Holy Week Devotional Readings 2024
Holy Week - Monday, Day 2: Written and Read by Marie Odah
March 25, 2024 • Luke 22:47–48
French Transcipt: (English is below) Luc 22: 47 a 48: “Comme il parlait encore, voici, une foule arriva; et celui qui s'appelait Judas, l'un des douze, marchait devant elle. Il s'approcha de Jésus, pour le baiser. Et Jésus lui dit: Judas, c'est par un baiser que tu livres le Fils de l'homme!” Judas était un des disciples de Jésus, mais pas n’importe lequel! Judas faisait partie des 12, les plus proches disciples de Jésus. Donc Judas connaissait la bonté de Jésus, il savait combien Jésus était miséricordieux, il savait que Jésus aimait les gens, Jésus était un great man, Jesus aimait faire du bien, Jésus avait confiance en lui, c’est pourquoi la caisse financière du groupe lui avait été confié. Jésus n’avais aucune raison de douter de sa loyauté Mais pourtant, Judas nourrissait des mauvais pensées envers Jésus, des pensées destructives au point de le livrer à ses ennemis! Quelle deception! Mais face à cette haute trahison, quelle a été l’attitude de Jésus face à cette haute trahison? Jésus lui a pardonné! As tu, comme Jésus, subi une haute trahison? La trahison de quelqu un que tu ne pouvais même pas soupçonner faire ce qu’il ou elle t’a fait? Peut être est ce ta meilleure amie, ou ton conjoint, ou un collègue en qui tu avais confiance, oui c’est vrai, cela fait mal mais, en cette semaine pascale ou nous nous remémorons la mort et la résurrection de Jésus, quelle est ton attitude face à cette trahison? Vas tu garder cette trahison dans ton coeur, ou bien vas tu faire comme Jesus: pardonner! Transcript In English But even as Jesus said this, a crowd approached, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss. But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22:47-48 Judas was one of Jesus' disciples, but not just any disciple! Judas was one of the twelve, Jesus' closest disciples. So Judas knew the goodness of Jesus. He knew how merciful Jesus was. But yet, Judas harbored evil thoughts towards Jesus, destructive thoughts to the point of betraying him to his enemies! What a disappointment! But in the face of this high treason, what was Jesus’ attitude toward this betrayal? Jesus forgave him! Have you, like Jesus, suffered high treason? The betrayal of someone you couldn't even suspect of doing what they did to you? Maybe it was your best friend, or your spouse, or a colleague you trusted. Yes it hurts, but in this Easter week when we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus, what is your attitude towards this betrayal? Will you keep this betrayal in your heart, or will you do as Jesus did: forgive!
Holy Week Day 1; Sunday- Written and Read by Scott Phillips
March 24, 2024 • Luke 22:39–46
Luke 22:39-46 (NLT) 🡪 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine. Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.” Transcript: I want to focus on verse 42 today. It says “Father, if it is your will take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done”. As we look upon Gethsemane, we find our Lord in anguished prayer. Earlier he had told us, “I have come down from heaven not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38). Now on this cool evening, before the trials & torments Jesus would suffer, He sits in solemn prayer with His father. Asking not my will, but yours. God has a purpose and a plan for each of his children. The Lord is interested in us finding His will for our life. But how do we find out His will? Let me give you 3 things that may assist you in finding God's will for your life. Be sure you know the Savior. It goes without saying that if we are to pursue God's will, we must first know our Lord and Savior personally. Paul tells us in 1 Tim 2:3-4 - … for leading a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence is good and acceptable in the sight of God our savior who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth. This is the initial step in finding God's will. To know the savior not just a head knowledge but a personal intimate experience of who Jesus Christ is for yourself. Be sure you know the Spirit. Once we have placed our trust in Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to take up residency within us. Empowering us for service and helping us bear witness with the Spirit of God. Paul tells us in Ephesians chapter 5 … not to be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Not to be drunk with wine but be filled with a spirit. When we know Christ as our PERSONAL Savior, then our life is under His control. His Spirit becomes our teacher and will guide us into all truth. We become sensitive to the Spirit's leading in our lives, which is a key factor in discerning God's will for us. Be sure you know the Scriptures. When we want to find God's will, it is essential that we have knowledge of biblical truth. God will never lead one of his followers to do anything that is contrary to scripture. Paul admonishes us in Colossians 3:16 … Let the word of Christ dwell and you richly in all wisdom. When we know Christ and we are guided by the Spirit, then we can abide in His word, making know His will to us. God has a wonderful plan for your life, and He longs for to know His will. As we meditate on this verse today, reflect on; 1) what Christ means to you personally, 2) what yielding to the spirit means in your life, and 3) how meditating on the Scriptures will help you find His will. Let us join in Jesus prayer while he was in the garden … “Not my will but Yours be done”. Recorded and edited by Dima