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Suggested Readings This Week
Suggested Readings This Week
Many holidays, such as Christmas, are entirely or partly man-made. The observance of the Lord’s Supper each Lord’s Day is our only real Scripture-bound observance. Special days in the New Testament are mostly a matter of personal conscience (Romans 14:5-6), and the church ought to steer clear of binding new holidays on members’ lives.
That said, for the last few years, I have gained a great blessing by reading the sections of the gospel of Mark that record the last days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, corresponding to what some call “Holy Week” culminating in Easter. Remember that while Christmas has more to do with pagan rituals and gift buying, and we have little idea when Jesus was born, the Jewish Passover calendar allows us to be quite certain of the anniversary of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection.
Jesus was crucified during the high priesthood of Caiaphas, 18-36AD, during the Judean governorship of Pilate, 26-36AD. And John the Baptist began his work in “the fifteenth year of Tiberius,” (Luke 3:1-2), in 29AD.
Jesus was crucified on a Friday, the “day of preparation” for the Sabbath (Matthew 27:62) and raised the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1).
Leaving aside a complication from John’s gospel, Jesus was crucified in connection with the annual feast of Passover (Matthew 26:2, Mark 14:1, Luke 22:1) which fell on a Friday twice in this time frame, April 7, 30AD or April 3, 33AD.
Jesus died about "the ninth hour" (Matthew 27:45-50, Mark 15:34-37, Luke 23:44- 46) which would be 3:00pm.
Most scholars believe better sense is made of length of Jesus’ ministry in the gospels by assigning Jesus’ crucifixion to the later 33AD date. So, we can pretty confidently say that Jesus died on the cross at 3:00pm Friday, April 3, 33AD.
So, while I’m not suggesting you observe Easter any differently than you would any other Lord’s Day, and while I’m not suggesting you attach any significance to the titles some would ascribe to each day this week (Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, etc.) I’m going to share in this bulletin what I plan to read and meditate upon and invite you to join me. It is powerful to think on Jesus’s experiences, Jesus who revealed to His disciples what fate awaited Him in Jerusalem (Mark 10:32-34), and yet boldly went there anyway, to teach and ultimately die for you and me.
Today, Sunday, April 2, read Mark 11:1-11. Exactly (probably) 1990 years ago, on this day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey’s colt, in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9. Despite His humility, the crowds received Him as a king and rejoiced! Has the world ever known such a sovereign Lord who had come not to be served but to serve? It was late in the day though, so he returned to Bethany about two miles away, likely to the home of Lazarus (John 12:1).
Monday, read Mark 11:12-26. Jesus returned to the Temple district, full of attendees arriving for Passover, and drove out the moneychangers. He accused the authorities of turning God’s house of prayer for all the nations into a robbers’ den. The chief priests and scribes began
making plans to destroy Him. Jesus provided a parable of what would soon happen to the unfruitful nation of Israel, by drying up a
fig tree on the way in and out of Jerusalem.
Tuesday, read Mark 11:27-13:37. Jesus returned to Jerusalem and faced questions from the religious authorities. Jesus implied that they had made a habit of rejecting God’s prophets, and now were rejecting His Son! He answered their probing questions about taxes, and the resurrection, the greatest commandment, and the son of David. He observed the widow offering two coppers. And as He was walking back to Bethany, He sat upon the Mount of Olives and looked across the valley at the temple buildings, contemplating their destruction within one generation.
Wednesday, read Mark 14:1-11. While in Bethany, a woman covered Jesus with precious oils, which Jesus commended as anointing Him for His upcoming burial. Judas schemed with the priests for a way to betray Him into their hands when there would be fewer crowds.
Thursday, read Mark 14:12-72. Jesus ate the Passover meal with His disciples and used the bread and wine to institute the Lord’s Supper under a new covenant. While the arrival of evening would mark the start of a new day to the Jews, this night is when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, while His closest disciples dozed off. This very night 1990 years ago is when Jesus was betrayed and arrested, witnessed Peter’s denials, and stood before hastily assembled illegal courts.
Friday, read Mark 15:1-47. As the sun rose, the courts reached a verdict. Jesus was marched to Pilate for condemnation. He was clearly innocent, but Pilate appeased the crowds and sentenced Him to death. Just think--this day He was mocked, beaten, scourged, and crucified between two robbers. This day He hanged between heaven and earth for our sins. This day He breathed His last, and His body was buried as the sun set.
Saturday, read Luke 23:56b and Matthew 27:62-66. On the Sabbath, the women and disciples rested. The Jews posted a guard at the tomb.
Sunday, read Mark 16:1-13. The women returned to finish anointing the body but discovered that Jesus had risen! Praise God! There is victory in Jesus for those who have faith.
–John Guzzetta
