When God Was Silent and No One Knew What to Do

When it was evident Jesus was dead, his body was taken down from the cross and carried by Joseph of Arimathea to his own tomb. Joseph's friend, Nicodemus, brought the burial spices and, together, the two men did the work of preparing Jesus' body and winding the linen wraps around his corpse. 

It was grisly work for two men who'd spent their adult lives as religious professionals. They'd been careful to keep their hands ceremonially clean, but, that night, nothing mattered except honoring the One on whom they'd staked their eternity.

When the body was prepared, the tomb was closed with a stone, secured with a seal, and guarded by soldiers. 

After the rush of the Thursday night arrest and trial, followed by the Friday crucifixion, hours of agony, and Jesus' death, the stone that blocked the opening to the tomb must have seemed like a symbol of hopeless finality to His followers.

People probably milled around a bit in the garden, wondering what to do, then finally wandered home. There were lots of tears. Deep shock. Overwhelming grief. 

Three years of hope and anticipation had ended in utter failure. Complete loss. I can almost hear them thinking, "Jesus must not have been the Messiah, after all." 

On that dreadful Saturday, when God was silent, the world didn't know what to do, what to think. It was the worst kind of uncomfortable silence. 

There were no prophets around to say, "Hang on. Something wonderful is coming." No one to offer a word of hope. 

You probably know how it is. When disaster strikes you or your family, all your training, all your knowledge can fly right out the window. It's impossible to remember those important points you've been cautioned not to forget. 

Jesus made it clear He would return, but who could remember that when they've never anticipated the crucifixion and death? 

On that dreadful Saturday, God was silent. Hope was gone. The evil one had won, or so it appeared. 

Ponder a world without hope for a moment, a world where God has been rendered insignificant after a stunning defeat delivered by sin and death.

Hold there. Let it sink in...

For those who don't know Christ, that's the world in which they live, and move, and have their being. It's dark, lonely, hopeless.

We, Christ's modern-day disciples, face Silent Saturday as those with hope because we know Sunday's coming. We know the stone was rolled away, the tomb is empty, the King reigns and will return, but not everyone does. 

As we move through Silent Saturday, let's spend at least a portion of our day in silence. Even if it's only part of an hour, use the time to pray for those who are trapped in the darkness of God-silence, because no one has shared the love and light of Christ with them. 

How might you share the hope of Resurrection Sunday with someone who lives in the hopelessness of Silent Saturday? 

Sunday's coming. Let's share the good news, for a Resurrected Savior makes all the difference. In this world, and the next. 
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Please like and share to extend our digital reach.

In case you missed yesterday's post, here's the link: Lingering with the Loss

If you feel led to partner with this ministry (US, Jordan, the digital world), here's the link to give your tax-deductible donations: Global Outreach Acct 4841 

Or you can mail your check or money order to: Global Outreach/ PO Box 1, Tupelo MS 38802. Be sure to put Account 4841 in the "for" line.

#Jesus

The Donkey-Riding King, the Three Miracles, and His Imminent Return

Five hundred years before Jesus was born, Zechariah the prophet wrote these words:

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold your king is coming to you;

He is just and endowed with salvation,

Humble, and mounted on a donkey,

Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

                                  Zechariah 9:9 nasb

Centuries passed, but no king rode into Jerusalem. 

Instead, the Romans invaded and took over. Built palaces. Had royal parties. Ruled with an iron fist. Those who remembered Zechariah's words must have looked with anticipation for a donkey-riding king. 

No king came. 

Some people had probably given up. No king was coming, or so they thought. 

One amazingly ordinary day, that unlikely prophecy was fulfilled. 

Mark 11 tells us that Jesus instructed His disciples to go into a nearby village and find a young colt that no one had ever ridden. They were to tell the owner that the Lord had need of it, and the owner would say, "Sure. Take my little donkey."

My son, Ryan, and I adopted two wild mustangs years ago  They'd never been ridden, either. We had a plethora of experiences. Most of them were pretty spirited.

Putting a coat on the back of a never-ridden, not-yet-quite-tame donkey can be an adventure. Climbing on is often a dramatic bucking experience, at least for the first few minutes. 

In the donkey's defense, the owner had already begun to gentle it, because it was tied to a post and the donkey hadn't torn the post down. 

Still, for fishermen who have never handled donkeys before to walk up to a strange colt, lead it away, throw one of their coats over it's back like a saddle blanket, and hoist Jesus on without a moment's difficulty is nothing short of miraculous.

That the donkey actually walked where Jesus wanted it to go is another kind of miracle.

There's also the issue of the donkey-gentling owner. If a stranger came up to me and said, "Hey, God needs your donkey. I'm taking it," my first answer would not be, "Sure. Go ahead." 

It took three kinds of miracles to get our King mounted on a donkey and riding into Jerusalem, but it happened.

Jesus, on that young donkey, rode down the Mount of Olives, across the Kidron Valley, and up Mount Moriah to Jerusalem. The Eastern Gate was wide open. Jesus rode through, as people tossed palm branches before Him and shouted "Hosannah! Save us, Lord!"

The day of Zechariah had finally arrived.

During Holy Week, we look toward Resurrection Sunday with the anticipation that our Risen Savior is coming again. This time, He'll be riding on the clouds and He'll gather us, His own people to Himself. 

We've waited two thousand years, but He hasn't returned yet. Some people have given up. 

They think He's not coming, but He is.

When we least expect it, on a day as ordinary as that of His donkey-riding adventure, Jesus will stand up from His seat at the right hand of God, step into the clouds, and head our way.

Our King is coming back and He'll enter Jerusalem through the now-sealed Eastern Gat. It will be a glorious day, so take hope. 

The prophecy will be fulfilled. 

The King will return. 

His people will join Him in the sky. 

Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

"... and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory..." Matthew 24:30 nasb

_____________

Please like and share to extend our digital reach.

In case you missed yesterday's post, here's the link: The Betrayer in Us That Needs to Be Removed

If you feel led to partner with this ministry (US, Jordan, the digital world), here's the link to give your tax-deductible donations: Global Outreach Acct 4841 

Or you can mail your check or money order to: Global Outreach/ PO Box 1, Tupelo MS 38802. Be sure to put Account 4841 in the "for" line.
#Jesus

Holy Week Day 5: The Dark and Terrible Good Friday

View of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives

The evening began in the Upper Room, where Jesus and His disciples celebrated the Passover. Jesus knew "His hour had come". (John 13:1) His entire life had been spent preparing for the events that were about to unfold. The Sacrifice. The Death. The Atonement. The Victory. The Resurrection.

Before victory, however, there would be much heartache and sorrow. More physical pain than any one innocent man should bear. More spiritual warfare than anyone but Jesus could survive.

During his last few hours, Jesus poured truth into these men with whom He'd spent the last three years. He taught about their relationships with God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Himself. He taught about their relationships with one another and with the world. He warned them about the persecution to come and His death and resurrection. 

He knew everything that would happen to Him, yet He comforted His disciples. "Do not let your heart be troubled, believe in God, believe also in Me. (John 14:1) "I go to prepare a place for you." 

Peter and John had gone to prepare a place for Jesus and the disciples to celebrate the Passover. When they heard those words, at some level, they must have wanted to believe Jesus would be back from this preparing in a few hours. 

It's clear they didn't understand, because the events of the next few hours shocked them to their core. 

Olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemane

After dinner, Jesus did what He always did to prepare for ministry. He went to a solitary place to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. It's a beautiful place. Quiet. Serene. You can see the city from there if you want, or remove yourself completely among the trees, some of which were likely there that night. He prayed for strength and perseverance. He prayed with sweat-drops of blood and, finally, with surrender. 

Not My will, but Yours be done.

The disciples should have prayed, too. If they had, they'd have been prepared for what came next, but they didn't. They slept. When Jesus was arrested and tried, they scattered. They denied. They panicked.

Steps leading to Caiaphas' house

Jesus was arrested in the garden and taken to Annas, (Caiaphas' father-in-law) who bound Him like a common criminal and sent Him to the High Priest, Caiaphas. Those steps you see in the picture are the very steps up which Jesus was led by the soldiers. 

Steps and the courtyard at Caiaphas' where Peter denied Jesus

Caiaphas didn't want to miss the Passover feast, but he didn't want to let Jesus go, either. He was sick of the troublemaker, Jesus, and he saw his chance to be rid of Him. Caiaphas sent Him to Pilate at the Praetorium. 

The Lithostrotos where Jesus' trial was held and where he was mocked and scourged

Mocking and scourging Jesus were not enough to satisfy the blood lust of the Pharisees. They demanded His death. Pilate listened to the accusations against Him and, three separate times, declared Him innocent. He wanted to release Jesus, but feared the crowds. 

Feared a riot in the city. He caved to the pressure and allowed Jesus to be condemned to death by crucifixion.  

By the time He was led to Golgotha, Jesus had been beaten and scourged almost to the point of death. He started out with His cross on His back but collapsed under the load. When He finally finished the climb to the Place of a Skull, Golgotha, nails were pounded into his hands and feet to secure Him to the cross. It was raised into place and He was left to die.

His followers watched in horror. They expected an earthly kingdom. They expected a throne. Stately robes. Wealth. Power. The One on whom they had staked their hopes and future was hanging from nails on a cross. As His blood dripped from His wounds, their hope dripped away, and their faith with it.

He wasn't God after all? He didn't have the power we thought? Why can't He save Himself? He wasn't the Messiah? I believed a lie?

Questions roared through their minds. All they knew for sure was what they saw. What they had believed seemed to be nothing more than fantasy.

That's where the first Good Friday, that dark and terrible day ended for the disciples.

But Sunday was coming. The Resurrection would rock the world and change everything.

For today, we'll stop at the Sacrifice Jesus made for us, because it's vital that we understand these things happened. It's real. I've walked those steps and seen those sites. 

Sin always comes with a price, and it must be paid. Jesus died for us. For our Sin. 

He did it because giving us the Law hadn't helped. We wouldn't obey. Giving us prophecy hadn't helped. We wouldn't listen. Giving us discipline didn't help. We wouldn't change.

Finally, God did the only thing that would help. He gave Himself.

Even now, we don't want to obey. We don't want to listen. We don't want to change. 

On that terrible day so many years ago, Jesus did the only thing that could be done to save us. He gave Himself and left us with a choice. Will we follow Him or not?

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In case you missed part of this series, here are the links:

Holy Week day 1: The Scandalous Act of Love 

Holy Week day 2: The Betrayer

Holy Week day 3: Instant Obedience

Holy Week day 4: Jesus' Last Week

#easter #goodfriday #Jesus #linesfromleanna #leannahollis

Holy Week: Day 4: Jesus' Last Week

Expectations were running high when the disciples returned with the colt for Jesus to ride into the city. In a way, that colt ride represented the arrival of a king. The disciples and the crowd knew it, and they could feel the tension of the moment.

It was a kingly arrival. There was tension. They were right. Their interpretation of what they saw and felt was not right, however. 

They expected an earthly kingdom and the defeat of their Roman conquerors. Jesus had come for something much bigger than they could even imagine, much less expect. 

He was about to enter the worst battle of His life, the one for which He had come. Jesus would set them free from their lifetime conquerors, Sin and Death. He would set up an eternal heavenly kingdom, one that would extend even to us.

Jesus knew that the donkey ride was just the beginning of a week that would seem to spiral out of control. It would leave his followers reeling in despair before only a few days had passed. 

He knew the pain and the fear and the agony He faced. He dreaded what was to come, but He climbed on that donkey anyway. 

He listened to the crowd's celebration anyway. 

He walked, and talked, and ate with His disciples anyway. 

Even though they had almost everything wrong.

Within a few days, He would make things clear, but for those terrible few days, He poured as much teaching into His followers as He could, despite His dread. 

He taught about the power of prayer, the kingdom of God, and His coming death, burial, and resurrection. He spoke of it in more ways than one, but no one understood. 

He continued His march to the cross anyway.

The sacrifice of Jesus was not dependent upon anything the crowd or the disciples did. It was only dependent upon the Loving, Merciful Sacrifice of our Suffering Servant Savior.

Early that week, Jesus spoke these words: 

But the greatest among you shall be your servant, 

And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled;

and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

Matthew 23:11-12 nasb

That's exactly what He did. He humbled Himself, even to the cross. Because of His obedience, God the Father exalted Him.

Jesus didn't start that weeklong march to the cross with exaltation. He started with fear, dread, humility, and obedience. Despite all that, He went on anyway.

As we approach the celebration of His death on Good Friday, the horrifying Silent Saturday when it appeared that all was lost, and His glorious Resurrection Sunday, let's pause today and remember that, despite His own fear, His own dread, He persevered to the cross for us.

He set us free, but we choose to live in bondage anyway.

All too often, I choose sin over freedom anyway.

All too often, I choose failure over the Victory of Jesus anyway.

We all do.

This day, let's begin to choose something different. Let's choose obedience. Freedom. Victory.

Christ has redeemed us. He has set us free. Let's live like we believe what He accomplished on the cross. 

Let's live free. 

It was for freedom that Christ set us free...

Galatians 5:1 nasb

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In case you missed part of this series, here are the links:
Holy Week day 1: The Scandalous Act of Love
Holy Week day 2: The Betrayer
Holy Week day 3: Instant Obedience

#holyweek #jesuslastweek #livefree #linesfromleanna #leannahollis

Holy Week Day 3: Instant Obedience

There were two people who had a significant impact on Jesus' last week, but Scripture doesn't tell us their names. I call them the Unnamed Obeyers. What's important about them is not their names. It's their instant obedience.

We don't know if they were believers or not, but I think they might have been, because, when the disciples said, "The Lord has need," the Unnamed Obeyers said, "Yes. I'll be glad to help." (Leanna Paraphrase)

Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem would not have fulfilled prophecy without the never-ridden donkey. Jesus' last Passover meal with the disciples would not have been the same without the upper room. 

When Jesus approached Mount Olivet, he sent two disciples to the opposite village to find the colt. They were to untie it and bring it to Jesus for His triumphal entry. If anyone asked why they were untying it, they were to say, "The Lord has need of it." 

I am always surprised by what happened. The disciples found the colt, untied it, and someone asked them why. They said just what Jesus said to say. "The Lord has need of it." 

The owner of the donkey colt responded instantly. "Okay. Go right ahead." (my words) He didn't complain or tell them no. He just let them take his young colt for the Lord.

It was the same with the Upper Room. The disciples asked Jesus where they were to prepare the meal. "Go into Jerusalem and look for a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him to the house and tell the owner, the Teacher says, 'Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?'" 

This surprises me, too. Peter and John went into the city, found the man with the pitcher, and followed him. They told  the owner what Jesus said, and the man led the way to a large, furnished upper room. It  was perfect for their feast.

In both instances, as soon as the Unnamed Obeyers heard the need of the Lord, they responded with instant, willing obedience. They didn't argue. They didn't count the cost. They recognized the request was from the Lord and they obeyed. Instantly.

I wish I obeyed as readily. 

The disciples said exactly what Jesus said to say and nothing more. I'd have wanted to embellish the story, but they didn't. Jesus' words were enough. They obeyed him exactly.

The Unnamed Obeyers didn't argue or complain. They simply said, "Yes, Lord." 

I don't always obey as quickly. Once I know for sure what God requires, I'm happy to do it, but being sure isn't always instant for me.

The Unnamed Obeyers had one chance to provide the colt, one chance to provide the Upper Room. Delay might have given the opportunity to serve, and the blessing, to someone else. 

We don't know the Unnamed Obeyers, but their acts of willing obedience are still remembered more than 2000 years later. 

I'd like to have that kind of obedience, wouldn't you? 

When the Still, Small Voice whispers to us, let's obey without delay. When our Lord calls, let's respond instantly with, "Yes, Lord." 

Whether unnamed or not, I want to be remembered as an Obeyer. Don't you?

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*** Be sure to check the updated Prayer List. I have added Brussels to our list. 31 dead. 187 wounded. Airport closed. 200 flights cancelled.

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In case you missed one of the past week's posts, here are the links: What God Requires, Casting Stones, Forgiving, and Forgetting, Being Altogether Joyful, Choosing Molech and Sacrificing Children, The Aftermath: Louisville Tornado 2014, The Scandalous Act of Love, Holy Week, day 2: The Betrayer

#obedience #holyweek #JesusChrist #linesfromleanna #Leanna Hollis

Holy Week, day 2: The Betrayer in Us That Needs To Be Removed

The woman with the alabaster vial, who lavished her gift at the feet of Jesus, performed a lovely deed of worship that's still talked about today. (John 12:1-3) In the margin of my Bible, next to the passage in Matthew 26, these words from a sermon by Bryant Barnes some years ago are recorded:

"Love's desire is to give to the uttermost limit. 

There are times when the commonsense view of economics 
must be overruled by the economics of love."

Unfortunately, not everyone who saw her gift of love had her same desire for "uttermost" giving. Judas, the one who said "this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor," (Matt.26:9) was a thief (John 12:4-6) Money, not Jesus, was his god. 

I don't know Judas' primary reason for following Jesus, but one of the reasons he chose to be in the group was because of the offerings Jesus received. Judas liked to pilfer the money box. When the woman gave her gift of love to Jesus, Judas resented it, and the enemy of our souls used his greatest weakness (the love of money) to advance his advantage.

Let's pause for a moment and consider our own greatest weakness. Where is the point at which the enemy most often attacks us? What tactic causes us to stumble? 

We can speculate about Judas' motivation for his next action, but the truth is that one of Jesus' closest friends went directly to Jesus' worst enemies and offered to betray him. Judas was only willing to betray Jesus for money. "How much will you pay me?" he asked.

The chief priests paid him thirty-three pieces of silver, as prophesied in Zechariah 11:12-13. 

In Exodus, this same amount of money was to be paid to the master of a slave who has been gored by an ox. (Ex 21:32) In a way, Judas set himself up as the "master" of Jesus. The chief priests paid in advance for their opportunity to "gore" Jesus with a fatal blow. 

Two people acted upon their feelings for Jesus. Mary poured out her love with lavish abandon. Judas demonstrated the depth of his love when he grabbed for all the money the chief priests would pay for his betrayal.

Thirty pieces of silver bought Judas. 

What would buy our betrayal? For what would we deny Jesus? 

They're sobering questions, aren't they? 

Luke 6 describes Judas Iscariot as the apostle "who became a betrayer", but he could have as easily written my name in that spot. "Leanna, the woman who became a betrayer." Maybe he could have written your name, as well. 

I'd like to think I would never betray my Lord, but my mouth, my attitudes, my actions sometimes do. 

As we move through Holy Week, let's pray for cleansing that removes all the betrayal from our hearts and changes a heart of greed into a heart of giving, a heart of anger and hate into a heart of love and forgiveness, a heart of turmoil into one of peace.

Love gives to the uttermost. That's what Jesus did for us. We can do no less.

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In case you missed yesterday's post, here's the link: Pleasing Jesus With a Scandalous Act of Love

#betrayal #holyweek #JesusChrist #Judas #linesfromleanna #Leanna Hollis