Holy Week spans the Sunday of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the Sunday in which Jesus is raised from the dead. How might I focus simply on the events leading to what we now call “Easter Sunday?” Today, I ask the Lord to grant me a deeper understanding of the gift of mercy and grace found in His Son.
In worship, I wave my hands toward the Lord and sing “Hosannas.”
I praise God for His Just-ness revealed in Jesus as He cleansed the temple in Jerusalem.
Gasping, I think of the Sanhedrin challenging the authority of the One True God.
Mary teaches me how to worship as she anointed Jesus at Bethany.
Meditating on the Passover Meal, I think of how Christ shows me how to do this in remembrance of Him. The Bread and the Wine representing the Body and Blood of Jesus. A Memorial.
Christ is our Intercessor. I think of Him praying for me even now; and yet, I sleep, like the disciples in the garden, when I should keep watch.
I reflect on the feeble and temporal sufferings I have experienced in this life, and then look to the betrayal and arrest of my Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane.
The Via Dolorosa, the Jerusalem street of suffering, that Good Friday, mapped the way that my Lord willingly walked to Golgotha.
Questioned. Condemned. Denied. Tried. Beaten. Mocked. Sentenced to death like a criminal. He answered not.
My Lord carried His own cross. He persevered. He endured. He loved.
“Hosannas” shifted to shouts of “Crucify! Crucify Him!”
The Nails. The Crown of Thorns upon His brow. Lots for His garments. A sword-pierced side. The sins of all mankind placed upon the Sinless One. He breathed His last. He died.
The earth trembled and the veil split.
Buried in the tomb and sealed, prophecy foretold that He was led like a “lamb to the slaughter.”
Weeping may endure for a night…
…But oh, that glorious morn! Resurrection Sunday. He is not here! The price is paid. His righteousness for my sins. My Jesus is alive!
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Oh, I know this verse well. The Lord reminded me through the gentle words of a friend, that I needed to enter that soul rest of ABIDING in the Vine. I said to the Lord, “Please forgive me for not sticking out like a branch….for not just poking out from the Vine.” He ministered to me that I don’t have to DO anything, no striving, just ABIDE. Be a branch. When I am a branch, then and only then, do I STICK OUT.
I am thankful for the Vine-dresser. We all want to stand out from the crowd at times. The Lord reminded me that the only way to STICK OUT is to STICK IN…to just let this branch flow out of the Vine. I released the anxiety of wondering if I am walking correctly, if I am obeying as I ought. I trusted that He will show me just what I need to know when I need to know it. I simply need to keep talking to Him and listening to Him in His Word.
Easter is a time for celebration, a joyful time to focus on the Hope that God gave through the death, burial and 
There are so many ways to honor Jesus during this season. Here are a few of our favorites through the years:
2. Resurrection Eggs for Easter. 
4. Although we do not emphasize the Easter bunny, we do make a rabbit cake. We enjoy being creative and focus on the fun of spring and the new Life we can have in Jesus once we receive Him as Lord and Savior from our sins. For us, the rabbit is a lot like the baby bunnies we see hopping in our yard. We have two regulars that we named “Common Hare” and “Brown Sugar.”
5. I plant new flowers. We enjoy the flowers as a symbol of new life emerging from the death of Good Friday, as with the observation of baby bunnies. This is an activity that I would do in the spring anyway, but we place the emphasis in this simple activity on Christ. Then, as we pass the flowering pots on the front porch all spring and into the summer, we remember new Life in Christ.
Hello! I'm Brooke.
