Wednesday

What would you do if you knew you were about to be betrayed by a friend; That a loved one would violate your relationship? Confront, avoid, retaliate? How about serve? Jesus knows he will be betrayed in that way and his response is to get down on his knees and wash feet. To take a servants job in humility. We, like Peter, would probably have a hard time allowing Jesus to do this. He shares equality with God and he demonstrates love through humility and service. Mark 10:45 says "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many". So what does Jesus ask in return? That we serve. That we follow his example. That we should do for others as he has done for us. In a status obsessed culture that despises humility this can be quite a challege for us. Let's consider today that if the Son of God can walk in service and humility in the face of betrayal, we just might be able to as well.

Scripture reading: John 13

Tuesday

Matthew 25:1-13 is a teaching that Jesus gave the week of his death and resurrection. As the followers of Jesus still don't fully grasp the immediate future that this week will bring Jesus draws attention to a more distant yet ever approaching reality. Jesus will return! At Easter we celebrate the victory that Christ has over sin and death and what that means for us in the present as well as the future. Christ has promised that he will return for his people. Jesus reminds his disciples of this in John 14:1-4 as he comforts them in the present with the promise of a glorious future. The message of the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 25 is that we need to be prepared. We need to be ready. No one can know the mind or timing of God. God alone holds these mysteries. This holy week let's be mindful of the promises of God. Allow his promise of a future in eternity with him to fill you with hope today and everyday. We don't know when he will return but we do know his timing will be perfect. Let's commit to live in readiness and great anticipation!

Monday

Palm Sunday is a reminder for the Christian community that praise can very quickly be replaced by apathy, disappointment and even outright rebellion. What must Monday have been like? There was confusion among the disciples, misguided expectations from the masses and seething hatred from the religious elite. Jesus knew that the crowds would quickly turn on him. He knew that some of his closest friends would betray him. He knew that he would endure great pain at the hands of humanity and he loved anyway. He wept over a misguided city, he conforted troubled disciples and he took time with people in the midst of his own anguish. And he did this because they deserved such grace? Not at all. He did it out of love, sacrifice and humility. Let's reflect today on how the grace of Jesus extends to us in the midst of our confusion, doubt, misguided expectations and on many occassions our betrayal.

Scripture reading: Luke 19:28-44, John 12:37-50