Tag Archives: Holy Week

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Hope Alive: The Power of the Resurrection

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The morning sun rises over Jerusalem. The city is still quiet, unaware that everything has changed. A few women make their way to the tomb, carrying spices, their hearts heavy with grief. Jesus is dead. They saw Him take His last breath. They watched His body wrapped and sealed behind a massive stone.

But when they arrive, the stone is rolled away. The tomb is empty. Hope is alive.

An angel stands before them and speaks the words that have echoed through history:

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!” (Luke 24:5-6)

And in that moment, everything shifts.

Hope That Defeats Death

On Friday, it looked like death had won. The cross had the final word. But today, the grave is empty, and Jesus is alive.

This is what sets Christianity apart from every other belief, every other religion. Our Savior is not in a tomb. He is risen. Death could not hold Him. The power of sin could not defeat Him. He has conquered the grave.

And because He lives, we have hope that death is not the end for us, either.

Hope That Restores What’s Broken

When Jesus walked out of that tomb, He didn’t just defeat death—He defeated everything that separates us from God.

  • Our sin is forgiven. (1 Peter 2:24)
  • Our shame is erased. (Romans 8:1)
  • Our fear is cast out. (2 Timothy 1:7)
  • Our future is secure. (John 11:25-26)

Because Jesus is alive, we are no longer slaves to sin. We are no longer defined by our past. We are no longer without hope.

Hope That Calls Us to Live Differently

The resurrection isn’t just a story to remember—it’s a truth that should transform us. The disciples went into the weekend broken, scared, and lost. But after encountering the risen Jesus, they became bold, fearless, unstoppable.

The same is true for us.

If Jesus really rose from the dead—if death is defeated, if eternity is secure—then how should we live?

  • With courage, because death has no power over us.
  • With joy, because Jesus has made us new.
  • With purpose, because the world needs to hear this good news.

Walking in Hope Today

Today, we celebrate the greatest victory in history. The cross wasn’t the end. The tomb couldn’t hold Him. Hope is alive, and His name is Jesus.

So lift your eyes. Lift your heart. He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Thanks for reading.

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Finding Hope in Heartbreak: Mary Magdalene’s Encounter

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The events of the past few days have certainly been difficult. Watching someone you are close to suffer the excruciating horror of crucifixion is enough to make even the hardest person’s emotions raw. For those close to Jesus, the grieving process had to pause a bit because of the Sabbath, but now that it is over, it is time to pick up where they left off earlier: visiting the tomb to ensure a proper burial. The Gospel writers tell us Jesus’ friends headed to the cemetery as soon as the sun was rising and the Sabbath was ending. Heartbroken, they didn’t want to waste any time.

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John’s Gospel specifically tells us Mary Magdalene was the first to go and realize the tomb was empty. Mary thinks she’s going to ensure a proper burial, but she finds an empty tomb and neatly folded linens with no Jesus. What happens next shows us the compassion the Lord has for the broken-hearted.

John 20 records, “Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.

“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”

Mary is seeing something here that looks an awful lot like the Ark of the Covenant. Prior to now, the Ark of the Covenant, which represents the Lord’s presence, was only accessible in the Holy of Holies, and only one day a year by one person – the High Priest. But not now! The presence of the Lord is accessible to this heart broken woman.

She is not the High Priest nor is she in the Holy of Holies. She is a common person standing in a garden, outside an empty tomb, in tears because she doesn’t know what is happening. The person she cared about so deeply was ripped from her life, he was tortured to death, and now she can’t even make sure he has a decent burial because he is missing. Heartache is stacked on top of her heartbreak. Can you understand how she feels?

We are certainly not strangers to this pain. Heartache comes to us in any number of ways. The person we thought we were going to marry walked away from us. The child who should have outlived us didn’t. The husband who pledged his faithfulness was anything but faithful. The spouse of 50 years was ripped from our arms by death. The pain of a broken heart is not a foreign experience.

Maybe you’re thinking to yourself, “Yeah, I know how she feels. It is exactly how I feel today.” If so, please remember, you are not alone in this moment.

Mary’s story shows us we are not left to drown in the tears of our heartache. As she is standing there crying, Mary is not alone. John 20 continues, “She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. ” Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”

She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” “Mary!” Jesus said.

She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).”

Jesus does not leave Mary standing in the garden with tears running down her face. The tomb is empty, and Jesus is right beside Mary amid her heartbreak. He brings compassion and grace. He brings encouragement and comfort. Jesus brings himself to the heartbroken Mary, and he brings himself to those who are heartbroken today.

Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

When our hearts are broken, we can look to an empty tomb and find a Savior who comes to the heartbroken. Just like he was with Mary amid her heartbreak, he is with us amid our heartbreak. The same accessibility and compassion are present. Jesus does not flee from the heartbroken; he comes to us. Jesus is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those with a crushed spirit.

Because of an empty tomb, you and I do not have to be alone in our pain. We can allow the Lord to come close and rescue our crushed spirit.

Thanks for reading.

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Finding Hope in Silence: The Meaning of Holy Saturday

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The crowds have dispersed. The shouting has stopped. Jesus’ body lies in a tomb, sealed behind a heavy stone. Saturday is a day of silence.

Can you imagine what the disciples felt? Yesterday, they saw their Teacher, their Messiah, breathe His last. The One they had left everything to follow was gone. The hope they had in Him, the belief that He would be their King, now seemed buried with Him.

And now… nothing. No miracles. No answers. Just silence.

Hope That Holds in the Waiting

We don’t talk about Holy Saturday as much as the other days of this week. It feels like an in-between day—a pause between the horror of Good Friday and the joy of Easter morning. But in many ways, Saturday feels the most like real life.

Because we know what it’s like to wait in silence.
To pray and hear nothing.
To grieve and feel no comfort.
To wonder if God is really going to come through.

The disciples didn’t know what we know—that Sunday was coming. For them, this was a day of confusion, of sorrow, of doubt. And maybe that’s where you are, too. Maybe you’re in a waiting season, longing for breakthrough, but all you hear is silence.

Here’s the hope of Holy Saturday: Just because God is silent doesn’t mean He isn’t working.

Hope That Works in the Darkness

Jesus’ body was in the tomb, but God’s plan wasn’t buried with Him. Behind the scenes, beyond what human eyes could see, redemption was unfolding.

In the same way, when we can’t see what God is doing—when it feels like our prayers are hitting a wall—He is still working. He is moving in ways we can’t yet comprehend.

Think about a seed buried in the ground. It looks like nothing is happening, but under the soil, life is beginning. That’s what Saturday is. It’s the day between death and resurrection, between heartbreak and restoration. It’s the day that reminds us:

Just because hope is hidden doesn’t mean it’s gone.

Hope That Waits with Expectation

The disciples didn’t know what was coming. But we do.

We know that the silence of Saturday is not the end of the story.

If you’re in a season of waiting, let Holy Saturday remind you: Sunday is coming.

Your prayers are not unheard.
Your grief is not the final chapter.
Your silence is not the absence of God.

He is working. He is moving. And when the time is right, the stone will be rolled away.

Walking in Hope Today

So today, sit in the silence—but don’t lose hope.

Because this story is far from over. It hits a powerful climax tomorrow!

Thanks for reading.

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Overcoming Uncertainty: Embracing Hope After Trial

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Friday was a rough day for the disciples. They had just watched Jesus be crucified, and the weight of it all was overwhelming. Emotionally drained, they were stuck in the aftermath of something they didn’t fully understand. What they didn’t know was that Sunday was coming—a day that would change everything.

And so, Saturday arrived. A day in between. A day of uncertainty. A day of trying to figure out what’s next. Some of the disciples did the only thing they knew how to do—they went back to fishing. If only they knew what tomorrow would bring. If only they realized that hope was already on its way.

Life has a way of putting us in these “in-between” moments too. Maybe you’re recovering from something that shook you to your core. Maybe you’re stuck between sickness and healing, between heartbreak and love, between loss and life after it. These seasons of waiting, of wondering, can feel endless.

But here’s the good news: Sunday has already come. Hope isn’t just a distant possibility—it’s already here. No matter what you’re facing, you can move forward knowing that God is still working. You don’t have to stay stuck in the in-between. You can hold onto the hope that never fades, never weakens, and never disappears.

So if you’re feeling lost today, remember—Sunday came, and with it, victory. Hold onto that hope. And if you know someone who needs to hear this, share it with them.

Thanks for reading.

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Good Friday: Finding Hope in Suffering

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The sky grows dark. The earth trembles. The crowds that once cheered, “Hosanna!” now stand in stunned silence. Jesus is dead.

This is the day we call Good Friday—but from the outside, nothing about it looks good. The Messiah, the One who healed the sick, raised the dead, and offered hope to the hopeless, now hangs lifeless on a cross. His body is broken, His blood poured out. His disciples are scattered, hiding in fear. The hope that had once felt so sure now seems crushed beneath the weight of suffering.

And yet, in this moment—in the suffering, in the silence, in the final breath—hope is being secured.

Hope That Takes Our Place

The cross wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t a tragic twist in Jesus’ story. It was the plan all along.

From the beginning, sin had separated us from God. No amount of good works, no sacrifice, no religious effort could ever bridge the gap. The price of sin was death (Romans 6:23), and Jesus came to pay it for us.

  • When He stretched out His hands and took the nails, He took our place.
  • When the crown of thorns was pressed into His head, He bore our shame.
  • When He cried out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46), He felt the weight of our separation from God.

And then, with His final breath, He declared, “It is finished.” Not “I am finished.” IT IS FINISHED!

The debt was paid. The barrier between us and God was torn down. Hope was sealed in His sacrifice.

Hope That Holds in Suffering

It’s easy to find hope when life is good, when prayers are answered, when we can see God’s hand at work. But what about when the sky turns dark? When we face grief, pain, or unanswered prayers?

Good Friday reminds us that Jesus understands suffering. He is not a distant God who watches from afar—He is a Savior who stepped into our pain, our sorrow, our loss.

If today feels heavy, if you’re carrying grief or doubt, know this: You are not alone. Jesus has been there. He is with you now. And because of the cross, even in our darkest moments, hope is still alive.

Hope That Leads to Resurrection

For those standing at the foot of the cross, it must have felt like the end. The One they loved was gone. Hope seemed buried in a borrowed tomb.

But what they couldn’t see in that moment was that Sunday was coming.

That’s the beauty of Good Friday. It reminds us that even when it looks like all is lost, God is still at work. Even when we can’t see the resurrection yet, hope is not dead.

Walking in Hope Today

Take a moment today to sit in the weight of Good Friday. Feel the sorrow, but don’t lose sight of the hope. Because this story doesn’t end in death.

Hope is hanging on the cross today. But in just three days, hope will walk out of the grave.

Thanks for reading.

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Finding Hope in Despair: Lessons from the Cross

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“My God, my God, why have you left me?”
That was his desperate cry as life’s weight came crashing down, suffocating him. He felt completely alone, abandoned. He called out, hoping someone would hear — but no one answered. No one was there. His enemies circled around him, closing in, and all he could hear was silence. His cries just seemed to fade into the wind.

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Most of us, when we hear those words, think of Jesus on the cross — and we should (we’ll talk more about that in a minute). But those words didn’t start with Jesus. They were David’s words first.

In the middle of deep suffering, David cried out to God and got nothing but silence in return. The weight of life mixed with the silence of God felt unbearable. So he asked, “Why, God?”

And if we’re honest, we’ve all been there. Maybe not in the exact same way, but we’ve felt the crushing pressure of life and wondered if God had forgotten us. Maybe you’ve lost people you love, one after another, and you feel abandoned. Maybe your home or everything you’ve worked for was destroyed in a moment — and you feel lost, alone, and overwhelmed. Maybe the weight of life is pressing down so hard, you’re crying out, “Why, God?”

But here’s the thing — even in those moments, we can find hope.

And we find that hope when we look at the cross and look to Jesus.

The cross reminds us that Jesus gets it. He knows exactly what it feels like to be abandoned, to feel completely alone, and to be crushed by sorrow. Remember, He even prayed, asking if there was another way. But the cross still came. And those hours of suffering? We can’t fully grasp how painful they were, but we know they were excruciating. Jesus endured all of that, and because He did, He understands exactly how we feel when life is too heavy to carry. And the best part? He’s promised to be right there with us through it all. Hebrews 13:5 says, “I will never leave you. I will never abandon you.”

Looking at the cross gives us hope, not only because Jesus understands, but because it reminds us that this isn’t the end of the story.

On that day, as Jesus endured the weight of God’s wrath, He knew vindication was coming. He knew victory was just around the corner. His pain wasn’t the final word. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Because of the joy set before him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” The cross wasn’t the end — the empty tomb was.

And the same is true for us. When life feels unbearable, we can look ahead to victory.

This season of struggle won’t last forever. There’s vindication, restoration, and joy coming.

Psalm 22 — the same chapter where David cries out in despair — doesn’t end in hopelessness. It ends with victory. Verse 24 says:
“For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.
He has not turned his back on them,
but has listened to their cries for help.”

So if you’re feeling crushed right now, like there’s no way out — look to the cross. Look to Jesus. He knows exactly how you feel. And just like His story didn’t end in suffering, neither will yours. Victory is coming.

Thanks for reading.

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The Meaning of Humble Love on Maundy Thursday

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He removed his robe, and wrapped a towel around his waist. One by one, he washed every foot in the room. This was not a job reserved for the teacher but the rookie servant, yet Jesus did it. He did it to show his love and compassion for his disciples.

He didn’t feel too important or think of himself too highly to meet the obvious need. His love compelled Jesus to meet his disciples’ needs.

After washing all 24 feet, Jesus sits down and challenges us to have the same kind of love. “And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15).

This is a different kind of love. It is a love that seeks nothing in return. It is a love that may break the norm. It is a love that looks at others’ needs with a desire for them to be met.

Today is Maundy Thursday, and the challenge for Christians is to show this love – a different kind of love. Love that makes us stand out from the world. How are you going to meet that challenge today?

Thanks for reading.

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The Hope and Humility of Jesus at the Last Supper

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The night is heavy with meaning. Jesus and His disciples gather in an upper room, the flickering light of oil lamps casting shadows on the walls. The air smells of roasted lamb and freshly baked bread—it’s the Passover meal, a sacred remembrance of how God rescued His people from slavery in Egypt. But tonight, Jesus does something unexpected.

He picks up the bread, breaks it, and hands it to His disciples. “This is my body,” He says. He lifts the cup, gives thanks, and offers it to them. “This is my blood, poured out for you.”

It’s the first Lord’s Supper, the beginning of what we now call Communion. And it’s a moment that holds incredible hope—hope that carries us through suffering, through doubt, through every moment of life.

Hope That Stoops to Serve

Before this meal, Jesus did something shocking—He washed His disciples’ feet (John 13:3-5).

Think about that for a second. The Son of God, the King of Kings, kneeling down, touching the dust-covered feet of His followers, including Judas—the one who would betray Him.

Peter resisted at first, saying, “Lord, you shall never wash my feet!” (John 13:8). But Jesus gently corrected him: “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

This wasn’t just about dirty feet. It was about the kind of kingdom Jesus was building. A kingdom not of pride, but of humility. Not of self-seeking power, but of self-giving love.

And here’s the hope in that moment: If Jesus humbled Himself to serve, He will also meet us in our lowest places. No sin, no failure, no moment of brokenness is beyond His reach. He bends down, washes us clean, and calls us to do the same for others.

Hope That Feasts in the Face of Suffering

As Jesus shared the bread and the cup, He knew what was coming. In just hours, He would be arrested. He would be mocked, beaten, abandoned. And yet, He still sat at the table.

Think about that. Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, but He still offered him bread.
He knew Peter would deny Him, but He still shared the cup.
He knew the cross was ahead, but He still gave thanks.

That’s the kind of hope we have in Jesus—a hope that endures even in suffering. When life feels uncertain, when we’re carrying grief or pain, this table reminds us: Jesus is with us. Even in the hardest moments, He invites us to sit with Him, to receive His grace, to remember His love.

Hope That Seals a New Covenant

For centuries, the Jewish people had celebrated Passover to remember how God spared them from death in Egypt. The blood of a lamb painted on their doorposts had marked them as safe.

And now, Jesus was saying: I am the Lamb.

His blood, not the blood of animals, would bring the final and perfect rescue. His body, broken like the bread, would make a way for us to be made whole.

This wasn’t just a meal—it was a new covenant, a new way to be in relationship with God. No more sacrifices. No more striving. Just grace, freely given.

Walking in Hope Today

Tonight, as we remember this Last Supper, let’s sit at the table with Jesus. Let’s receive His grace. Let’s hold onto the unshakable hope found in His broken body and poured-out blood.

Because this table leads to a cross. And the cross leads to an empty tomb.

Thanks for reading.

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Finding Hope in the Tension of Holy Wednesday

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The action leading up to the cross continues today. Many call this “Spy Wednesday” because it’s the day Judas made a deal to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16). While Jesus was teaching in the temple, the religious leaders were growing more desperate. They wanted Him gone—but they needed a way to do it quietly. And Judas, one of Jesus’ own disciples, gave them that opportunity.

But Wednesday isn’t just about betrayal. It’s also about devotion. While Judas was plotting, a woman—identified in John’s Gospel as Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus—was pouring out a costly, extravagant love at the feet of Jesus.

Hope That Pours Out

Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the Leper, when Mary came in with an alabaster jar filled with pure nard, an expensive perfume. Without hesitation, she broke the jar and poured it over His head, anointing Him in an act of absolute worship (Mark 14:3).

The disciples, especially Judas, were indignant. “Why this waste?” they said. “This perfume could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor” (Mark 14:4-5).

But Jesus defended her.

“She has done a beautiful thing to me. … She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.” — Mark 14:6-8

Mary understood something the others didn’t—Jesus was about to die. And instead of holding back, she poured everything out for Him.

Hope That Waits in the Tension

Wednesday of Holy Week sits in an uncomfortable place—it’s the calm before the storm. The cross is coming. The betrayal is near. And yet, in the midst of the tension, Mary chose to worship.

We don’t like waiting seasons, do we? When we don’t see the outcome yet, when we know something hard is coming, it’s easy to feel restless, afraid, or even hopeless.

But Holy Wednesday reminds us: Hope isn’t just for the big, miraculous moments. Hope is for the in-between. The waiting. The unknown. The quiet moments when we choose to worship Jesus, even when we don’t have all the answers.

Hope That Chooses Jesus

Judas and Mary both had choices that day. Judas chose silver. Mary chose surrender.

Judas saw Jesus as a means to an end. Mary saw Him as the end itself—the only One worthy of everything she had to give.

And we have that same choice. Every day, we can either hold back, clinging to the temporary things of this world, or we can pour everything out in faith, trusting that Jesus is worth it.

Walking in Hope Today

Today is a day of quiet decisions. A day to pour out our love, our trust, our devotion—even in the waiting.

Because hope isn’t just in the victory of Sunday. It’s in the surrender of Wednesday, too.

Thanks for reading.

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Reflecting on Betrayal and Love This Holy Week

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As we journey through Holy Week, today can be summed up as a day of betrayal and devotion. Judas and Mary each play an important role.

The Betrayal of Judas

The most notable event on Spy Wednesday is the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot. Judas, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, makes a shocking decision to betray his teacher for just thirty pieces of silver. Can you imagine being so close to someone, witnessing their miracles and teachings, yet choosing to turn your back on them? It’s a stark reminder of how easily we can be swayed by temptation and greed.

Judas approaches the religious leaders, seeking to hand Jesus over to them. This act is particularly poignant because it highlights a theme we see throughout the Gospels: the struggle between loyalty and betrayal. Judas represents that internal conflict, and his choice sends ripples through the entire narrative leading up to the crucifixion.

Anointing at Bethany

In contrast to Judas’ betrayal, another significant event traditionally associated with Spy Wednesday is the anointing of Jesus at Bethany. A woman, often identified as Mary of Bethany, anoints Jesus with expensive perfume, wiping His feet with her hair. This act of love and devotion is beautiful and powerful. It serves as a stark contrast to Judas’ actions.

Mary’s gesture reflects deep reverence and understanding of Jesus’ mission. She recognizes the weight of the moment and honors Him in a way that goes beyond mere words. It’s a reminder of the importance of recognizing and celebrating those we love before it’s too late. In a world filled with distractions and busyness, how often do we pause to show appreciation for the people in our lives?

Lessons from Spy Wednesday

As we reflect on these events, there are important lessons to take away. First, we should examine our own lives for moments when we might be tempted to betray our values or the people we care about. It’s easy to get caught up in our own desires and lose sight of what truly matters. Judas’ betrayal reminds us to stay grounded in our faith and convictions, even when it’s challenging.

On the flip side, let’s strive to be like Mary. How can we express our love and gratitude to those around us? Small gestures of kindness and appreciation can have a profound impact. Whether it’s a heartfelt note, a simple thank you, or spending quality time with someone, these actions can make a world of difference.

So, as we move through this Holy Week, let’s take a moment to reflect on our own relationships and actions. Are there areas where we need to realign ourselves? How can we show more love and appreciation to those we care about?

Consider reaching out to a friend or family member this week. Tell them what they mean to you, or share a fond memory. Let’s use this time to foster connections and strengthen our bonds, honoring the spirit of devotion exemplified by Mary.

What will you do today to embody these lessons? Share your thoughts in the comments, and let’s support each other in this journey!