Holy Week –
This week’s devotions
follow a different pattern. They will focus on Gospel accounts of the last week
of Jesus’ life. I encourage you to read each of the readings slowly, perhaps
out loud, and to meditate on Jesus’ love in his actions. The prayers offered
are from the early twentieth century and variations on them are still used in
worship.
Teaching
John records that part of the reason the Jews
wanted to kill Jesus was because so many people believed in him after healing
the man born blind and raising Lazarus. The Triumphal Entry, then, becomes one
more catalytic moment for the Jews to see that the people are coming to believe
Jesus is the Messiah.
Life
How do the words and fulfillment of Zech. 9:9 (Jn 12:15)
speak to you as you enter Holy Week? Read them in light of what was going on
around these events. How are they fulfilled in your own life?
Prayer
O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou Author and Finisher of
our faith, who for the joy that was set before Thee didst endure the cross,
despising the shame: we thank Thee for Thine unspeakable love, in that Thou hast
not only procured for us rest by Thy sorrow and life by Thy death, but art
pleased also to impart Thy saving health to us by the preaching of the Cross,
the Word of Truth. [As we] meditate on the solemn mysteries of Thy holy Passion,
we beseech Thee, by Thy Holy Spirit enlighten our understandings and direct our
wills, that we may hear the story of Thy sufferings and death with our minds
disengaged from all worldly distractions, and bent solely upon contemplating in
devout reverence and for our own salvation the wonders of Thy love, which even
the angels desire to look into. Enable us to realize both the enormity and
bitterness of our sins, for which Thou wast wounded, that we may repent of
them, and the unfathomable depths of Thy grace, which, where sin abounded, doth
much more abound, that we may be comforted. O, that Thy image, O Man of
sorrows, were deeply graven upon our hearts to make them Thine! Give us the
obedience of faith, that we may now and hereafter be partakers of Thy plenteous
redemption. Sprinkle us with Thy blood, cleanse our souls from sin, strengthen
our hearts with the assurance of our adoption, and transform us into Thine
image by the renewing of our minds. May the infinite fervor of Thy love
enkindle in us steadfast faith in Thee and offer up spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God by Thee. Have mercy upon every one according to his need, add
Thy blessing to our services at this time, go with us throughout our lives,
guide us by Thy good and gracious Spirit, and grant that we may finally be
acceptable in Thy sight. Hear us, O blessed Savior, for Thine own sake. Amen.
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