Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started

Tag: Good Friday

Mourning into Joy | Good Friday: I Find No Fault in this Man | Holy Week | Devotional Series | Part 7 of 10

I find Pilate’s declaration of Jesus’ innocence quite intriguing. Why would YHWH require a man’s institution declare Him innocent? Considering, the kind of humiliation that would entail. I mean, wasn’t the cross enough? Why put Jesus through the avoidable humiliation?! But the more I inquire, the more I grow in love with the fact that Christ endured all this – not just knowingly, but also willingly.

So many Christians around the world will hear their pastors preach the Cross to them today. And that is absolutely essential. But me, I can’t help but be moved by this little exchange Jesus had with Pilate. So, in this insignificant humble little blog of mine, I wish to devote some words dwelling on that.

Jesus was subjected to a human judiciary system. I believe, that in itself is a humiliation – unbearable; considering Jesus to be an equal head of the triune God who is sovereign. But not just that, the subjugation did not proceed from accusation and straight to the Cross. No. Jesus was put through every minute of what entails – the most gruesome dealing a judiciary system could enforce. Apart from this, it is also worth noting, He had no friends or followers devoted to Him at this point. Jesus was abandoned, both socially and later, spiritually (Matt 27:46). I believe it is very important for us to know – Jesus suffered the Cross absolutely alone. Now in the backdrop of this context, I want us to revisit Pilate’s declaration.

Why was this needed?

The reason, I (apparently) believe is to inform us, through all conceivable medium that Jesus died sinless – true to His nature – an innocent man – for our sins. Because the judiciary system of God requires the blood of the lamb to declare us innocent, as Jesus was declared innocent. Because only the blood of the lamb can wash us anew. Because only the blood of the lamb can make us holy.

Dear reader, one day – as Jesus was judged by the law of man, we will be judged by the law of God. And on that day – our only fighting chance to be declared innocent is if we are washed in the blood of the lamb. The only way, we will be declared innocent is if we are cloth in His righteousness. The Apostle Paul so aptly put this in words.

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (2 Cor 5:21, NLT)

The only way we could be made right with God is through Christ. And the only reason we could come through Christ is because of Good Friday. It is because on this day, Jesus knowingly and willingly, put Himself through man’s judgement to fulfill the wrath of God. So that one day, you and I could stand as innocent as Him, when God’s judgement comes to pass. Therefore Paul confirmed, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Rom 8:1) How wonderful is that… Jesus died an innocent man so that you and I could be declared innocent. Because it is only His righteousness that grants us salvation. To God be the Glory.    

I hope everyone is safe and quarantined. Let us use this self-isolation period to grow more in faith – to spend more alone time in the Word of God. I wish you and your family a very blessed Good Friday. I hope and pray that the joy of salvation be thoroughly renewed this season – in your life, and in the life of your loved ones. Shalom!

Series Index: (1) Introduction: Why Observe the Holy Week (2) Palm Sunday: Sovereign Mercy (3) Holy Monday: Tough Love (4) Holy Tuesday: Who do we say this Jesus is (5) Spy Wednesday: The Temptation of Worldly Logic (6) Maundy Thursday: Jesus, Truly Human, for You and Me

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

Mourning into Joy | Introduction: Why Observe the Holy Week | Holy Week | Devotional Series | Part 1 of 10

Observing the Holy Week has always been a polarizing ritual for me. Because, I’ve always felt it to be a virtue-signing act. Perhaps that is my own inner crookedness, that I cannot accept that anyone could even observe this ritual genuinely. Secondly, and this used to be my go-to excuse – (that) the scriptures never made it mandatory. But as I grow older, and as I learn to spend more time meditating in the scriptures – I find that it is not I but Christ that leads me into discipline and obedience towards holiness. (Matt 19:26) In other words, it is not by our strength, but by the virtue of God’s grace that we can genuinely observe the Holy Week to its full effect.

Though it is also true that the scripture does not make it an obligation to observe the Holy Week, but it sure does – undeniably builds us up towards it. The Old Testaments swells up to this point. This is the week, when the promise of salvation was about to be materialized. The Devil was to use all its might, the saints were to see the last of the trying times as sinners-unrepentant, and Christ – God, Christ was to lead us through this darkness – like YHWH led the Israelites through the parted Red Sea. The Holy Week, this ordinary week, may not mean much to the world, but for the believer it is nothing less than historic. Apparently, that’s why, all the four Apostles dedicated a major part of the Gospel to this week (alone). Because it was during the course of this week – that Christ changed our fate. He suffered everything we were meant to suffer. And showed us what obedience and perseverance meant. He took the wrath of God for us, and showed us – it is He – who was to come – and paid the full payment of our sins. And most importantly, it was during this week – He demonstrated the Father’s love for us – and bought us the prerequisite holiness to be united with God.

But beyond these reasons – that are grounded in the Biblical past, there is one that I find absolutely convincing. The reason why we should observe the Holy Week is because this is a wonderful opportunity for us to walk with Ekklesia – the body of Christ. David Mathis explains this better. He writes,

“Marking Holy Week is not an obligation, but it is an opportunity. It is a chance to walk with the church, throughout time and through the world, as she walks with her Bridegroom through the most important week in the history of the world. It is a chance to focus our minds on, and seek to intensify our affections for, the most important and timeless realities.” (Pg. 1)

How wonderful that is. I hope dear reader, that you’ll join me in relishing this wonderful opportunity – in walking with Christ and His Church, this Holy Week. Blessed Greetings.

NOTE: Daily Devotions will start from Palm Sunday i.e. 5th April ’20, 9 AM (IST). And end on Easter Sunday i.e. 12th April ’20. You can also subscribe the blog via email to receive the devotionals directly in your inbox.   

Pages: Page 1, Page 2