Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 26

Devotion for Good Friday

Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”
From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.
So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,
“They divided my garments among them,
    and for my clothing they cast lots.”
So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” ~ John 19:1-37

This story is so well-known to most of us that we don’t really feel the full horror of the Crucifixion because we know the end of the story. We are pained that Jesus suffered so much for us, yet our grief is tempered by the knowledge that He triumphs over death and rises on the third day. But imagine what it was like for the followers of Jesus on that day. They had believed He was coming to save the world, but instead they were watching Him die a cruel and humiliating death. He was beaten until He was near death, mocked by soldiers and onlookers, and executed as a criminal in the most painful way imaginable. His disciples saw the death of their dream along with the death of the One they loved so much. Unlike us, they didn’t know the rest of the story.

Thank You, Lord, that the cross was not the end of the story. It was an integral part of the story, a necessary ingredient in God’s plan of salvation—but it wasn’t the end. It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming! In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Devotion for Maundy Thursday

And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” And the chief priests accused him of many things. And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.
Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” ~ Mark 15:1-14

We can look back at those people calling for the death of Jesus and wonder how they could call for His crucifixion just a few days after He entered the city to shouts of Hosanna. Yet how often do we pierce Him with our sins and hurt Him with our neglect, even after praising and worshipping Him?

Lord God, forgive me for the times I put anything ahead of You in my life. Guide me by the Holy Spirit to put You first in everything I think, say, and do. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Devotion for Holy Wednesday

And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.
Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him.”
But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will. ~ Luke 23:11-25

The people demanding Jesus’ death couldn’t give any
reason that He deserved to die, nor could they justify releasing Barabbas. But
once the crowd had been worked into a frenzy, truth didn’t matter. The
religious leaders led the attacks on Jesus, and the crowd followed along. They
all thought they were choosing to end the life of Jesus. Little did they know
that they were fulfilling God’s plan all along—that Jesus was the One who chose
to lay down His life.

Lord God, You are sovereign and omnipotent, but above all You are love. You use Your almighty power to save Your people when every one of us deserves death. Instead of giving us what we deserve, You show us mercy and give us grace. I love You and want to live only for You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Devotion for Holy Tuesday

Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.
When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.                        ~ Luke 22:63-71

The religious leaders had centuries of prophecy about the coming Messiah, but they didn’t recognize Him when He appeared. He knew they wouldn’t believe Him because they didn’t want to lose any of their power. They accused Him of blasphemy to protect their own positions.

Lord God, let me always believe Jesus and Your Word over man-made rituals and power structures. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—no one comes to You except by Him. In His name. Amen.

Devotion for Holy Monday

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. ~ Luke 22:39-62

Peter,
one of the inner circle of the disciples, chosen and beloved by Jesus, betrayed
Jesus. And this happened not long after Peter promised that he would follow
Jesus to death. But as soon as Peter realized what he had done, he “wept
bitterly.” He repented immediately, just as we are to do when we sin, and Jesus
restored him. Jesus loves us and will forgive us when we confess our sins and
change our ways.

Lord, I sin so often I would think You would get tired of forgiving me. Yet Your mercies are new every morning, and You forgive me over and over and over again. By the power of the Holy Spirit within me, keep me in Your way. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Devotion for Palm Sunday

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
“Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
    humble, and mounted on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”
And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read,
“‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies
    you have prepared praise’?” ~ Matthew 21:1-16

In this passage, we see God’s preparation for His plan of salvation: the donkey and colt were tied up and waiting for Jesus, and His prophets had told of this centuries before. We see the people recognizing Jesus as the Son of David, even though He entered the city in great humility. We see Jesus angry and throwing out those who made money from worshippers in the temple, and we see Him healing the sick. It’s amazing how much these few short verses tell us about Jesus and about God’s plan.

Father God, thank You that You planned for our salvation from the beginning of time. Though we are completely undeserving, You made a way for us to have a relationship with You and to spend eternity with You and Jesus and the Holy Spirit. What an amazing blessing! Help me to love You, worship and adore You, and thank You. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Devotion for Saturday after Lent 5

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
    Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
    righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey. ~ Zechariah 9:9

Our King, the Messiah, the Christ entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on a donkey, the lowliest of mounts. His humble demeanor and simple mode of transportation couldn’t hide his majesty and power and might. The crowds greeted him with praise and worship.

Lord God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords humbled himself. Help me to be humble, for pride goes before a fall. I want to humbly serve others and worship You. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Devotion for Friday after Lent 5

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. ~ John 12:1-7

It’s hard to imagine someone using a pound of expensive ointment on a person’s feet. Even more unimaginable is the woman who applied the ointment then using her hair to wipe the person’s feet. How extravagant! How passionate! But that’s the point. Jesus is worthy of the best of everything, including our adoration.

Lord, I want to be like Mary—personally giving the best I have to Jesus. I don’t want to give something “good;” I want to give the best. I want to give my life. I don’t want to give it ritually and formally. I want to give it with my whole heart, body, and soul. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Devotion for Thursday after Lent 5

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. ~ Romans 8:18-25

We all have many blessings as children of God, but we all have our share of sufferings, also. None of us gets through life without pain, whether it comes from illness/disability, financial problems, relationship issues, or something else. But Scripture tells us that at the end of the world, we will see glory so magnificent that our earthly sufferings will be insignificant in comparison. As a dear friend and Bible study leader says, “I’ve read the end of the book (Revelation), and we win!”

Lord God, I live in hope of the glory that will be revealed when Jesus comes again. Maranatha, Lord Jesus!

Devotion for Wednesday after Lent 5

What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. ~ Romans 7:7-14

“You can’t legislate morality.” People say this to justify not having laws against things that are immoral because they want to live an immoral lifestyle without legal consequences. Paul tells us that God’s law produces sin because without the law, we don’t know what we ought to do. Instead of doing away with the law, though, let’s avoid sin.

Almighty God, I can’t say that I don’t know right from wrong because Your Word makes that very clear. Lead me in the paths of righteousness and away from sin. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.