Why was “Good Friday” good?

Matthew 27:11-56

Mark 15:1-41

Jesus dying on the cross for us sinners is why today is a “Good Friday.” It is the day our sins were washed away for good. No more animal sacrifice for a temporary cleansing. John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that who ever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

We were made clean by His sacrifice.

Isaiah 53:5, “But He was wounded for our transgressions

I Below is a time line of events on this day. Take time to reflect on what Jesus went through for you!

• 4 to 6 AM. Jesus Taken to Annas and Caiaphas. …

• 6 to 8 AM. Jesus’s Trial Before Pontius Pilate. …

• 9 AM. Jesus Is Crucified. …

• 9 AM to 12 PM. Soldiers Cast Lots for Jesus’s Clothes. …

• 12 to 3 PM. The Earth Responds. …

• 3 PM. Jesus Dies. …

• 3 to 6 PM. Soldiers Pierce Jesus’s Side.

Prayer

On Good Friday, blessed Jesus, we lament the sin and evil that made this horror necessary. But we are also grateful for your sacrifice. Help us prepare for resurrected living. In your holy name, Amen.

Devo written by Elder Jym Winberg)

Maundy Thursday Devotional 2023

Bible Readings:

Matthew 26:17-19; John 13:1-5; Mark 14:17-21; Matthew 26:36-39; Luke 22:47,48

As I sit in western Philadelphia thinking about Maundy Thursday. On Maundy Thursday, the Bible shares four important events that happened, which Jesus intends for us to read, learn and pursue.  If Maundy Thursday is just another religious activity to join in or should it be more?The Bible does not prohibit us from recognizing this day at Connections Community Church, but sometimes, with all these religious celebrations we forget the personal, in our heart, participation.  On this day, so many years ago,Jesus gave his disciples the command to love one another and today, in 2023, Jesus gives us the command to love one another too.  

Contemplation: Maundy Thursday is more than something we religiously recognize and celebrate every year. It is a personal, sincere, in our heart daily commitment from Jesus.

(Devo written by Elder Mark Bennett)

Holy Wednesday

A Silent but Busy Day

Jesus prepares for the last Supper in silence (Isaiah 53:7)

Judas and the Sanhedrin prepare for Jesus’ arrest (Matthew 26:1-5

Judas betrays Jesus for Thirty Pieces of Silver (Matthew 26:14-16

A Prayer for Holy Wednesday

You, Lord, are always faithful. We stumble, we become lost, But you are steady and sure.

Give us the grace to endure our troubles, And reveal to us the glory of your kingdom, Through your son,

Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen

We can use this prayer every day, not only to thank the Lord but to remind ourselves that through the Lord we can stay steadfast in his name.

Tuesday of Holy Week, two days prior to Jesus’ betrayal on Thursday, He gives us the lesson

of the fig tree and our faith. His authority was questioned by the Pharisees and Sadducees and Jesus predicts His death. This Tuesday April 4, 2023, will not be unlike any other Tuesday prior to Easter. We will go about our daily activities with thoughts of the upcoming celebration and festivities. We should however remember the direct and intentional act of His love for us all through His death and resurrection. Without the cross we would have Mistrust, now we have Faith; without the cross we would have Doubt, now we Believe; and without the cross we would have Despair, now we have Hope.

(Devo by Elder, Kenny Banks)

The Triumphal Entry!  (Palm Sunday)

Read Luke 19:41-42

Palm Sunday, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, is in all four of the gospels. Only Luke mentions Jesus crying as He approached Jerusalem and perhaps you’ve missed this before. The Triumphal Entry was the only time that Jesus allowed Himself to be worshiped while He was in human form as the crowds greeted Him with waving palm branches and shouts of Hosanna! He was presenting Himself as rightful King and Messiah and He was purposefully fulfilling the prophecy that is found in Zechariah 9:9 of the Old Testament. But perhaps instead of smiling or even laughing for joy, Jesus was crying. Why do you think that was so? And how can this moment of tears be applied to your life?

Prayer: Lord, thank You so much that even in Your greatest triumphant time on earth you were still thinking of Your people. Your love is beyond my understanding.

(Devo written by Pastor Tim)

youtube.com/shorts/W3WnVjZK2RY

Do you or have you ever seen yourself as a carrier of His Kingdom? This is a weighty responsibility. Do you find yourself not thinking about it because it’s too much responsibility?

We are called to be His vessels. I love that because a vessel is not responsible for making itself or filling itself. It’s soul responsibility is to be available for use. Vessels do not even have a say in what it is filled with. It can be soup one cold winter day and then iced tea on a hot summer day.

So as a believer, it is not our responsibility to fill ourselves but to be available for the King to fill us. We also don’t have a say in how we are used, this is tough for us sometimes. I know it is tough for me.

So how can we be available? We spend time with the King through prayer, fasting and bible reading. Books by Christians are a nice side dish but should never be the main course. God’s word should always be the main course.

As God fills us then He can use us to advance His Kingdom. We need to be vessels that are over flowing.

Chris Tiegreen puts it perfectly, “ You are called to be a fount of life, love, faith, joy, peace, wisdom, and comfort for the people you know.” This is from his daily Devotional, Praying In Faith Devotional, I highly recommend it.

So, as you read and pray and it seems like Gods not there, remember this verse, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “LUKE 11:9-10

Once we are filled then we will be carriers of His Kingdom.

So the last couple of weeks have been hard on me, both physically and spiritually.

I was supposed to go to Europe for a walk with my sister. However, I had my knee and other medical issues that kept me from the trip. The first week that I was supposed to be there was hard, my heart hurt every time I thought about it. I asked God many times why this happened.

I do not have the answer but like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, I had to say, even if I can’t go God is still God.

Trusting in God’s omniscience , all knowing, is the only thing I can do.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Hebrew names Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah) are figures from the biblical Book of Daniel, primarily chapter 3. In the narrative, the three Hebrew men are thrown into a fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar II, King of Babylon for refusing to bow to the king’s image. The three are preserved from harm and the king sees four men walking in the flames, “the fourth … like a son of God”.[1] They are first mentioned in Daniel 1, where alongside Daniel they are brought to Babylon to study Chaldean language and literature with a view to them serving at the King’s court, and their Hebrew names are replaced with Chaldean or Babylonian names.[2]

If you are having a tough time and asking God why! I encourage you to remember God wants the best for us. Paul talks about that in Romans 8:28 .

27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28 ¶ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

www.spreaker.com/episode/45563225