Today is Maundy Thursday, a day historically to remember the night when Jesus gathered in an upper room with his disciples, washed his disciples’ feet, shared the bread and the wine, and then went out to the garden to make a final surrender in prayer. This is the night when Jesus was betrayed, denied, and taken by the authorities to a mock trial that rushes the whole generation towards judgment.
This was supposed to be a holy week for all of Israel. Daniel had prophesied as to the time when Messiah would come. This was the time of God’s visitation. The loud hosannas had been shouted on the street at the beginning of the week as the people “made a highway for their King”. But, now it seemed that evil and wickedness had stepped in to steal, kill, and destroy the hope that many held in their hearts.
What continued to make this a holy week was the willingness for the Messiah to suffer for us. What made this a holy week was Jesus. As John the Baptist had proclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” So, it was that “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.” (Isaiah 53: 7 – 8)
Yes, this is a holy week for God says, through the prophet Isaiah, that the Lord will suffer all these things to make a people who are holy unto Him. Is this a holy week for you? As my friend Dr. Jim Lavender asks, “Is the life you’re living worth Jesus dying for?”
We give thanks together for the Lord’s sacrifice for us beginning this evening at 7:00 PM through a focused time of prayer, devotion, and Holy Communion. Tomorrow night, we will worship in our Good Friday service at 7:00 PM and Sunday our schedule is:
Sunrise Service 6:30 AM
Breakfast, following the service
Early Service 8:45 AM
Sunday School 9:45 AM
Traditional Worship 11:00 AM
Join us Sunday, March 20th to see the movie, RISEN. We will meet and leave from the church parking lot at 1:45 PM and head to Southpark Mall for the 2:25 PM showing. Matinee prices apply.
Sunday, March 6, 2016 is designated as the One Great Hour of Sharing Sunday. This is when we receive an offering to cover the administrative costs of the United Methodist Committee on Relief. We are asked to give generously as this offering provides the means for 100% of subsequent gifts to go towards disaster relief such as assisting those affected by the recent tornadoes in Virginia.
