Tuesday March 26, 2024

Today is Holy Tuesday, March 26 and each day of Holy Week we journey closer to the cross with Jesus.

Holy and gracious God, I seek you in these moments of morning silence. As I read the account of Jesus’ last week on earth, I listen for the particular message you have for me today. Speak to me through the power of your Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. John 12:27-33

Everyday during Holy Week we read the Biblical account of that same day during Jesus’ last week on earth. Jesus and his disciples often stayed the night in Bethany two miles east of Jerusalem, likely at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus who he raised from the dead. Many people came to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover and the word about Jesus was spreading among the crowd. Jesus knew the end of his earthly life was approaching and that his kingdom was coming to fruition. He predicted his death to the surrounding crowd saying that the “hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (John 12:23).

The hour arrived for the Son of Man to overcome the cross of suffering and humiliation and vanquish sin and death forever. This is the very reason Jesus came. This is his hour. God’s name will be glorified again and again through Jesus Christ. The world will be judged and the prince of this world, the evil one, will be driven out. I will be judged as well. Jesus was lifted up upon the cross in order to draw all people to himself – and that includes me. I am grateful for this unfathomable truth. Because of his suffering, death and resurrection, I have abundant life and eternal life, here and in heaven. He suffered for my sins, was lifted up on the cross to pay the penalty for my transgressions and died for my trespasses. Because he died, I live. I consider which words from this Holy Week passage most resonate with the current state of my soul? Troubled or saved. Judged or benefitted. Driven out or drawn near.

Ask: How have I been drawn to the cross of Christ? How has God’s name been glorified through my salvation?

Pause and Pray