The Journey from Palm Sunday to Redemption

April 16, 2025Leave a comment

How fickle the crowds were. How fickle I can be. The crowds adored Him on Palm Sunday, and by Friday, they were yelling, “Crucify Him!” Yet, in my own life, it is easy to praise Him when things go well, and become angry when life goes sour. What I so easily forget is that God has a plan, and sometimes it includes hard things.

Hundreds of years before Jesus entered humanity in a trough cradle, the prophet Isaiah spoke about the Messiah’s purpose and His sorrows:

Who has believed our message
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
    and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
    nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:1-6, NIV)

Clearly, God had an intentional plan from the very beginning. A plan to rescue and redeem humanity. A plan of forgiveness for all who believe. Christ’s death wasn’t a mistake or an afterthought, it was a Good Plan. In fact, later in this same passage, Isaiah reassured God’s people:

But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him
    and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
    he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
    and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.
When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
    he will be satisfied.
And because of his experience,
    my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous,
    for he will bear all their sins. (Isaiah 53:10,11, NLT)

God’s good plan included both pain and victory. Jesus’ death on the cross was deliberate and purposeful. Because He loves us, He gave His life on our behalf. Our response is to believe and to trust Him.

This Holy week, as we observe His loving and ultimate sacrifice, let us fall to our knees in worship and thanksgiving. Let us proclaim this good news to all who will hear. And let us recognize that God has a good plan, not only for humanity, but for our lives personally. He can redeem even our biggest troubles.

Reflective questions:

In what area of your life do you need to trust God’s good plan for you?

Do you believe Jesus gave His life on your behalf?

A Week of Renewal

March 23, 2024Leave a comment

The beauty of Spring spurs in us a sense of newness and hope. This week in particular gives us renewed joy as we celebrate Christ’s victory over death. We are reminded that no matter how dark the day, God brings light and redeems what seems broken. As we reflect on the powerful stories of this week, let us find renewed love and gratitude for all God is doing in our lives.

Take some time to pause and ponder the events of Holy Week. The triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the last supper with His disciples, Jesus washing their feet, the prayer in the garden, and His arrest. The turn of the crowd shouting, “Crucify Him!” The agony of the cross and the mocking voices, “Save yourself!” His declaration, “It is finished.”

And it was finished. He had paid the price for our sins. A loving sacrifice. But the story was far from over. On the third day, He arose. The angels declared it, the women proclaimed it, His disciples believed it (except for Thomas who eventually came around). Victory over death – a glorious hope for all who believe!

How do we participate in this story? We begin with faith in the Son of God, Jesus, who loved us and gave himself for us. We continue by praising Him and thanking Him. Rejoicing in the fact that He gives us forgiveness of sins, life everlasting, and hope for each day.

We joyfully grow in a love relationship with Him. He is not far off. He is near. His Spirit who dwells within us is our helper who guides us and gives us strength. This week, let us relish the fact that we are never alone. The living and eternal God loves us and is with us.

Photo by Wai Siew on Unsplash

Who is Jesus?

April 9, 2017Leave a comment

jacob-meyer-32136

Holy Week brings our focus in to who Jesus is and why He came to this earth. God doesn’t want us to be confused about Christ. Jesus Christ’s deity is central to our Christian foundation and beliefs. If you believe that Jesus was just a nice man or a wise prophet or a good angel, then you are missing the very essence of Christianity. Paul, in His letter to the Colossians, made it clear that Jesus was all man and all God. There is no one else who fits that description. Christ is the one and only God in human form. Immanuel, God with us, sent to this world to offer His life for us.

In Colossians 1, we see one of the strongest statements in all of scripture as to the divine nature of Christ. He is supreme over all creation and over all spiritual beings. He is the one who created us and sustains us. As this passage paints a true picture of Jesus in vibrant color, I see the power and the beauty of the One in whom I have placed my trust. I know I can safely and confidently place my life and my future in Him. Here’s what Paul wrote about Jesus:

He is the visible image of the invisible God.
He is the firstborn (supreme) over all creation.
By Him all things were created.
He existed before everything else began.
He holds all creation together.
He is the Head of the church.
He is the firstborn of all who will rise from the dead.
In everything He has the supremacy – He is supreme over all, the first in everything.
All God’s fullness dwells in Him and through Him.
God reconciled all things through Christ, by making peace through His blood shed on the cross.

Take a moment to ponder each of these descriptions of Jesus throughout the week this week, and praise Him for who He is.

Praise you Father, Son and Holy Spirit, God three in One. There is no other. You are the God of all creation, the beginning and the end. Loving, Merciful, all-wise God, all glory and honor belong to You. You are before all things, and by You all things exist. Thank you God for caring about me. I am honored to be called your daughter. Glorious God, thank you for letting me know you through your son Jesus. Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty, You are the One Who was and is and is to come.

A portion of this blog is an excerpt from Karol’s book A Woman’s Secret to Confident Living.

Check out this month’s $5 special, Karol’s DVD on the topic.

colossians video

Holy Week – Your Personal Journey

March 21, 2016Leave a comment

the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ and a nail on the Holy Cross

This week is the most significant week of the Christian faith, so I want us to examine the Biblical account of what happened each day and consider what it means to us personally. I hope you will walk with me through this week and explore the profound impact of Christ’s death and resurrection on your own life.

Sunday – Palm Sunday – Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy from hundreds of years earlier by Zechariah. The crowds shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!” Each of the gospels records this significant event. Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 19:28 – 44, John 12:12-19

Personal Reflection: Who is Jesus to me? Will I join in praising Jesus as the Son of God, Ruler of all? Am I only willing to praise Him when things are good and my expectations are met? Do I still praise Him for who He is and trust Him for what He can do when things don’t go the way I want or expect? Pray to for eyes to see who Jesus is and the salvation and peace that He brings.

Monday – Jesus returns to Jerusalem and cleanses the temple of the money changers saying, “My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers.” Read about it in Mathew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19.

Personal Reflection: What areas of my life need a little cleaning out? Am I willing to invite the Lord to reveal those areas of sin? Am I willing to repent and turn back to Him? Pray for God to gently convict you of areas of sin in your life.

Tuesday – Jesus returns to Jerusalem and is confronted by the leaders in the Temple who question Jesus’ authority. Jesus responds and then goes on to teach the people using parables. He also teaches about the coming destruction of Jerusalem and final judgement. Read about Jesus interactions, his parables and teachings in Matthew 21:23 – 25 Luke 20 – 21, Mark 11:27 – 13, John 12:20-49

Personal Reflection: Am I a student of God’s word, or do I simply listen to what others say? Am I willing to pay attention to His teachings? Pray for a heart of understanding and ears to hear what He is teaching you through His Word.

Wednesday – The religious leaders assemble in order to plot how they can arrest Jesus. Some call this “Spy Wednesday” because it is the day that Judas conspired with the religious authorities to turn Jesus over to them for 30 pieces of silver. Also, while Jesus was in Bethany, Mary anointed Jesus with the expensive perfume from her alabaster jar. Interesting to think that one takes money for turning Jesus into the authorities, while another spends her precious possession on Jesus to prepare Him for His burial. Matthew 26:1-15, Mark 14:1-11 Luke 22:1-6 John 12:1-11

Personal Reflection: How valuable is Jesus in my life? Is He someone I use, hoping to get what I want? Or is He someone I adore, willing to give my very best for Him? Pray for a deeper and more sincere love for Jesus.

Thursday – Considered “Holy Thursday,” this day marks the beginning of the sacred Triduum (three days). On this day Jesus instructs his disciples to prepare the Passover. This is night of the Last Supper in which Jesus breaks the bread and passes the cup symbolizing the new covenant, His body and blood sacrificed for our sins. This evening He takes a short walk with His disciples across the Kidron Valley to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prays in agony that this cup may be taken from Him. Yet he prays, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” The disciples are not able to stay awake in Jesus darkest hour. Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss. Matthew 26:17 -56, Mark 14:12 – 52, Luke 22:7 – 53, John13:21 – 18:11

Personal Reflection: Do I recognize the love Jesus has for me to face terrible suffering on my behalf? Am I filled with gratitude and love as I take the Lord’s Supper or has it just become ritual? Take the Lord’s Supper tonight and humbly pray with a grateful heart, thanking Him for all He has done for you.

Friday – This is Good Friday. On this day Jesus faced trials before both the high priest and Pilate. In less than a week, the people changed from an adoring crowd to an angry mob shouting “Crucify Him!” He was beaten and ridiculed as the guards placed a crown of thorns on His head. He was nailed to a cross on the hillside of Galgotha, and hung in agony for 3 hours. Here He cries, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus is laid in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, and guards are posted at the tomb. This is often a day when Christians join together for prayer and worship and fasting, recognizing the significance of what Jesus did on the cross. It is called Good Friday because on this day Jesus fulfilled His purpose – to offer His life as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Matthew 26:57 – 27:66, Mark 14:53 – 15:47, Luke 22:66 – 23:56, John 18:28 – 19:42.

Personal Reflection: Do I understand why Jesus went to the cross? Do I fully grasp the fact that He died and shed His blood as a full and complete payment for my sin? Have I put my trust in the work He did on the cross, or am I trusting my own works to save me? If you have never placed your faith in Jesus and what He did for you on the cross, I encourage you to trust Him today. Here’s an example of a prayer you may pray:

Father, thank you for your love for me. I know that I am a sinner and cannot make it to heaven based on my own works. Thank you for the work Jesus did on the cross to give me forgiveness and a new life in Him. I place my faith in Jesus, and surrender my heart to You. Thank you that I no longer bear the burden of my own sin. Thank you for forgiving me and giving me the strength to live each day.

Saturday – Jesus was in the tomb, and the disciples were distraught, confused and heartbroken. Although Jesus told them He would be raised from the dead in three days, they forgot His promises.

Personal Reflection: What are the heartbreaks and disappointments in my life? What promises of God do I need to go back to and hold on to? When I experience dark times, am I willing to trust with hope that God can bring something good through it? Pray for His hope to permeate your mind and heart.

Sunday – Resurrection Day! Jesus rose from the dead! The tomb is empty! This is a day of celebration, a day that we rejoice in Jesus’ victory over death. We also rejoice in the fact that as believers in Christ, He has given us His Spirit to live in us (Romans 8). The resurrection not only means that as believers in Christ we will experience eternal life, but also that we live in victory because we have the Spirit of Christ living in us, giving us strength and hope and direction. Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20.

Personal Reflection: Am I walking in victory, recognizing that the very same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead, lives in me? Am I looking to Him for direction and strength and triumph over sin? Am I living with a joy and peace that only His Spirit can give, as I keep my eyes on eternity? Pray for victory and joy as you reflect on all that the resurrection means in your life. Rejoice!!

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