Written by: Brittany Gast

[28] And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28 NLT)

Happy GOOD Friday!

When we think of the events that center around Good Friday, Jesus was arrested, betrayed by his friend, an innocent man given the death penalty, whipped and beaten, nailed to a cross and hung there to suffer until he died. These things don't sound like a good friday! The story of Good Friday shows us how we can be thankful for what Jesus has done and how we can find good even in the grave.

1. God causes everything to work together for good. Every detail that happened on Good Friday worked together. His friend betraying him caused his arrest, which led to his trial, that caused him to be whipped and beaten, that led him to the cross! These events didn't seem good while they were happening. Until we get to the outcome of it
al. What the enemy meant for evil, as horrific as this scene was, God was working together to use it for good. We can thank God that he uses All things, even suffering, to work together for good in the end. suffering doesn't get the last word. Weeping may endure for a night but we have hope
because of christ, that joy will come in the morning.

2. For the good of those who love God.
Jesus loved God. His love for his father compelledhim to live a sinless life to fulfill the purpose God had for him.

Isaiah 53:5- but he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. He died to save all.

In this life we will suffer and have trials whether we believe in Jesus or not. He doesn't promise an easy life but to those who love him and believe He died on the cross and rose again, the wil use every trial and suffering for our good. For those who do not love God, their trials and suffering will last eternity.

Thank you God that we can anticipate good to come from our suffering because we love you, trust you, and believe you to be our savior, who was crucified on this Good Friday for our sins, so we could be healed, and whole.

3. Are called according to His purpose.

Jesus came to earth for a purpose. Everything Jesus did, all that happened to him on this Good Friday was all for Gods purpose. There's a good purpose in the cross and the grave, and that is to fulfill prophecy and save the world.

Isaiah 53:10-11, But it was the Lord's good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet
when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many defendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord's good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied.

Nothing is waisted and God uses every detail of our life for a purpose.
I will give thanks in ALL circumstances, because I know he is working all the details together for my good in the end. God used the crucifixion of Jesus for our good. Jesus did what no one else would or could do, and because of Jesus' sacrifice, the grave doesn't get the last word and we will rise into eternity. Where would I be without the cross and the grave?  Death where is your sting?

Friday is GOOD because Sunday is coming.
 

Today we celebrate the Last Supper. This is Jesus’ final meal with His disciples. The story of the last supper can be found in all four of the gospels (Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 14, and John 13). There is a lot happening during this time and there is so much to be thankful for in the Last Supper.

Firstly, we can be thankful for the humility of Christ. In the gospel of John, we see an incredible act of humility that in the middle of the Last Supper meal.
“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from Godand was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” John 13:1-4.

Written by: David Garcia

“Six days before the Passover celebration, Jesus arrived at the home of Lazarus, the man he has raised from the dead. (V2) A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate*(reclined) with him. (V3) Then Mary took a twelve ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.”
- John 12:1-3 NLT

**References for today can be found in: Isaiah 11, Isaiah 53:1-12, Isaiah 61:1, Song of Solomon 1:12; 4:13-14, Romans 15:12, John 11:25

In this account, Jesus is anointed by Mary as an act of love and devotion. This was seen as foolish and wasteful to some, but taken with honor and gratitude by Jesus. Jesus seizes the opportunity to confront the judgement and displeasure in the room in order to give insight to a greater significance. To Jesus, Mary’s extravagant display of generosity was “preparation for his death and burial”. The events leading to his death were only days away, and the anticipation was beginning to build…

As we reflect on this beautiful moment during “Holy Wednesday”,
Let us praise God with thanksgiving  as we draw out each details importance.

Why Bethany?
Some translations of the name “Bethany” refer to it as the “House of figs”, simply because figs were known to grow here. However, I find the second translation more interesting and noteworthy. Bethany is also referred to as the “House of Misery” It was believed that those with contagious diseases and under immense calamity were sent here.
Can you imagine what this implies?

A house is a permanent living fixture and misery denotes great suffering of either the body or mind. If we put these definitions together, it could be said like this: Those suffering with a painful circumstance with no hope of relief in sight.

*Isaiah 53 depicts the messiah as the “Suffering Servant”. The one who will endure incredible affliction in order to redeem people. Jesus is the suffering servant who will literally enter the house of misery in order to serve and save all people from their sin and judgment. His house of misery was only a few days away…

He sweat great drops of blood from being under such duress and mental anguish.

We can be thankful because He endured brutal punishment and great misery, so that we could be free. He walked into the house of misery so that we could have joy. Even if you are currently walking through “a house of misery” moment, He is walking through it with you!

Why Lazarus?
Do you remember Jesus’ words to Martha when Lazarus was dead? “I am the resurrection and the Life…”

*Jesus makes the way clear to receive eternal life. All Those who place their faith in him will live, even if they die. Lazarus name means “God has helped”. God himself has helped us by giving new hopeful reality when it comes to death and loss. Death is not a hopeless outcome for those in Christ. As final as death may be, the painful sting of death has been removed. Hopelessness no longer accompanies death for those who trust in Jesus.

We can be thankful because Jesus defeated deaths power over us. We no longer need to fear death! Even when we draw our last breath on earth, we will draw our first breath in eternity with our God! “Oh death, where is your sting? Oh grave, where is your victory?” Our God lives and so will we!

Why the anointing with spikenard?
Spikenard is an aromatic oil of high value and significance. When given as a gift or used, would be the equivalent of being given pure gold or diamonds, implying tremendous worth to the person bestowed. The oil is harvested from the root of the plant.

*Jesus being anointed revealed more than what Mary and her family realized! In scripture, Kings, Priests, and prophets were anointed signifying that Gods presence was upon and with them; Jesus is all 3 of these powerful roles.

Spikenard is harvested from root of the plant. If the anointing oil comes from the root, then the anointed messiah must also come from the root…the root of Jesse! Christ is the root or branch coming from the kingly dynasty of David. Mary was anointing the promised king.

Spikenard has a pungent aroma that lingers as it soaks into the skin and hair. Even as he was being tortured, and the smells of death were evident, Jesus would’ve smelled the fragrance of nard reminding him the purpose of his suffering. “It pleased God to bruise his son”, and his life laid down would be a fragrance that ascended unto God, satisfying his wrath.

We can be thankful because His death would bring us life. His death makes us right with God. He willingly endured these torments so that he could purchase us from being separated from his presence because of sin. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me and has anointed me to preach good news” This message of a savior is a fragrant smell of life and forgiveness found in Christ, while also being an odorous stench of denial, judgment, and rebellion to those who will reject it.

Jesus, you alone are deserving of all glory, love, loyalty, and honor.

37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple. (Luke 21:37)

Jesus, I am grateful that you are our great Prophet to reveal to us the future that you have in store for those you love.

Today is Tuesday of "Holy Week," and we finding point to praise God in this special week.

What I am want to highlight today is that fact that today marks the day that Jesus is in the temple teaching amongst everyone openly, and he is dropping some of the most profound and studied truths in all of scripture.

Some call during this day, the things Jesus taught as the Olivet Discourse,  which is Jesus' prophecy of the end times found in Matthew 24.

This day is the day that Jesus addresses what is erred and reveals what has not been understood by most. Some of the those teachings are:

1. The parable of the two sons, and the parable to wicked tenants. This was prophetic to say the religious leaders would reject and kill Him.

2. The parable of the wedding banquet, which taught that the Israel community on a whole would reject him and deny his salvation in attempt to keep Judaism.

3. Marriage in the Resurrection, which taught there will be a resurrection, correcting the erred doctrine of the Sadducees.

4. The Identity of the Messiah, which taught that David could not be the messiah, seeing he asked the Lord to sit at his right hand.

5. Jesus gave the 7 woes to the religious leaders, prophetically telling them what God was ready to do about their corrupted leadership.

6. The destruction of the Temple, which was a prophecy that would come to pass in the generation of those listening (which actually did happen).

***All of these references can be found in the following chapters:
Matthew 21:23–24:51, Mark 11:20–13:37, Luke 20:1–21:36, and John 12:20–38.

The point is, Jesus is our great prophet that teaches us accurately the way of God, informs us of what is about to happen, and corrects what years of religious tradition has done to our freedom in Christ.

1. Let us all thank God that he decided before he died to make sure we knew his plans.

2. Let us all thank God that Jesus decided to be bold enough to correct years of tradition, religious order, and established hypocrisy in the church.

3. Let us thank God, that he did not allow his fear of death get in the way of coming into the tempe courts and letting the common people know the ways of GOd, even though it would ultimately cost him his life.

Today is beautiful day to read and reflect on Jesus' last teachings before he dies. When a person is nearing death, their last words are typically their most important, and here, we say that Jesus saved his most important teachings for last!

Thank You Jesus, for Holy Tuesday! 

Today, we are thankful for Jesus' "consuming passion."

Over time, the Holy Temple of God had been infiltrated with corruption as traders brought in animals to sell and be used for sacrifices and money changers trading Roman for Jewish coins while taking an unfair portion of the trade. Even the high priest participated in the corruption because he received a portion of the funds traded at the temple. Jesus saw these things happening, the bleating of sheep instead of holy adoration and prayer, and immediately took action. He became consumed with such a passion for the Temple God being restored to sanctity that he drove everyone and everything out and demanded that they will not treat the house of God as if it were not a holy place for God’s presence. Let’s look into the story.

“It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.” But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.” “All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” “What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.”
‭‭John‬ ‭2:13-22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    1. We can be thankful that Jesus assumed authority to restore the sanctity of the Temple of God.

He fulfilled the prophecy from Psalm 69:9 that says, “Passion for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” I can only imagine the rage that Jesus was feeling as He sprung into action not only removing the people but also the animals from the temple. All of what was happening was an insult to God. Therefore, all of it needed to be driven out.

    2. We can be thankful that Jesus was ushering in a new thing.

The Gospels tell us that Jesus was ushering in a new covenant where we wouldn’t need animal sacrifice. Instead we would give salvation through the ultimate sacrifice as He sacrificed his life on the cross. This would be the atonement for human sin once and for all. Jesus became the new temple, which was destroyed and rebuilt in three days, and the new sacrificial Lamb of God slain for our sins.

The cleansing of the Temple of God was just days before Jesus was sacrificed on the cross for our sins. We can praise God because all things were set in order so that our Lord could properly bring salvation to us. Oh how He loves us!