Journey to Easter

journey to EASTER

A prayer journey through personal reflection.

F o r g i v e n e ss | R e c o m m i t m e n t | T h a n k s

Pa lm s

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Pr a i s e

It was Roman custom to wave palms when welcoming royalty into the city. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem He arrived as a king riding on a donkey, which meant He came in peace instead of war. He knew what was going to happen to Him on the cross later that week, but He came anyway because He wanted the people to know how much He loved them.

He showed them He was their King and He wanted to bring His people hope, peace, and love. With palms they praised Him and laid their cloaks and their palms to carpet His path to show their allegiance and love for Him. They shouted, “Hosannah!, (which means “Save us now!”), Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:9b). In their hearts they were saying, “You are our Lord, we believe in You! You are our hope and we want God’s peace”.

When we believe and trust in Jesus and allow Him to be Lord and King in our lives, no matter what happens in our lives we have a hope, we know He loves us, and we have His peace.

Pe r sona l R e f lection Is Jesus King over all things in your life? Do you know His peace?

How do you show Jesus that you love Him today?

Dear Lord Jesus, Prepare my heart each day to welcome You as King. I praise You and bless You! Thank You for being my Heavenly King and my Prince of Peace. Amen.

“I leave you peace; My peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world does. So don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27

Broken Bread Spilled Wine

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Jesus and His disciples were in Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish holiday called Passover. At their Last Supper together He told them about the changes He knew were coming. It was a moment He used to prepare them for how they would need to begin to live in a new way. At that meal He gave them a new celebration to remember the lasting sacrifice He was about to make.

There in the Upper Room they shared a communion that was holy.

Jesus broke the bread, shared it with His friends and told them it was His body broken for them. Then He gave them a cup of wine and told them it was His blood of a new covenant with them. It would be His body broken as a sacrifice once and for all and His blood spilled for the forgiveness of their sins with the promise that this forgiveness is forever.

Holy Communion is one way we as Believers see and taste God’s grace for us. It reminds us of the personal relationship we have with Jesus Christ, resulting in a new way of life, living and loving just as He did.

Pe r sona l R e f lection Daily communion with God is key to living a life pleasing to Him. Do you desire a closer and deeper walk with Him? Commit to the Lord an action or attitude that will help you to commune with Him daily throughout the day.

Dear Lord Jesus, Help me to live and love as You did.

Thank You for Your amazing grace that I can taste and see through daily communion with You. Amen.

“A new commandment I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.� John 13:34,35

Th e Last La m b The night before His arrest, Jesus and His disciples celebrated Passover. Passover is when Jewish people celebrate the night God freed the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 1-15). Hebrew families were told to kill a lamb and wipe its blood on the posts of their door, showing that inside that house was a family who loved God. As the angel of death passed over every house that night God’s punishment was passed over the homes marked with the lamb’s blood.

The Bible calls Jesus the Lamb of God (John 1:29). He is the sacrificial Lamb that takes away, or passes over our sin. Jesus stood in our place and took the punishment for all our sins. He gave Himself to die as an offering to God for our sins. The best news is that Jesus’ sacrifice, the covering of His blood over our sin, lasts forever. It never has to be done over. He was the last Lamb.

Pe r sona l R e f lection The blood of the lamb over the doorposts of a Hebrew home proved that in that household was a family who loved God. Is there evidence in your life and home that shows your love for Jesus? Do you have a family member who needs to know His forgiveness and salvation? Commit to be faithful in prayer for them.

Thank You, Jesus, For being my Passover Lamb. Help me to remember that although Your forgiveness is free for everyone, it came at a great price to You. Amen.

“If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.� 1 John 1:9

Crow n e d

w ith

Thor n s

When Jesus was on trial for His life, the soldiers twisted vines of thorns into a makeshift crown and jammed it on His head (John 19:2). They hung a robe on Him and ridiculed Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!� Again and again they inflicted blows to His head, spit on Him, kicked and struck Him. Mocking Jesus was a way to amuse them. Little did the soldiers know that in reality Jesus is the King, the Creator, and ruler over all things. Yet He allowed Himself to suffer and to be ridiculed. Why? He has a crown of thorns because He is the ruler of a world filled with pain, and as King of this corrupt world, He established His right to rule by experiencing pain Himself.

Jesus accepted and endured the crown of thorns as part of His bitter cup of enduring what humans endure, so that He could open the door for us to escape with Him from this world of pain, suffering, and tears. Jesus suffered whatever they wanted to do with Him so that He could redeem us all from this world of ungodliness, evil and thorns.

Pe r sona l R e f lection Jesus said that His followers should be ready to be treated the same way – ridiculed, threatened, physically harmed, maybe even die for Him. Are you willing and ready to experience your crown of thorns?

Dear Lord Jesus, You suffered for me so that You would understand whatever pain or suffering I might endure in this world of thorns. Give me Your courage and strength when my crown of thorns is unbearable. Amen.

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Th e Cross of Lov e Today is Good Friday, the day we remember Jesus’ crucifixion. It was a day like no other. It was the worst and the greatest day in history. It was the day Jesus Christ became our Saviour. He was tortured and nailed to a cross. His death was excruciating and slow.

The physical pain was worse than any of us can imagine. But the worst pain was being totally alone and separated from God’s love while on the cross. What happened to Jesus and the pain He went through wasn’t good, but it was for our good.

Jesus’ suffering and death accomplished amazing things: • We are forgiven of our sins & become righteous in God’s eyes.

• We are no longer enemies of God and have peace with Him. • We are adopted into His family and become His children.

• We are freed from the power of sin and the fear of death.

• We receive eternal life.

• We have the power of God that transforms our lives.

All this and more was done for us through the suffering and death of Jesus. Why? Because He loves us with an everlasting love and Good Friday showed us just how amazing and passionate His love is for us.

Pe r sona l R e f lection Jesus died and was buried, but He rose from the dead! He proved His love for you when He died for you so you could have a new life, an abundant life, and eternal life.

Choose one of these ways right now in response to Him for all He has done for you.

1. Trust Him as your personal Saviour ~ Pray the Prayer of Forgiveness, sign it, and nail it to the cross.

2. Recommit your life to Him ~ Pray the Prayer of Recommitment, sign it, and nail it to the cross.

3. Thank Him ~ Pray the Prayer of Thanks, sign it, and nail it to the cross.

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