1) Try to describe the emotions that flood your soul–after having spent these first seventy days getting to know our One and Only–now seeing Him marked for a torturous death?
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2) What could you do to keep the reality of His suffering and the high cost of your atonement from ever becoming old hat and unmoving to you?
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Many years ago, probably more than 15 years, I read the book “The Messiah” by Marjorie Holmes. A powerful read. I stayed in anguish—pretty much the whole time. I had just read the previous books in the trilogy by the same author, so I was completely caught up in the whirlwind ministry of Jesus. The days before the Crucifixion, I kept this sick feeling. I knew what was coming. I had no power to change things. I remember how I cried when I read the account of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ —all—for—me. And YOU.
Let’s back up a bit though. Go back to verses 29-34. Did you notice what I noticed? Jesus gave them instructions and then told them “what” they would encounter and how to deal with it. “Go into that village over there,” he told them, “and as you enter it, you will see a colt tied there that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, `The Lord needs it.’ ” Luke 19:30-31 NLT
You know…He does that for us. He leads us in the way of “trusting Him.”
What strikes me as so sad in this passage, the very people that were shouting Hosannas to the King, were among the very ones days later, shouting “Crucify Him!” Along with that you have the religious leaders who were constantly laying verbal traps in the form of seemingly innocent questions! When that didn’t work, they began to seek a way to kill Him, but they could not…for the people hung on His very word. His Word. He was the Word. Before all of time. He is the Word and remains steadfast and strong today!
As I re-read the passages so familiar, and even those we have covered just days ago, my gut is already clenching. For I know what’s coming. It is painful even today. It was for my sins He laid down His life. I don’t want to jump ahead in the study, but I can’t seem to help myself here.
November 12th, 2008 at 8:19 am
You are such a blessing to me Sister and the devotion today stirred my heart to remember the price He paid.
Aimee
November 12th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Angie, you daily bless my heart. This devotion greatly touched my heart. I love you all.
November 13th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I second that, you ladies are such a blessing.
BTW, the cable company has been doing upgrades in my area for several weeks so my internet isn't very stable hence my frequent absences lately)