Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 83

Easter Sunday

16 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. 5 Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’” 8 They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. ~ Mark 16:1-8 (NASB)

He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

Thank You, Lord, for Easter, the Resurrection of Jesus, and thereby eternal life for all who believe. He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Amen.

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Holy Saturday

42 When evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate wondered if He was dead by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He was already dead. 45 And ascertaining this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were looking on to see where He was laid. ~ Mark 15:42-47 (NASB)

To the disciples and all who loved Jesus, this day must have been terrible. They knew Jesus had been killed and now was buried. They didn’t understand His promise to rise again on the third day. They had lost all hope; they thought the end had come. But we know the rest of the story–we know tomorrow is Easter. We know Jesus rose again.

Lord, as I reflect on the sorrow and solemnity of this time Jesus spent in the tomb, give me a sense of awe and overwhelming gratitude that Sunday is coming. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Good Friday

33 When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 35 When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, “Behold, He is calling for Elijah.” 36 Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last. 38 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” 40 There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. 41 When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem. ~ Mark 15:33-41 (NASB)

When Jesus was crucified the wall that separated us from God, symbolized by the veil in the temple that separated the Holy of Holies, was torn in half. Now we have direct access to the throne of God. No longer do we need a mediator—we can pray directly to God in Jesus’ name.

Lord God, let me live in a manner worthy of the marvelous truth that we can have a personal relationship with You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Maundy Thursday

21 They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross. 22 Then they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23 They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it. 24 And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take. 25 It was the third hour when they crucified Him. 26 The inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 27 They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left. 28 [And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with transgressors.”] 29 Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. 32 Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him. ~ Mark 15:21-32 (NASB)

How God the Father must have suffered with Christ, seeing His Beloved Son persecuted, mocked, and crucified. How Jesus must have suffered as He was tortured, humiliated, and murdered. Both of them felt the separation—They Who are One, Who had never been separated—as Jesus became sin to pay for our sins. Without His sacrifice, God’s holiness and justice would have required that we burn forever in Hell. Yet for my sake—and the sake of the whole world—God the Father and God the Son both endured this punishment and sacrifice so that we and all believers can spend eternity in Heaven with Them.

Thank You, God the Father. Thank You, Jesus the Son. God, the Holy Spirit, help me to live the life I was created for. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Wednesday in Holy Week

16 The soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they called together the whole Roman cohort. 17 They dressed Him up in purple, and after twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; 18 and they began to acclaim Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 They kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him. 20 After they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him. ~ Mark 15:16-20 (NASB)

How Jesus must have suffered during his humiliation and his scourging. Yet He uttered not a word, and later He prayed for those who persecuted Him. He showed an example of perfect forgiveness. He forgave horrible atrocities, yet we often find it difficult to forgive relatively minor offenses that others have committed against us.

Lord, even though the things I have to forgive are much less serious than what You and Jesus did, empower me by the Holy Ghost to forgive when I need to. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

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Tuesday in Holy Week

1 Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. 2 Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him, “It is as you say.” 3 The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly. 4 Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!” 5 But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed. 6 Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested. 7 The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8 The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them. 9 Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. 12 Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” 13 They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” 14 But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” 15 Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified. ~ Mark 15:1-15 (NASB)

The people didn’t know what they were saying when they called for the release of Barabbas and the Crucifixion of Jesus. Never did and never will a greater injustice occur in the history of mankind. Yet Jesus didn’t defend Himself. He was willing to accept the Father’s plan for Him to be crucified and raised again from the dead. We will never be asked to carry the weight of the sins of the world on our shoulders, but we will be placed in situations where we can stand for Jesus—or not. May we accept God’s plan for us.

Lord God, help me always to stand up for my faith and for You—Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Don’t let me be swayed by the crowd—those calling loudly against Jesus or those, like Pilate, who went against his own beliefs to satisfy the mob. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Monday in Holy Week

66 As Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” And he went out onto the porch. 69 The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, “This is one of them!” 70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too.” 71 But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about!” 72 Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he began to weep. ` Mark 14:66-72 (NASB)

Peter’s denial of Christ shows how weak we are without the help of the Holy Spirit. Peter recognized Jesus as the Messiah; he loved Jesus and was sure he would be strong in the time of trial. Yet he denied Jesus not once, but three times in a short time period. When he realized what he had done, he wept.

Heavenly Father, it’s easy for me to condemn Peter, but I deny Jesus, too—not verbally when I’m asked if I’m His follower, but in my actions when I don’t do His will or show His love. Forgive me, Father; open my eyes to recognize and acknowledge my denials, and let me weep in remorse. Give me the help of the Holy Spirit to do Your will and show Your love. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, world without end. Amen.

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tamburix &

tamburix

Palm Sunday

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ~ Philippians 2:5-11 (NASB)

Jesus was God. He existed before time and will exist beyond time. He created the world and in Him everything is held together. He is the all-powerful, almighty, omnipotent, omniscient Lord of the Universe. Yet for our sins, He became fully man, emptying Himself of His glory and majesty and power and becoming like us. He went through excruciating punishment and death for us. Yet the day will come when He is exalted in His rightful place, and every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.

Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus was obedient, even unto death. Guide me by the Holy Spirit to be obedient in whatever You would have me to do. Jesus is Lord, and one day every knee will bow to Him and every tongue will confess His Lordship. In His name. Amen.

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Saturday after Lent 5

53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. 57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree. 60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 63 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him. ~ Mark 14:53-65 (NASB)

The priests, elders, and teachers condemned Jesus to die claiming to be righteous, protecting God and His people from blasphemy. However, more likely, they were protecting their own positions of power and prominence. We weren’t among those with the power who condemned Jesus to die, yet our sins made His death necessary. Because of our sins, He hung on the cross, becoming sin Himself, separated from the love of the Father. He suffered and died for our sins and the sins of the whole world. What amazing love!

Thank You, Lord, for my salvation bought by the Blood of Jesus. Help me to live in such a way that Jesus suffers no more because of me. In His name. Amen.

Friday after Lent 5

43 Immediately while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who were from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now he who was betraying Him had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him and lead Him away under guard.” 45 After coming, Judas immediately went to Him, saying, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 46 They laid hands on Him and seized Him. 47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me, as you would against a robber? 49 Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me; but this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures.” 50 And they all left Him and fled. 51 A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him. 52 But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked. ~ Mark 14:43-52 (NASB)

How ironic that Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss—a symbol of love. It’s hard to accept when someone we care for betrays us in some way. Yet none of us has ever had as terrible betrayal as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Although He knew that Judas would betray Jesus, God used him for His good purposes to put Jesus to death in our place, for our sins, on our behalf.

Forgive me, Lord, for those times I betray You by my actions. Thank You for all that Jesus did for me. Guide me by the Holy Spirit to live a life of faithfulness and love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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