Snellville United Methodist Church Lent

Devotional2021 Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return. Table of Contents

Wednesday, February 17 1 Ash Wednesday - by Rev. Alex Smith l Joel 2: 1-2, 12-17 Sunday, February 21 2 “Water to Wilderness” - by Becky Johnson l Mark 1: 19-15 and Psalm 25: 1-10 Sunday, February 28 3 “Truth Revealed” - by Sam Furtick l Mark 8: 31-38 and Psalm 22: 23-31

Sunday, March 7 4 “Scattered Coins” - by Loutricia Barnes l John 2: 13-22 and Psalm 19 Sunday, March 14 5 “The Light Came” - by Gene Smith l John 3: 16-21 and John 8: 12 Sunday, March 21 6 “Fruitful Followers” - by Ginger McPheeters l John 12: 20-33 Sunday, March 28 7 Palm Sunday - by Lyn Powell l Mark 11:9

Monday, March 29 8 Holy Monday - by Blake Shuler l John 12: 1-11 Tuesday, March 30 9 Holy Tuesday - by Curtis and Faye Jones l John 12: 20-36

Wednesday, March 31 10 Holy Wednesday - by Adam Witter l John 13: 21-32 Thursday, April 1 11 Holy Thursday - by Rebekah Shuler l John 13: 1-7, 31b-35 Friday, April 2 12 Good Friday - by Rev. Tracy Rollins Sever l John 18: 1-19:42 Saturday, April 3 13 Holy Saturday - by Rev. Luis DeSousa l Joel 19: 30-42 Sunday, April 4 14 Easter Sunday - by Dr. Jim Cantrell Introduction

Lent means “lengthening of days” and comes from the Latin word “springtime”. Lent consists of 40 days, excluding Sundays because every Sunday is like a mini Easter. The 40 weekdays of Lent represent the period Jesus spent in the wilderness during His temptation.

According to Matthew and Luke, Jesus fasted 40 days.

Lent is a season of preparation for the celebration of Easter! Christians around the world look inward to see where we have missed the mark of how God intends for us to live. It is also a time where we look outward to serve others in the name of Jesus.

During Lent, Christians turn to God through a focus on simple living, prayer, and fasting. We especially seek to be more faithful in our daily living during this period.

For this Lenten Season, let’s make this devotional a part of our daily life. Each reflection in this booklet is written by one of our church friends and staff. Please take time to focus and reflect on the scripture, witness, and prayers as we grow deeper in love with God though Jesus our Savior.

May God bless our devotional time and encourage each of us to be a faithful witness as we join in devotional practice.

- Rev. Tracy Rollins Sever

February 17 Ash Wednesday

READ JOEL 2: 1-2, 12-17

While most prophetic books deal with political events, the book of Joel describes an environmental disaster. A locust plague has destroyed the crops, and Joel is calling to the Israelites to reflect and repent in the hopes that good will restore their fortunes. At the same time, he prophesies a time in the future of great spiritual awakening that Peter believes is fulfilled at Pentecost in Acts 2.

We’re studying this passage for Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, a season of sober reflection, repentance, and giving things up to remind us to depend on God. With that view in mind, let’s see how Joel’s call to the Israelites can call us to greater discipleship.

Recognize What’s Going On The first step in repentance and renewal is to recognize what has happened and what is happening. The Israelites historically have had terrible things happen to them as a people - the periodic loss of the presence of God, one invading army after another, slavery, corrupt religious and governmental leadership, civil war, and now a devastating locust plague. At the same time, they have caused a lot of their own pain through violence, lack of justice, greed, and neglecting their call as God’s people.

Each One of Us Wounded We are wounded by things in our past. We are wounded by things done by and to our ancestors. We are wounded by what has happened to our neighbors and their ancestors. Each one of us is shaped by the individual and collective brokenness around us. We are not clean slates. There’s a lot of things written on us long before we start making our own choices, and once we start making choices, we find out we’re just as capable of perpetuating brokenness and evil in our personal lives, and in society at large.

1 Ash Wednesday calls us to stop these cycles, stop ignoring our pain and guilt, stop distracting ourselves from our wounds and ability to wound. Ash Wednesday calls us to face ourselves as we truly are and repent, as individuals, and as a people. This is a dangerous calling because it can lead to lasting guilt, despair, and hopelessness, but we must do it because we have a God that can restore us.

Recognize Who God Is Joel tells the Israelites why they should repent by drawing on Exodus 34, where God tells Moses exactly who God is. It’s one of the most important passages in the Bible because it tells us in God’s own words what we should expect from God. God is merciful, compassionate, loving, forgiving, but also just. There are consequences for our sin. We see the consequences in our lives and in the lives of others. We even see the consequences on victims and bystanders. There is no free pass for evil. But our God is also merciful and strong. If we return to God, God has the capacity to heal, restore, and forgive. Joel’s not sure if God will relent, but Jesus teaches us a depth of God’s mercy and compassion that Joel can only dream of (literally). Let us return to the Lord, with fasting, repentance, and awareness. Then let us rest in the hope that we are broken people in the hands of a healer.

Recognize What the Story Is One of the arguments Joel uses for why God should relent is because the people around the Israelites will believe false things about God. In short, he will lose glory. The language feels weird, like he is trying to appeal to God’s vanity. But vanity is seeking glory that doesn’t belong to you, but God knows (and we should, too) that glory properly applied to God heals the world.

An enormous part of Ash Wednesday and Lent is not just recognizing our brokenness, but also recognizing we are not the center of the story, that we are mere mortals in the grand story that began long before us, and will continue long after us. What God does for us should bring glory to God, and bring more people to His healing love. God is God, and we shall return to dust. Because God is God, we will find healing, forgiveness, and peace forevermore.

PRAYER Gracious Lord, today we begin the Season of Lent. Let us be mindful of these 40 days as we spend time in reflection. Help us to have a heart of repentance and give us wisdom to give up things in our life, so we can be more aware of Your presence. Amen. February 21 Water to Wilderness

READ MARK 1: 19-15 & PSALM 25: 1-10

The moment was exceptional. Jesus had come to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. When He came up out of the water, He saw heaven open and the Holy Spirit descend on Him like a dove. God the Father spoke audible words of love and encouragement: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” The Trinity marked Jesus’ anointing for ministry with extraordinary affirmation.

And then, at once, “the Spirit sent him out into the desert forty days being tempted by Satan.” There was no celebration meal with friends, no congratulatory accolades, just the desert, a vast and lonely wilderness. One might wonder why the Spirit thrust Jesus into such harshness, especially at the very cusp of His ministry. It may even seem cruel and heartless, but we must remember the character of our God. He always has one’s best interest in mind. He always acts out of love and compassion. He never abandons us. And He certainly did not abandon His Son in the wilderness.

God used this time with His Son to sharpen His listening, strengthen His faith and to intensify the intimacy of their relationship. Jesus was about to embark upon a difficult and trying ministry. The Father wanted this time with Jesus to prepare Him for the intense trials ahead. Psalm 25:9-10 states, “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.” In this case, His way included the temptation by Satan in Jesus’ forty-day wilderness experience.

As we begin this Lenten Season, can we follow the example of our Lord? Can we use this time to allow God to sharpen our listening skills and strengthen our faith? Will we allow Him to use whatever way He chooses, to draw us closer to Him?

PRAYER Dear Lord, may we reflect upon Your holiness and loving character. Help us to humbly submit to Your ways as You teach and guide us each day to be more like You. Amen. 2 “In You, Lord my God, I put my trust.” - Psalm 25:1 February 28 Truth Revealed

READ MARK 8: 31-38 & PSALM 22: 23-31

When I was a young boy, I listened to the Lone Ranger on the radio. No TV then. At the end of each program someone would say, “Who was that masked man?” and someone would reply, “I don’t know, but he left a silver bullet.” My guess is many people in Jesus’ time wondered who this man was who could heal the blind and the lame, raise the dead, and walk on water. For most of Jesus’ ministry, He downplayed His exploits and urged those around Him not to talk about His miraculous feats. He often said His time had not yet come.

Jesus warns us about the danger of seeking wealth and material things because in the process, we may forfeit our soul. The soul is priceless; life here is momentary compared to eternity.

Mark says that this announcement came six days before the transfiguration. Jesus seemed to know His time was now approaching. He spoke plainly that He was going to be killed, but would rise in three days. He reminds us that if we want to be one of His followers, we must die to our selfish desires. Then He said He would return in all the glory of God, and with the angels. Who could He be but the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Anointed One of God?

The truth is revealed.

PRAYER Father, help us handle the truth. The truth about us is sometimes not pretty. Your truth is a splendid and brilliant light. Help us to have courage to speak Your name and to be Your ambassador wherever we are. Amen.

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March 7 Scattered Coins

READ JOHN 2: 13-22 & PSALM 19

Close your eyes for a minute and try to picture Jesus purposely making the whip of cords, and using it to run all the money changers, sheep, and oxen out of the temple. Then turning the money changers’ tables over, and coins going everywhere in the house of worship, using the whip like Indiana Jones. The gentle Son of God, the One that was to bring peace on earth.

Can you imagine being a disciple watching Jesus do this or the Jewish people that He had been teaching? Were they thinking Jesus had lost it? ...He scattered the coins

Jesus came for our salvation and to teach us His Father’s ways, yet He was a rebel in of the money changers those times. He rebelled against injustice and false teachings, religious leaders taking and overturned advantage of the people, and living a life of luxury and superiority. Jesus did not follow their “rules”. their tables.

Have you ever been angry about the injustice of today or seeing people taken advantage of by evangelists using Christianity to their advantage for their gain? Has anything changed since Biblical times? This may require us to be a rebel for Christ. Lashing out at the injustices of the world, standing up for our Christian beliefs, even if it is not popular.

In Matthew 10:34 it says, “Do not think I (Jesus) have come to bring peace on the earth, but a sword.” It speaks of families turning against each other. (Please continue reading through the rest of this chapter.)

Perhaps you heard about or experienced rejection when you became a Christian from family members or friends. They may have turned against you because you changed for the good. You now see things through the eyes of Jesus.

4 As we journey through the Lenten Season, use this time to reflect or perhaps deny yourself something you like, or being committed to add something positive to your daily routine.

Now take this time to stop for a few quiet minutes and reflect on where you are in your Christian walk. Are you content or are you wanting to grow in your relationship with Jesus to be a witness of His love and teachings?

PRAYER Father, we praise You and thank You for loving us, and we pray that not only during this Lenten Season, but through our lives, we will seek You in all things. We will be open to Your guidance in our lives knowing it is for our good and Your glory. Amen.

...He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. March 14 The Light Came

READ JOHN 3: 16-21 & JOHN 8: 12

John 3:16 is one of the most popular and most memorized verses in the Bible, and rightly so. In this one verse, Jesus shows us the simplicity of the Gospel - Believe in God’s one and only Son, who was sent to save the world from sin, and receive eternal life. Eternal life for those who believe is the “reward of all rewards,” there is nothing better. This is great for those who believe in Jesus, but what about those who choose not to believe in Him? John 3: 18-21 addresses this question and makes a clear distinction between those who believe and those who choose not to believe. If you believe, you are saved and not condemned, but if you choose not to believe, you stand condemned already. The verdict or condemnation for those who choose not to believe is revealed by the light that is Jesus Christ.

In John 3:19, Jesus refers to Himself as the light that came from heaven into the world, and I believe He came as light with a couple of distinct purposes. One purpose is to dispel the darkness of evil that is so prevalent in our world. Those who are evil hate the light because it exposes their evil acts, and shows them their condemnation is their choice. The second purpose is to remove fear and darkness from the life of the believer. Those who believe in Jesus and live by the truth will walk in His light which, will reveal their love and devotion for Jesus and for each other. To God be the glory!

John 8:12 - “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Hank Williams Sr. wrote and recorded a song in 1947 that has been sung in churches and recorded by several artists over the years. The name of the song, “I Saw the Light”. You may know the words and melody, especially us old-timers, but just in case, here are the words of the first verse and the chorus.

5 If you know it, sing it out loud, and if you don’t,­ look it up online and listen to Hank or one of the many artists who have recorded it. The words proclaim the Light that is JESUS.

I wandered so aimless life filled with sin, I wouldn’t let my dear savior in, Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night, Praise the Lord I saw the Light.

I saw the Light, I saw the Light, No more darkness no more night, Now I’m so happy no sorrow in sight, Praise the Lord I saw the Light

The Light came into the world to dispel the darkness of sin and shine bright on the path of believers in Christ Jesus. That same Light is still making a difference in the lives of people today. Please, let the light of Jesus shine brightly in you today. Someone needs to see the light of Jesus and experience it. Praise the Lord - I saw the Light!

PRAYER Dear God, thank You for the Light that is Jesus Christ, our Savior. Help us to be beacons of His light - in all that we say and do because those living in darkness and fear need a ray of hope found only in Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen. March 21 Fruitful Followers

READ JOHN 12: 20-33

In this scripture passage, crowds of people had come from all over to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. Two Greeks approach Philip asking to see Jesus. He and Andrew were excited to tell Jesus that two more people wanted to meet Him. When they told Jesus, He didn’t seem too impressed with their news. Instead of agreeing to meet with these men, He starts talking about a kernel of wheat. I am guessing this was not what Andrew and Philip expected. Jesus ignores their excitement and proceeds with what on the surface seems to be, a rather strange parable. But, as usual, Jesus is about to teach them an important lesson. The lesson that God has much bigger plans for humanity...much bigger than two men who want to chat. His bigger plan is to bring about many fruitful followers. Jesus says in verse 32, “I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” Philip and Andrew had great hopes for the kingdom and the followers of Christ, they were just not thinking big enough.

I believe sometimes we may think too small. We pray for little things and big things. We ask for things like guidance and wisdom, but do we dare ask for really big things from God? Are we scared of what He might ask us to do to bring about His big plans? We serve a big God. He wants us not just to follow Him, but to be fruitful followers and grow His kingdom.

Jesus died and was resurrected, and that gives us the hope we will have eternal life with our Father in heaven. We need to sow those “kernels of faith and hope” with those we love and with those we share our lives with while here on earth.

Our God works through death and resurrection. Like the grain of wheat dies and then springs to new life and yields a harvest of fruit, our death in Christ leads to our resurrection in Him.

6 It leads to a fruitful life we can only imagine. Like the kernel of wheat, we need to die to ourselves, and live for Christ. We need to share this Good News so this abundant fruit can grow.

PRAYER Dear Father in Heaven, we praise You for the gift of eternal life. We pray that our lives will be fruitful, and we are able to grow Your kingdom while here on earth. We thank You for Your mercy, Your faithfulness and Your love. May we share those gifts with the people we meet every day so they can see Your love through our lives. Amen. March 28 Palm Sunday

READ MARK 11: 9

Wow! What a sight! Jesus and his disciples are approaching the gates of Jerusalem after a long absence. Suddenly they see in the distance hundreds of people lining the road, waving palm branches and shouting, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:9).

Jesus’ heart must have sunk when he realized that all these people thought he was coming to run off the occupying Roman army and to restore an independent Jewish nation, one like David governed almost I000 years earlier. They thought he was coming to do what they wanted him to do, when instead he was coming to show them the way to forgiveness for their sins, and the way to eternal life with him. It was not long before many of these disappointed and infuriated people were screaming, “Crucify him!”

How often, like the people on the road to Jerusalem, do we implore God to do what we want him to do? Shouldn’t we rather be listening to what God is speaking to our hearts?

It would be unfortunate to miss God’s word to us because He can’t get a word in!

PRAYER Creator God, help us to develop better listening habits for Your word. Amen.

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March 29 Holy Monday

READ JOHN 12: 1-11

Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus - the man he had raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor - he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus. (John 12: 1-11)

In the beginning of this historic week, we can only imagine what is going through Jesus’ mind. As he sits and eats with a loved one who was once dead, but brought to life by his power, I can’t help but wonder if he thought of how he must sacrifice this very power, so that He could do what needed to be done to save us all. The weight of the cross is even now increasing as he waits and approaches that day.

Yet, amidst this uncertainty, fear, and influx of emotions, Jesus still takes these moments to teach. As Mary begins to pour this perfume from the bottle, seeing she has not a rag or cloth, she uses her own hair to clean what remains. 8 While Judas criticizes what Mary has done, Jesus defends her because he knows the sacrifice she had made not only financially, but also physically. I believe we need to be more understanding like Jesus. Especially with all the sacrifices that have been made this past year, doesn’t every person deserve not the surface glance and judgmental thought, but a desire to learn what made this person take the actions that they did? Even more so, when we find the answer, not using it against them, but instead offering love, grace, and dignity that Jesus showed not only to Mary, but to Judas alike. So, this Lenten Season, may we give up being surface level and embrace the ever-deepening grace of God.

PRAYER May the God of understanding open our hearts and minds to be open to the hearts and minds of our neighbors. Amen. March 30 Holy Tuesday

READ JOHN 12: 20-36

In reading this scripture and studying some commentaries on the verses, we can see that John 12: 20-36 is about Jesus addressing a crowd on Palm Sunday. He wanted to let them know that He would die soon, and He used the time to explain the meaning of His death.

We love talking about Jesus’ beautiful sinless life, the miracles He performed, the amazingly compassionate person He was, and so much more. But, in Jesus’ own words in this scripture, He conveys that had He not gone to the cross, His life would not have accomplished its purpose. Think about what the cross means to each of us. Without the cross, there would not have been millions of people around the world who have been completely changed by Him.

The scripture verses 24-26 teach us that by dying, Jesus reveals that God is in control, and that the path to a fulfilled life is through selfless love as seen clearly in Jesus who gave His life in service, and love to others. We see this at the cross! We know that selfless, self-giving love is at the heart of God who wants us to live this way, too.

In verses 27-28, we are told that Jesus died to glorify God. When speaking to the people, He says, “...for this very reason l came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Those in attendance heard a voice from heaven that said, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” Powerful moment.

Jesus’ death on the cross opened the way for the salvation of ALL people. In talking with the people, He tells them of the importance of following Him. And then, in verse 32, Jesus says, “And l, when I am lifted up from the earth will draw all people to myself.”

All people will have the opportunity to choose eternal life.

9 This important portion of Holy Week scripture helps us to see the beauty in the cross. Jesus is certainly significant because of what He accomplished in His life, but as great as it was, His life is hugely compelling because of what He accomplished by His death.

Oh, the wonderful cross!

PRAYER O God, during this season of Lent, help us to focus on the meaning of the cross, and how it opened the way for salvation for everyone. Amen. March 31 Holy Wednesday

READ JOHN 13: 21-32

The Bible tells us of a supper that took place the evening before Passover. Here, Jesus gathered with His 12 disciples and shared a meal with them in the upper room. At this meal, Jesus proclaimed that one who was present with them would betray Him. This betrayer would soon hand Him over to the authorities to be killed. Prior to making this statement, Jesus had just humbled Himself as a servant washing the feet of those present. In doing this, He washed the feet of all 12 disciples, including Judas, the one who would betray Him.

What must Jesus have thought as He stooped to wash the feet of the one who would hand him over to authorities that would have him later crucified?Would you, could you, have that kind of sacrificial love for someone, if you knew the person was about to betray you?

We all have a Judas experience in which someone we care about, or deeply love, has betrayed us in some way. Perhaps it was a breach of confidence or trust, or maybe you were betrayed in such a way that your heart was broken. Betrayal can be devastating, yet Jesus taught us a great lesson about this in His final hours with His disciples: Remember you have been forgiven.

Pause and remember that we were also betrayers at one time, yet Jesus still loved us and forgave us. We should remember that we are to love our neighbors, even those who betray us, in the same way that Jesus loved Judas - with a sacrificial love. Because, in Christ, we have already been given all that we need, we are therefore free to give all that we have.

PRAYER Dear Lord, help us to set our mind and thoughts on Jesus. Let us look to You and trust in faith. May we all devote our hearts to You and remember how much You love us, even when we are sinful and betray Your love. Furthermore, give us the capacity to forgive those who betray us and not withhold our love. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. 10

April 1 Holy Thursday

READ JOHN 13: 1-7, 31b-35

Take a moment to close your eyes and imagine. You have been following this man, Jesus, who can do amazing things. Some things you are probably still wondering how or even why He did them. You have experienced His teaching. You have been there when He healed people who were very much considered outcasts. You have seen how important children are to Him. You are intrigued with the way He seems to break every traditional rule.

Now you are sitting in this upper room with the other disciples preparing to enjoy the beginning of the Passover celebration. You think things are going to be normal. You should know by now that nothing is “normal” when you are following Jesus. All of a sudden Jesus stands up and takes off his robes. He grabs a towel as well as a water basin, and He begins to wash the feet of everyone sitting at this table with you. What is He doing? This is not the job of a teacher or a guest of the house. This is the job of a servant. You are brought out of your own thoughts as you hear Peter questioning Jesus’ actions. Jesus explains and continues washing each person’s dusty feet. (John 13:1-17)

I imagine this moment, like most moments in the presence of Jesus, was confusing and captivating. Jesus has just put himself in the place of a servant and now He is telling the disciples to do the same. He is talking to us as well. Years and years after this event Jesus is telling us to take off our robes and get down on our knees to wash the dusty, dirty, maybe smelly feet of those with whom we come in contact.

Today is Holy Thursday. To some it is known as Maundy Thursday. Maundy comes from the Latin word for “command”. This refers to the commandment that Jesus gave: “Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:31-35 NLT).

11 Just as Jesus was not only talking to His disciples when He said to wash one another’s feet, this commandment is for us even today in 2021. This is not just loving people from afar. This is getting into the down and dirty part of loving them. This is looking past the outside of a person, looking past the conflicts in political views, looking past the difference in lifestyle. It is taking our preconceptions and views out of the conversation to ask, “How are you?” and really want to know the answer.

In the last year we have witnessed a lot of pain and struggle in our world. A pandemic will do that, but a pandemic does not make Jesus’ commandment any less important. In fact, it makes it more important than ever. The rock band, Skillet, wrote a song called “One Day Too Late”. The chorus is a good reminder that we cannot put Jesus’ commandment off until we feel like it or only love those like us:

Today, I’m gonna try a little harder Gonna make every minute last longer Gonna learn to forgive and forget ‘Cause we don’t have long, gonna make the most of it Today, I’m gonna love my enemies Reach out to somebody who needs me Make a change, make the world a better place ‘Cause tomorrow could be one day too late

Reflection: How hard is it to love the people who differ from us? Things like social media make it os easy to unfriend or unfollow. Does this mean we are choosing not to love that person?

How can you demonstrate the same love Jesus showed to His disciples to the people you meet today and every day?

PRAYER Dear Lord, help us to be mindful of all people and love each other regardless of their views, mindset and preconceptions. Let us love each other as Jesus loves us. Amen. April 2 Good Friday

READ JOHN 18: 1-19: 42

Today is Good Friday. As a Christian, how can we call this day “good”?

The course of events is beyond our heart’s ability to comprehend. Our human instinct is to quickly move from Thursday to Sunday. Friday is heartbreaking. Why do we have to journey with Christ to the cross?

It would be easier to move ahead to Sunday morning, ignore the cruelty of the day, pretend it didn’t happen, and just celebrate the empty tomb. It might be easier, but it would not be authentic. The journey includes the cross. The journey includes Jesus’ arrest in the Garden. Judas shows the way for the soldiers. Jesus’ identity is being questioned, and yet, He clearly states, “I am”. Jesus knew it was coming, and yet, I imagine His heart was breaking with each moment of betrayal. The journey includes Peter’s denial: not once, not twice, but three times, and if we listen closely, we can hear the song of the rooster’s crow. Can’t we just skip Friday? There was the “trial.” Pilate knew the truth. He found no grounds to charge Him, and yet, He listened to the roar of the crowds. They beat Him; they put a crown made of thorns, pressing into His head, as they mocked Him. How could they hurt Jesus? How could they hurt our Lord? Didn’t they understand and see the Divine in the face of Jesus? They made Him carry His own cross, and He must have heard the shouts of the crowds: Crucify Him!

Jesus’ love brought Him to this moment. He gave His life; no one took it, and yet, the physical, spiritual, and emotional agony must have been unimaginable. Can’t we just skip Friday? No. If we claim the name of Christian, then our journey must include these moments. We must walk with Jesus to the cross. To know our Savior, we must hear, embrace, and understand His story. Good Friday is vital to us waking to the celebration of Easter morning. We can only truly celebrate the resurrection when we take the difficult walk to the cross.

PRAYER Dear God, thank You for Your love, and Your willingness to endure the unimaginable for our salvation. Please allow our journey to be faithful and grateful for the gift of Your Son! Amen.

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April 3 Holy Saturday

READ JOHN 19: 30-42

Joseph of Arimathea was a secret disciple, friend of Jesus, and Nicodemus, who at first went to talk to Jesus at night privately, eventually became his friend. After Jesus’ death, Joseph and Nicodemus planned to bury Jesus. Joseph went to Pilate while Nicodemus privately prepared all the elements, which was the burial custom of the Jews. Both Joseph and Nicodemus were avoiding being associated with the man whose death had been orchestrated by the religious leaders who accused him of “making Him- self the Son of God” (John 19:7). Joseph and Nicodemus were convinced that Jesus truly was the Son of God, however, they thought it would be convenient for them to hide their Christian beliefs, protect their status, and do things privately.

Jesus descended from His throne, He stripped Himself of His glory to take our sins to the cross publicly so He could grant us freedom. As Christians, our lifestyle must reflect our conviction for the Gospel and shine upon those that remain in the darkness and free them from captivity. Sadly, when we put what is convenient for us over our Christian beliefs, it keeps us in bondage and weakens our faith and trust in the power of the Son of God who died to give us good gifts. If we surrender it all to Christ, surely we lay all our inequities, doubts, and weaknesses in the tomb, and Jesus’ resurrection brings light, truth, and strength to our lives.

Indeed, this Holy Saturday represents one more opportunity to surrender all to Christ so everything that keeps us in bondage and weakens our faith can be laid in the tomb, so we can be restored and made whole in Christ.

PRAYER Dear God, thank You for Your love, and Your willingness to endure the unimaginable for our salvation. Please allow our journey to be faithful and grateful for the gift of Your Son! Amen.

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April 4 Easter Sunday

What is resurrection really about? Resurrection is about discovering that Jesus has given us power over the grave and has given us the wonderful gift of everlasting life. I wonder about the possibility of living into Easter differently, perhaps by “taking on” something positive and helpful for others during Easter? For example, can you imagine what it could be like if:

• We decided to begin to check-in with those who are restricted to their homes or other living facilities because of their age or health. In this Covid period, we will need to do that differently than in previous years but still…wouldn’t that be amazing!

• We decided to volunteer twice each month at the Co-Op or to help Pastor Luis DeSousa deliver food to the needy. Imagine what a difference that could make.

• We decided to “adopt” a child in a country where life is difficult and make certain their educational expenses were paid for a year.

And these are just a few of the possibilities! Easter is the most wonderful season of the Christian year, filled with blessings and promises fulfilled. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we decided to show our thanks and devotion to Jesus Christ for the gift of Resurrection by doing things to help others? I think it could be truly amazing!

Even during the pandemic, at Easter we proclaim, “Christ is risen! Alleluia!”

This year, in addition to our proclamation, let’s put our faith into action. Amen? Amen!

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Reflection Notes

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______Snellville United Methodist Church 2428 Main Street East Snellville, GA 30078 770.972.9360 snellvilleumc.org