has been warning those who will listen throughout his time in Jerusalem, and for three years he has been calling out the hearts of those who heard him speak: this is the action of the hardened heart who had eyes but did not see, the tenant who turned on the heir, and the goat who did not care for the least among us (25:42-43). Is it a waste to spend our lives poured out at the feet of Jesus? Prayer: Lord, help us to guard our hearts. Let our grace, compassion, mercy, hope, faith, and love be strengthened against the insidious accusations of the enemy. Prepare us in our times of prayer and silence to discer...
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HOLY TUESDAY

Reading: Mark 11:27-33 Focus: Mark 11:29-30 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; then answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was John’s baptism from heaven or of human origin? Answer me.” Reflection: The King of Kings humbled himself to walk among us. The one who holds all authority on heaven and earth engaged with hypocritical, disenfranchised, arrogant, impoverished, immoral, unfaithful, cursed, and even demonized people. Every one he came in contact with was given the opportunity to draw near to the Kingdom of God. Even those who were looking to discredit and kill him were favored with personal interactions with our Lord and Savior.  Who is this Jesus? Prayer: Father in heaven, give us the patience to remain active with the tasks you have given to us. Holy Spirit, allow us the clarity to see the ministry you would have us fulfill and empower us with the fortitude to be faithful with what you have placed in our hands.
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HOLY MONDAY

Reading: Mark 12:41-44 Focus: Mark 14:44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on. Reflection: As we enter Holy week we reflect on the last week of Jesus’ ministry. We remember all the time, energy and words that he poured out on others leading up to Good Friday. On this day He gave the ultimate gift of His life. Everything he could have, He gave us. Because Jesus was divine and His life was worth so much, this sacrifice seems so costly. During His time here on earth His mission was to make people feel their worth, feel worthy of God’s love, through what He was going to do. When the widow gave everything she had, Jesus said “she has put more into the treasury than all the others”. She was not made worthy by the amount she gave, but by her faith that she knew she would be taken care of when she brought everything to Christ. Let us bring our everything to Christ this week. Let us approach the cross in a worthy ma...
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