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As Christmas is celebrating Jesus' birth, Easter is celebrating Jesus' victory
over death and mankind's hope for eternal life.
The highlights behind the Easter story include Jesus' execution, His burial
and, most importantly, His rising from death.
The account of Jesus' rising from death was recorded in the most authoritative
historical records, the Gospel books: Three days after His death, a few women
first found His tomb empty. Then Jesus appeared in front of these women and His
disciples, talking and eating with them. Out of doubts still, one disciple did not believe
Jesus was alive again until he actually touched Jesus' fatal wounds. In the following
forty days, hundreds of people witnessed this Jesus who had returned from death
until He ascended to Heaven.
Before His death, Jesus had promised eternal life to those who followed Him.
If the story ended at His death, Jesus would have been no more than a religious
figure with a finite life span. But the fact the Jesus rose from death demonstrated
He has the power over death, and only through Him can people have hope for
eternal life. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and
only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
JESUSCENTRAL.COM   

This Friday of Holy Week is the day that is called “Good Friday". It was a bad Friday
for Jesus, since He suffered unbearable pain and anguish on that day. But it was a
good Friday for us, since all of our sins were atoned for by His suffering and death.
On Good Friday He hung suspended on the cross for 6 hours, including those dark
afternoon hours. About 3:00 PM Jesus said in a loud voice, “It is finished!” (Jn 19: 30).

Shortly thereafter “He bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” He died.
Jesus said, “It is finished!” What was finished? His life? His sufferings? Yes,
but even more than that….His mission was accomplished. All that He had come
to do for us and for our salvation was accomplished. “It is finished!” With that
He is telling us, “Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven!” “It is finished!” is the guarantee
of the peace of mind that we can have in knowing that our sins are fully paid for and we
are thus reconciled to God. “It is finished!” is His assurance to us that the way has been
cleared for us to someday enter eternal life in heaven.
On this Good Friday we will again be standing beneath the cross of Christ. We could
say we were there when they crucified our Lord. We were there, because our sins
were there. God laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Our sins were there and they were
fully atoned for by Him. That’s why this is a Good Friday for us and why we take
great comfort in Jesus’ words, “It is finished!”
RISEN SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH

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 Judas Betrays Jesus

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”


The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Scripture:

Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14
Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-17, 31b-35


Maundy Thursday Meditation....

He gathered around the table for a festive meal with his friends. Suddenly without warning,
he got up from the table, wrapped a towel around his waist, took a basin of water and
assumed the role of a servant washing the guest's dusty feet. His friends could barely
stand it and protested loudly. Could it be that the man with wet hands and a damp towel
did not understand the meaning of the Passover meal? Or could it be that he understood
better than anyone else? Could it have been that he was telling them he would empty
himself and take on the role of a servant even unto death for them, for us? Could it be
that he was announcing that this meal, the water and the wine, would all too soon become
 a symbol of salvation, celebration, and call to servant ministry in his name?

From 'Table Talk'

Scripture:

"You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and
then you see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
(Matthew 7:5)

Have you ever noticed this:  If you ask a question, or if someone asks
you a question to describe someone else, you almost always begin
with negative characteristics about that person.  It really uncanny how
often that happens.  It happened to me not long ago.  I was asked to write
a recommendation for someone I knew.  This as a personal recommendation
specifically asking about this persons characteristics.  I noticed, as I
was writing, I was beginning, right off, to speak negative about this person.
This Matthew 7:5 verse immediately flashed in my mind. I thought, "Kim
you hypocrite, do you honestly think with all the logs in your eyes, you
need to show the few specks in his eyes!"  It was time to take a second
look at what I was doing.  My question is this:  Don't you think it's time
to take a second look at your relationships and the logs in your own eyes?

Prayer:

Oh Lord help me to take care of the logs in my own eyes, there are
many.  God help me to always leave judgment to you.  THANK YOU GOD
FOR BEING GOD.

Quote:

The true hypocrite is the one who ceases to perceive his deception, the one who lies with sincerity”

The pickle jar as far back as I can remember sat on the floor beside the
dresser in my parents' bedroom. When he got ready for bed, Dad would
empty his pockets and toss his coins into the jar.

As a small boy I was always fascinated at the sounds the coins made as
they were dropped into the jar . They landed with a merry jingle when
the jar was almost empty. Then the tones gradually muted to a dull
thud as the jar was filled.
I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar and admire the copper
and silver circles that glinted like a pirate's treasure when the sun
poured through the bedroom window. When the jar was filled, Dad would
sit at the kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to the
bank.

Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production . Stacked
neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were placed between Dad and
me on the seat of his old truck.

Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would look at me
hopefully.

'Those coins are going to keep you out of the textile mill, son.
You're going to do better than me. This old mill town's not going to
hold you back.'

Also, each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled coins across the
counter at the bank toward the cashier, he would grin proudly 'These are
for my son's college fund. He'll never work at the mill all his life
like me.'

We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream
cone. I always got chocolate. Dad always got vanilla. When
the clerk at the ice cream parlor handed Dad his change, he would show
me the few coins nestled in his palm. 'When we get home, we'll start
filling the jar again.' He always let me drop the first coins into
the empty jar. As they rattled around with a brief, happy jingle, we
grinned at each other. 'You'll get to college on pennies, nickels,
dimes and quarters,' he said. 'But you'll get there; I'll see to
that.'

No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued to doggedly drop
his coins into the jar. Even the summer when Dad got laid off from
the mill, and Mama had to serve dried beans several times a week, not a
single dime was taken from the jar.

To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me, pouring catsup
over my beans to make them more palatable, he became more determined
than ever to make a way out for me. 'When you finish college, Son,'
he told me, his eyes glistening, 'You'll never have to eat beans again -
unless you want to.'

The years passed, and I finished college and took a job in another town.
Once, while visiting my parents, I used the phone in their bedroom, and
noticed that the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose and
had been removed.
A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside the dresser
where the jar had always stood. My dad was a man of few words, and
never lectured me on the values of determination, perseverance, and
faith. The pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more
eloquently than the most flowery of words could have done.

When I married, I told my wife Susan about the significant part the
lowly pickle jar had played in my life as a boy. In my mind, it
defined, more than anything else, how much my dad had loved me.

The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born, we spent the
holiday with my parents. After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each
other on the sofa, taking turns cuddling their first grandchild. Jessica
began to whimper softly, and Susan took her from Dad's arms. 'She
probably needs to be changed,' she said, carrying the baby into my
parents' bedroom to diaper her. When Susan came back into the living
room, there was a strange mist in her eyes.

She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand and leading me into
the room. 'Look,' she said softly, her eyes directing me to a spot on
the floor beside the dresser. To my amazement, there, as if it had never
been removed, stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with
coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and
pulled out a fistful of coins. With a gamut of emotions choking me, I
dropped the coins into the jar. I looked up and saw that Dad,
carrying Jessica, had slipped quietly into the room. Our eyes locked,
and I knew he was feeling the same emotions I felt. Neither one of us
could speak. This truly touched my heart. I know it has yours as
well. Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to
count our blessings.

Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture
you can change a person's life, for better or for worse.

God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way.
Look for Good in others.
The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or touched - they must
be felt with the heart ~ Helen Keller

- Happy moments, praise God.
- Difficult moments, seek God.
- Quiet moments, worship God.
- Painful moments, trust God.
- Every moment, thank God.