Category: Lent 2023

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be to you.” – John 20:19 (ESV)

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his…

Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. – Matthew 26:42-43 (ESV)

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you.’ – Matthew 26:27 (NIV)

On Wednesday of Holy Week, we find Jesus in the village of Bethany at the home of Simon, the leper. The gospel writers relay a story of a woman and her extravagant response to Jesus as she pours expensive fragrant oil on Jesus’ head. Each of the writers gives specific details from their own perspectives…

They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on. – Mark 12:44 (NIV)

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.  Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one…

As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Luke…

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly, I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20 (NIV)

But even as he spoke, a bright cloud over-shadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” – Matthew 17:5