Resurrection Sunday or Easter

Posted on April 9, 2023April 9, 2023 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

He is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah! Today is Easter. Lent ends. Have you prepared your body, mind, and spirit for worshipping our risen Savior? We have talked about why He came, what He did, what He expects of us, and learned many things this past week, but the most important thing about Holy Week is what happened at the end. Jesus arose from the dead. He conquered sin and death for us.

Churches have all types of Easter services that started on Good Friday night and go through tonight. One of the most popular is the Sunrise Service. Have you ever worshipped at sunrise on Easter watching the sun rise and imaging Jesus Christ rising from the dead? The sky can be breathtaking. It doesn’t matter when or where we worship, just that we do. Easter is a time filled with awe, joy, gratefulness, and gratitude. I think it is an exciting time.

Early that first Easter morning, a group of women who followed Jesus went to the tomb. The Bible says Mary, mother of James, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Salome went and found that the large stone had been rolled away from the entrance. They said an angel proclaimed “Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as He said would happen.” (Mt. 28:5-6, NLT). When the women looked in the tomb it was indeed empty. The shroud covering Christ’s body was neatly folded and placed where his body had been.

Jesus had accomplished what was foretold in prophesy. God’s Son was beaten, falsely accused, crucified, placed in a tomb, and He arose on the third day. He had done what He said He would. He conquered sin and death. Our sin debts have been stamped “paid in full” because of our Savior. He gave everything for our salvation, but what have we given in return? Do I give Him my love and devotion? My service and obedience? Have I submitted my will to His? If not, I will start today.

Take time this Easter to really worship and think about the great sacrifice Jesus made for you. He didn’t just die on the cross for the disciples and people from that era. We are included in the covenant, too. He died for TJ, Cheri, Kyla, Cindy, Den, Vanessa, Jason, and even me. Yes, He died for us, but He also arose. He paid the price so that we may reign in Heaven as heirs of the true King. He died so that we might live. Life after death is real when you choose Jesus as your Savior. Rejoice! He is alive. Worship Him. He will return as promised. Let’s rejoice, worship, and stay ready.

Do you have a favorite Easter Hymn or Praise Chorus? Many hymns and choruses have been written about the sacrifice Jesus willingly made for us. Some people like Christ Arose or He Lives. Others may say I know that My Redeemer Lives, The Old Rugged Cross or Because He Lives. Whatever your favorite might be, sing it to the Savior with gusto today while remembering our debt is paid in full by Him.

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you that He would be turned over to sinful men, be crucified, and rise again on the third day!” – Luke 24:6-7

“Jesus said: I am the resurrection. Anyone who believes in Me, even though that person dies, will live,” – John 11:25
Do you believe? Have you shared the Good News with your family and friends?

Happy Easter! Share a blessing or prayer request in the comments.

My Mammaw’s Easter Lesson Cookie Recipe

Posted on April 8, 2023April 8, 2023 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Easter Sunday is tomorrow. It is the time to turn our hearts and minds to Jesus and His Resurrection. Being raised in a Christian family, Easter was much more than egg hunts and baskets for me. It was about Jesus and the empty tomb.

I remember my maternal grandmother teaching me and my cousin, Mark, the Easter story over a cookie recipe one year. Mammaw was a Sunday School teacher, woman of faith, loved her family and Jesus. She was also a fabulous baker and cook. The cookies were delicious, but the story has stayed with me for decades. Precious memories made in the kitchen are priceless and stick with us.

You might want to do an activity like this for yourself, children, grandchildren, or kids’ group. The message could be as simple as planting a seed that will grow into a bountiful plant. Sometimes a visual makes the Easter story a little more memorable for young children. Years down the road your littles might recall time spent with you and lessons from your kitchen. Seeds you plant in their minds could result in a harvest of their salvation.

Mammaw’s Forgotten Easter Cookies

2 egg whites

1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

2/3 c. sugar

1 c. nuts or chocolate chips

pinch of salt

1 tsp. white vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place pecans in resealable plastic baggie. Crush pecans into small pieces with a rolling pin. Read John 19:1-3

“Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe, And said, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ and they smote Him with their hands.”

Sprinkle salt into egg whites. Read Luke 23:27, 33

“And there followed Him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented Him.”

“When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals—one on His right, the other on His left.”

Put vanilla into a bowl. Read John 19:28-30.

“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, ‘I thirst.’ Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to His mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, ‘It is finished’ and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.”

Right now this mixture doesn’t look like we’d want to eat it. Add sugar slowly. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.” “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Beat with mixer until frothy and add cream of tartar. Then beat on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Add in vanilla close to the end. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with Him.’ Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto parchment paper lined baking sheet. Read Matthew 27:57-60.

“When the night was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and departed.”

Place cookies in the oven, close the door and turn the oven off. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

“Pilate said unto them, ‘Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.’ So they went, and made the tomb sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.”

Go to bed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.”

“And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.”

In the morning open the oven and take out the cookies.

Read Matthew 28:1-9.

“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the tomb. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, ‘Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him: lo, I have told you.’ And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, ‘All hail. And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him.”

When you bite into the cookies notice they are hollow inside, empty, just like Jesus’ tomb. He arose!

Maundy Thursday Activities and a Last Supper Recipe

Posted on April 6, 2023April 6, 2023 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Today is Holy Thursday which is more commonly known as Maundy Thursday. Do you know what Maundy means? Maundy is derived from a Latin word that means commandment. This is the day that Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment – to love others as He has loved them. (John 13:34). They were gathered in the Upper Room having the Last Supper.

Jesus was at the table with His apostles and spoke to them of what was to come. He was preparing them for His suffering. They dined on the usual Passover meal, but Jesus stopped at the the bread and wine. He gave it a special meaning. Jesus said that these would be a symbol of His body and blood to His followers to remind them that through His death, our sins are forgiven.

“And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

Jesus and His disciples often gathered in the “Upper Room”. It was where they normally stayed while in Jerusalem. He began His teaching by example. Jesus said “I give you a commandment to love one another.” (John 13:34) Jesus doesn’t just give a commandment and leave it at that. No, He explains it so we truly understand it by demonstrating it. After they ate He washed the disciples feet. What a humbling experience for them! Even Peter told Him that Peter should be washing His feet, but Jesus said no. In John it says “Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

I cannot fathom what it must have felt like for the apostles. Jesus was telling them of His upcoming death, and that through it we all might have eternal life. He was showing by example that we are to be humble and to love everyone, even our enemies – even those who are our Judas.

Afterwards Jesus and a few of His followers went to the Garden of Gethsemene to pray. It is there that Judas identified Jesus with a kiss and He was taken by the soldiers. Things start to get rowdy, but Jesus quiets His apostles. He will not allow violence. In fact, He heals a soldier whose ear was severed. Jesus is arrested and taken.

Can you imagine how it felt to actually be there? To have Jesus wash your feet, explain communion, and then be betrayed? Try to keep in mind the new commandment He gave us. We are to love others as Jesus loved us. That’s a tall order, but with His help, we will be able to do it.

Haroset, a Maundy Thursday recipe

1/2 cup almonds, chopped finely

1/2 cup apple, chopped

3 tablespoons grape juice or wine

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup dried fruit, chopped finely (date, fig, apricot, cranberries, etc.)

1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped finely

1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted

pinch of ginger

Mix together nuts and fruits. Add spices. Add grape juice.

Serve as a salad, appetizer or eat on crackers or matzah. This Passover recipe is an Easter favorite, too.

Spy Wednesday or Holy Wednesday Activities

Posted on April 5, 2023April 5, 2023 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

The Wednesday of Holy Week is called Holy Wednesday or Spy Wednesday. There is no secretive or symbolic meaning for that name. Judas was the one that betrayed Jesus to the Sanhedrin. He was their spy. Luke 22:3-6 tells us:

“Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray Him unto them in the absence of the multitude.”

Did you realize that Satan entered Judas? Of course, Satan always has his hand in bad and evil things. He uses people and twists words around until evil doesn’t sound bad. Satan enters Judas during his period of bitterness and gives Judas an extra nudge to finally betray the man he’d followed for three years. Satan is the master deceiver and will use whatever he can to cause us to sin.

Did you ever wonder why the Sanhedrin decided on paying Judas thirty pieces of silver? In the Old Testament, Exodus states that the price for a slave that accidentally dies by an ox is thirty pieces of silver. The Sanhedrin were paying the price of a dead slave to Judas for his deception. It was an insult to Jesus that they thought Him worth only what a dead slave was. Obviously Judas thought that, also. Our Redeemer and precious Savior, whose value is beyond measure, was sold out for the price of a dead slave.

There is something else that happened on Holy Wednesday. It is the anointment of Jesus at Bethany. Scriptures tell us that while Jesus was at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came in with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. It was made of pure Spikenard. She anointed Jesus with this expensive oil and dried His feet with her hair.

Matthew 26:6-13:

“While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

We are getting closer to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. Let us take inventory of our lives and free our selves of things that keep us away from Jesus. Let’s follow Him now and always.

Holy Tuesday Activities

Posted on April 4, 2023April 3, 2023 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

On Tuesday Jesus returned to the Temple and the religious leaders were upset at Jesus for establishing Himself as a spiritual authority. Jesus had a large following now. He evaded the traps the leaders set for Him with their questions. He scolded them in Matt. 23 and compared them to tombs – beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people.

Jesus took His disciples to the Mount of Olives and told them parables about end times and His return. Those who wait for the Master’s coming—the wise and faithful servant (Matthew 24:45-51), the five wise virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), and the good servant who uses his resources wisely (Matthew 25:14-30) are a few of the ones He spoke.

Do you remember any of these parables from Sunday School or Vacation Bible School? The point is to have faith and be ready for Jesus. He is coming back just like He promised. When? Well, some people say it is going to be soon because of the way thing are in the world. What we do know is it is not for us to know. We are just advised to be ready at a moment’s notice. Jesus is coming in the blink of an eye.

After they left Jerusalem, Jesus and His disciples stopped on the Mount of Olives. He wanted to teach again about the future and end times. Jesus cautioned against false teachers and the evil that would rise up. Oh, can you imagine hearing Jesus preach?

The Pharisees, Sadducees, and other religious leaders of Jesus’ day constantly sought to entrap him. They refused to acknowledge that Jesus was God’s Son, the Messiah. It is unbelievable how relentless those religious leaders were toward Jesus. Have you really considered how much God loves us? He cared enough to let His Son go through shame, humiliation, testing, betraying, pain, crucifixion, and death all to save our souls. Don’t ever forget the price our Saviour, Jesus, paid for us.

Holy Monday of Holy Week

Posted on April 3, 2023April 3, 2023 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

After Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday did you ever wonder how he spent His final week in ministry? What did He do until His crucifixion? On Monday, He taught His disciples a parable about faith when He cursed a fig tree that did not produce fruit. Do you remember that one?

They had been out walking and were hungry when they saw a fig tree with many leaves. After they looked for the fruit, none could be found. It was barren. Many believe the tree being cursed represents God’s judgment on those that are spiritually dead.

The story of what Jesus also did might be more familiar. Jesus went into the temple, was angered and disgusted by the dishonest money changers. They were cheating people and making a mockery of the temple. He left and made a whip before he came back. Then Jesus went through where the money hangers were with their animals, overturning tables and saying: “Scripture says ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” The money changers and their animals were all driven out restoring order and respect.

What has stayed with me about this story is that Jesus stopped and braided a whip so that He could think about what He was going to do before just charging into the temple. He didn’t fly off the handle but took time to think about the situation. Maybe He prayed. I would imagine He did. I have never made a whip, but wouldn’t you think it took quite a while?

“So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” John 2:15

Could you do this? Wait to tell people they were doing wrong, especially to your father? Jesus had righteous anger. I can’t tell you how many times I have flown off the handle in rage. Acted quickly without thinking things through. Not so with Jesus. His indignation toward what was happening in the temple was just. It needed to be done, but he waited to think clearly and make certain it was done correctly. How many times have I wished that I had done things like that? Many!

Jesus had one week left with his disciples before his crucifixion and resurrection. Everything was done in the right way without rushing. Even in a time of deep anger He still slowed down and gave Himself time to cool off and think with a clear mind. What a beautiful example for all of us. We, too, have the ability of self-control. It is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Let’s learn from Jesus and use this mighty gift.

Happy Palm Sunday, Holy Week Begins

Posted on April 2, 2023April 2, 2023 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Today is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. This celebrates the day Jesus triumphantly entered the city of Jerusalem. It marks one week before Easter. Here in Southern Indiana Palm Sunday can be a beautiful sunny day or it can be cold and snowy. The weather is very unpredictable. What isn’t unpredictable and remains unchanged is the Palm Sunday message. “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!” John 12:12-13.

Scripture tells us that Jesus rode into the city on a young donkey. The streets were lined with people who threw clothes and palms or small branches, in front of him as a sign of homage and respect. This was what people did for kings. They treated Jesus like royalty. Using palm branches symbolized peace and victory. Jesus came in peace, triumphantly. The crowd of people shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

This was foretold in the Old Testament Zechariah 9:9, “Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Historically horses were ridden during times of war, rulers rode donkeys during times of peace as a sign of humility toward the people. Old Testament prophets spoke of the coming Messiah.

Can you imagine what it was like to be in that crowd? Jesus had come to save the lost, to secure their eternal life and salvation. He was the Messiah, long awaited. Hearts must have been beating wildly at the anticipation of seeing Him. Thoughts were surely running all over wondering what to do – stand, bow, wave, kneel. Did tears fill many eyes? My eyes get glassy thinking about it.

How amazing it must have been to see Jesus, God’s Son. He was the one that raised the dead back to life and healed the sick. He was the teacher that many spoke of so highly. Jesus changed lives. He taught love. He was love.

What would we have done in that crowd? Maybe try to touch his robe or hand? Would we be brave enough to make eye contact with Him? Perhaps His presence would mesmerize us. How blessed those people were to be in that crowd. Did they know that He was the Lamb of God?

This week we will take a walk through what happened on the very first Holy Week. Today, rejoice. Lift up your voices and sing: Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Imagine yourself in Jerusalem then. Are you waving palms or putting them on the streets? Are you praising Him? Let’s remember to do it today.

“Then Judgment” Celebrate Lit Book Tour and Giveaway

Posted on May 15, 2022May 4, 2022 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

“Then Judgment” is a thought provoking Biblical Fiction by author Caryl McAdoo. She uses her gift of writing and storytelling and offers her perspective on the days between the crucifixion of Jesus and His resurrection. It is a beautiful story.

The author illustrates her knowledge of scripture throughout this book. It is a well researched, planned and written book. Her husband, Ron, assisted her with writing this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Biblical Fiction is one of my favorite genre when done in agreement with scripture. Much thought has gone into this book as well as many hours of studying the Bible. I was captivated.

I highly recommend “Then Judgment: The Three Days Jesus Did Not Spend In The Tomb” to everyone. It will stay with you long after finishing it. Readers who enjoy Biblical fiction will not want to miss this one. It gets a 5 star rating from me.

I received a complementary copy of “Then Judgment”from Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.

About the Book

Book: Then Judgement

Author: Caryl McAdoo

Genre: Biblical fiction

Release date: April 8, 2022

A story of the three days Jesus did not spend in the tomb.
The Son of Man was made sin, cast away from the presence of the Great I AM’s presence, and condemned to Hades to face judgement. What exactly happened during those three days from the Lord’s lifeless body of flesh being placed in the tomb and His glorious resurrection? Hints throughout the Scriptures give clues to what transpired—how He got to Paradise to be with the thief on the cross that same day. One thing is certain! He rose on the third day and now lives forever more seated on His throne at the right hand of the Father! Hallelujah!

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Award-winning author Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory, and her best-selling stories—over sixty published—delight Christian readers around the world. The prolific writer also enjoys singing the new songs the Lord gives her; you may listen at YouTube. Sharing four children and twenty-one grandsugars (three are greats), Caryl and Ron, her high-school-sweetheart-husband of fifty-three years, live in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas. The McAdoos wait expectantly for God to open the next door.

More from Caryl

As many of you know, my husband Ron and I write together. When Simon and Schuster released our tenth title, the editor requested one name for the cover and since it was a historical romance, preferred a female’s. The arrangement worked so well for us that we continued only my name being on the cover after we went Indie!

Anyway, we have been talking about writing this book for years, coming across little clues for the story in Scripture studies now and again over that time. At last, God released us to write THEN JUDGEMENT based on the twenty-seventh verse of Hebrews, nineth chapter: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

I love searching the scriptures and telling a story that strictly adheres to God’s Book, His Living Word, the Holy Bible. I love His stories and so understand that His Word is bread to our souls, feeding us wisdom and knowledge of our Creator and His everlasting, never-ending love for us!

Creating Biblical fiction tales carries a lot of responsibility that I truly enjoy taking on, being a guardian of the Truth. I love to bring characters from those days gone by so long ago to life on the pages of my books! I do feel a bit like John when he said this, writing of our Savior.

“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” John 21:27

Biblical fiction could easily become my favorite genre—if it isn’t already. I do write more historical romance stories set in the 1800s (a favorite time period) in Texas (my favorite state)! And as much as I love that research . . . nothing compares to digging into the Word!

I pray you will enjoy living through the three days that Jesus did not spend in the tomb! May my story cause you to dig a little yourself, checking out our theory! I know this to be Truth: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

Hallelujah! Glory be to His Holy Name! The righteous run into it and are saved! There is no one like unto Him! He alone it the Great King over all the earth! Worthy to receive glory and praise!
As always, I’m ‘Praying my story gives God glory!’
Blessings, y’all!

Blog Stops

For Him and My Family, May 11

Connie’s History Classroom, May 12

deb’s Book Review, May 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 14

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 15

Inklings and notions, May 16

Texas Book-aholic, May 17

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 18

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 20

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 21

Splashes of Joy, May 22

Mary Hake, May 23

Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 24 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Caryl is giving away the prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1db49/then-judgement-celebration-tour-giveaway

Holy Saturday, When Jesus was Gone

Posted on April 11, 2020April 11, 2020 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Today is the anniversary of Holy Saturday, Easter Eve or Black Saturday. It is the name given to the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It is the seventh day of Holy Week. When Jesus died, He called out, “It is finished!” He had completed His job. Now what?

Where was Jesus on this day so long ago? He was dead. My heart breaks to write this. Jesus was away from God and descended into hell. Isn’t that what the Apostles Creed says? All of what was done was for us. The price was paid for us so that we would not owe it.

This day is traditionally a time of reflection and waiting like Lent. Jesus’ followers spent this day waiting after his crucifixion on Good Friday. He had said He would rise from the dead so they would be watching for Him. Most likely they would be recalling every word He said to them. I would. Wouldn’t you go over every detail?

Roman governor Pontius Pilate instructed guards to be posted at the tomb to prevent Jesus’ followers from removing the body to claim that He had risen from the dead. Pilate sealed the tomb, secured it, and posted guards. No one was getting in. Jesus’ body would not be taken.

Easter or Resurrection Sunday is tomorrow. I know the ending of this heart wrenching account. I also know this was God’s plan, but it still hurts. For those of us baptized, when we were we died with Christ (going down under water) and arose with Him (rising up again). Symbolic but not close to what my precious Savior endured.

Scripture tells us this in Romans 6:3-11 King James Version (KJV):

^”Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

So, while we await Resurrection Sunday, take a moment to reflect. Just as we were baptized and died with Jesus, we died to sin. We should sever the bond sin has over us and sin no more. After He died for us, let us live for Him.

Jesus’s Temper versus Ours

Posted on April 6, 2020April 6, 2020 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

We are all self-quarantined at home with this Covid19 pandemic. Emotions are on a roller coaster of ups and downs. Tempers are quick to flare. Our descendants will read about this in history books. How are you spending your time, and how are you maintaining your temper?

Yesterday was Palm Sunday. After Jesus arrived in Jerusalem did you ever wonder how he spent His final week in ministry? On Monday He taught His disciples a parable about faith when He cursed a fig tree that did not produce fruit. Do you remember that one?

They had been out walking and were hungry when they saw a fig tree with many leaves. After they looked for the fruit, none could be found. It was barren. Jesus cursed it, and when they came back to it had shriveled up and died. Scholars believe the tree being cursed represents God’s judgment on those that are spiritually dead.

Jesus was comparing the tree to the whole nation of Israel because it had become spiritually barren before the Lord. It no longer produced fruit. The people knew their religion but did not live it. They knew the correct words, but their hearts were away from God.

This story of what Jesus also did might be more familiar. Jesus also went into the temple and cleared it out of the dishonest money changers. This time He was mad. He had enough. They were cheating people and making a mockery of the temple. Jesus went through overturning tables and saying: “Scripture says ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer’, but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” He drove the money changers and their animals out restoring order and respect.

What has stayed with me about this story for many years is that Jesus stopped and braided a whip so that He could think about what He was going to do before just charging into the temple. He didn’t fly off the handle but took time to think about the situation. Maybe He prayed. I would imagine He did.

How about you when you become angry?

“So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” John 2:15

Could you do this? I can’t tell you how many times I have flown off the handle in anger. Acted quickly without thinking things through. My family calls that having a “short fuse” because it does not take long to explode after the anger is lit.

Jesus is not like this. His righteous indignation toward what was happening in the temple was just. It needed to be done. He waited to think clearly and make certain it was done correctly. How many times have I wished that I had done things like that? Many! What do you do when you are angry? How do you react?

Jesus had one week left with his disciples before his crucifixion and resurrection. Everything was done in the right way without rushing. In His time and in His way. Even in a time of righteous anger He still slowed down and gave Himself time to cool off and think with a clear mind. What a beautiful example for all of us.