Day 40

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Amy Davis

Holy Saturday, April 7, 2012

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.  She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”  (Luke 2:6-7)

At His birth, He lays in a borrowed animal manger…a feeding trough.  In His death, He lies in a borrowed tomb.  Is there any more room for him today than there was then? I think we’d all say there isn’t. So perhaps there has never been room for Jesus.
It is Holy Saturday, and the day is gilded with sorrow.  But beneath the gloom there is the sound of eternal life stirring in the bosom of the earth. There is no room for Him in the grave either. So we are silent this day because we are listening hard for the sound of a stone rolling away. We are holding our breath as we wait for the trembling earth to tell us that death is over forever.  Lord Jesus, we are making room for you.

Additional Reading: John 19:38-42

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Day 39

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Amy Davis

Good Friday, April 6, 2012

The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”  (Luke 23:47)

He only saw Him die and yet the centurion was convinced. He was convinced of the righteousness of Jesus…His “right-relatedness” to God the Father and to the people He came to love and to save.  He never saw Him heal the sick or raise the dead or cleanse the leper or give sight to the blind, but he was convinced.
So… what would it take to convince us?  What answer to prayer? What miraculous moment? I think the centurion tells us to take a good look at the cross and that is enough.

Additional Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

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Day 38

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Amy Davis

Maundy Thursday, April 5, 2012

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. (Matthew 27:50)

For Jesus’ followers, seeing Him die was the crushing end to a wonderful whirlwind of life that they had experienced for the few years before. In despair, seeing God’s hand, or trusting that it’s even there, becomes almost impossible. Yet we can see throughout Scripture, and hopefully in our own lives, that the Father’s plan seldom contains the bitter ending that we think we are experiencing in our lowest moments. We can trust that Sunday mornings do and will come.

Additional Reading: Acts 2:22-36

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Day 37

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Amy Davis

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46)

During those last three hours, God had withdrawn from the Savior, evoking that terrible cry, ‘My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?’  But now all is finished. The cup of wrath is empty and the storm of darkness has passed. Jesus, in His divine power, once more joins in communion with the Father – never more to be broken.

Additional Reading: John 15:9-17

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Day 36

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Amy Davis

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

When Jesus had received the wine, He said, “It is finished.”  Then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”  (John 19:30)

The supreme irony of the cross of Calvary is that because of this death, we are given life.  Because the strength of hate is completely exhausted there, we are given powerful love without limit.  In a great Divine reversal, all things perverse and deadening are made impotent and powerless. Where? At the cross.
Does God love you?  Look at the cross.  Is there real hope for a new beginning in life?  Look at the cross.  Can today be worth living?  It is there on the cross we find the answer.

Additional Reading: John 14:1-6

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Day 35

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Amy Davis

Monday, April 2, 2012

Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”  (John 19:28)

Jesus’ simple request is another reminder that He was fully human.  He was tempted in all the ways we’re tempted, yet was without sin.  Thanks be to God for Jesus’ perfect obedience!

Additional Reading: Psalm 71:1-24

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Day 34

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Amy Davis

Saturday, March 31, 2012

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)

In the midst of the darkness of the cross we must see the light of grace. We must see that there was a reason for the pain . . . it was to set us free. Jesus endured God’s wrath so we would not have to.

Additional Reading: Isaiah 53:10-12

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Day 33

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Amy Davis

Friday, March 30, 2012

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.  (John 19:26-27)

While Jesus was dying He had the presence of mind to make arrangements for the care of loved ones.  How amazing it is that Jesus was able to think of others while being crushed under the weight of the sins of the world.

Additional Reading: 1 John 3:16-24

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Day 32

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Amy Davis

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

I never cease to marvel at what Jesus said to a dying criminal: “Today you will be with me in paradise.”  No need to do anything to make up for a wasted life.  No need to clean up your act first. It is grace showing up one heartbeat away from eternity. No wonder they call it Good News. It is news so good that it seems too good to be true. But by God’s grace, it is true.  For you, for me. Grace.

Additional Reading: Colossians 2:13-15

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Day 31

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Amy Davis

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots… (Luke 23:34)

Granting forgiveness is never easy. The circumstances under which Jesus is saying these words make His request to the Father even more profound. This picture of selfless love should inspire us to make this same request to God more often, since the opportunity will always arise in less dire circumstances.

Additional Reading: Ephesians 4:25-32

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