Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper
Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.
In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.
Reflection: He is Worthy!
Digging for Truth: According to Leviticus, the Passover [Pesach] begins on the 14th day of Nisan (the first month of the Hebrew calendar) and the seven-day festival called the Feast of Unleavened Bread begins sundown on the 15th day of Nisan (23:5-8). This holiday celebrates the liberation of Israel from 400 years of Egyptian slavery and God’s pure care of his people against all odds. Countless miracles from the Lord, during this time in history, interrupted the work of Satan to destroy God’s people. Let’s never forget God always has the last Word and we see that in our Christ!
Over the generations of celebrating the Passover, the Jewish people were instructed to eat unleavened bread, but the whole week was filled with prayer, rest, sacrificial giving, special shared meals, and holy gatherings. Annually, recounting this story and sharing it with family/friends was put forth in the Old Testament as a command from God.
Although the date of the Passover falls differently depending on the twelve-month calendar being used (Hebrew/lunisolar vs. Gregorian/solar), the feast is important to God and should be important to us, because it reveals the Truth and depth of God’s love to redeem his creation. Jesus would have always honored this celebration, because he is Lord and the Center of it all! The Passover points to God’s salvation and leads us to understand the redemption process more clearly.
On the first Passover, a lamb was to be killed and the blood of that sacrifice was wiped over the door posts of the people’s dwelling in order to protect everyone within from God’s judgment against the world’s sin resulting in physical death. During his final earthly Passover, Jesus would offer himself as the Lamb to save God’s people from internal slavery to sin and spiritual death. When King Jesus returns for his people, the Passover will be complete: God will judge the world and the spiritually dead and call those covered by the blood of Jesus living life in the Spirit of righteousness into his glory; we will never deal with any attacks from Satan, again! Wow! Thank you, Lord!
On this Thursday of Holy Week, we will honor the beauty of the Passover meal called the “seder” (meaning order), by observing what we call the Lord’s Supper. The seder’s food elements are symbolic of Israel’s external slavery. Jesus shared a Passover seder with the disciples prior to his crucifixion but takes them farther in their understanding; he concludes the meal with leading his disciples to partake in him as the Bread of Life (Lamb w/o sin) and the Cup of Salvation (covered by his blood). Each time we come to Christ’s table, we remember what he has done for us to redeem us and draw us to himself.
Grace for the Heart: There are many ways we observe the grace, goodness, and humility of God; to remind us of Jesus and the love he shared with his disciples before he placed himself on the cross to die for our sins. Holy Week simply provides us a time to thank the Lord for his mercy, saving grace, and freedom to walk in righteousness.
This evening, Connect2Christ Church will observe the Lord’s Supper at a special Maundy Thursday gathering; 6:30PM. For us, Maundy (Latin for command) is simply a time to remember the Passover work of our King to deliver us from sin and death! May he reign and rule in our hearts!
Acts 2:1-4a GW: “When Pentecost, the fiftieth day after Passover, came, all the believers were together in one place. Suddenly, a sound like a violently blowing wind came from the sky and filled the whole house where they were staying. Tongues that looked like fire appeared to them. The tongues arranged themselves so that one came to rest on each believer. All the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit…”
Challenge: The Passover work of the Lamb saves us from physical death and spiritual death. The work of the Holy Spirit—our Helper—leads us to live by the power of the Bread and Cup of Life! What is happening in heaven? Millions of angels around the throne sing, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing” (Revelation 5:12).
Prayer: Lord, thank you for such an extravagant method and plan to save us from the work and plan of Satan to destroy us. Thank you for your mercy and grace working all the time to deliver us from evil and to vindicate us as your children. We look for your love to fill us and an awareness of your presence to overwhelm us. You are good and we humbly declare our love and devotion to you! In Jesus’ name.