Devotionals for Holy Week

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 ...

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...

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...

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...