Holy Week-Megan

Wow, it has been quite a week. I feel that this year, more than any other year, I have had the opportunity to really focus on what this week means. Both through this devotion and various events.
   -On Tuesday night I was helping set up for College Life Christian Fellowship night meeting. We were setting up crosses. As I carried one in I thought about how glaringly obvious it was that I at least associated myself with Christ. Then I felt silly thinking, shouldn't it be that obvious all the time? Aren't I always carrying the reminder of my decision? Shouldn't that make my faith undeniable? Shouldn't that leave absolutely no excuses for fear? I want it to be that obvious always.

I had a mental image of some sort of nightmare that you have over and over. Because at least annually we watch Jesus die again and again. And there's nothing we can do to stop the necessity of it. He doesn't die for us more than once. But in remembrance of we re-realize the horror of it all.

When I was reading through the scripture I noticed all the little stories that were wrapped up in the big picture of that night.

Peter: He had to be so broken that he couldn't ignore his brokenness anymore. He didn't know how the night was going to end but in those three moments it seemed all too easy and harmless to avoid conflict and discomfort by denying Him. Luke 23:61-62 "The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly."
He looked straight at him, He looks straight at me. In the face of all that He has ever done for me in my brief life when I neglect to take advantage of my opportunities "to fearlessly proclaim the mystery of the gospel"* He looks straight at me and it hurts Him.

Herod, Pilate, and the saved sinner:
-There's a tiny verse(12) in Luke 23 that says "That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies." The only reason they had to become friends was through their interactions with Jesus. Even if just politically they became friends, there was still a level of peace that was reached off to the side there.

-The saved sinner. There are two options presented to us in the two robbers. There's the mocking and there's the realizing you need a savior you don't deserve who died a death He didn't deserve so that He could bring you healing.
Jesus, in a story that is basically all about what He was doing for us, reached beyond the big picture to save the one. He was bringing healing and peace as he always had even in the face of the suffering and death he knew in advance he would have to endure. We are, each of us, important enough to Jesus to be saved by Jesus.

Luke 23:50-51 and Mark 15:43 stood out to me.

"Now there was a man named Joseph, a Member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God." "... went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body."
-This is all we know about him. How he is introduced to the Easter story. These are such commending words. I couldn't help but think, if I were introduced as a passing person in the bible what would my two sentences be? Would I even get named? Not that I should be focussed on getting named but that I should be concerned with doing only what is pleasing to God.

The part of the devotional narration of the story that stood out to me the most was Jesus' conversation with Mary.  "You'll be able to hold on to me later Mary, and always be with me. But now,  go and tell the other that I'm alive!" So often all I want to do is sit and "cling to Jesus and never let Him go" but that's not what Jesus set me free for. The point of living is to go, and go now. Because life here on earth isn't "always" for anyone. Now is the time for hard work, spreading the gospel and loving on people. We can rest in paradise. But right now there are broken and dying people living in darkness and it is our responsibility out of the joy of our salvation to share this great news with every single person we ever have the privilege of meeting.

*Ephesians 6:19-20