Category Archives: Lent 2016

Day 40: God is Dead

Church Seasons, Lent 2016, Meditation

The-Body-of-the-Dead-Christ-in-the-Tomb-by-Hans-Holbein-the-Younger-circa-1521Holy Saturday is the final day of the Holy Week, the final day of the traditional 40 day Lent Fast, and a part of the Triduum, and commemorates Jesus lying in the tomb until his resurrection on Easter Sunday. After His crucifixion, Jesus was laid in a nearby tomb by Joseph of Arimathea, and His body remained there for the entirety of Holy Saturday (Matt. 27:59-60; Mk. 15:46; Lk. 23:53-54; Jn. 19:39-42). The tumult and gory scene of Friday was over, and Jesus’ lifeless corpse now lies wrapped up in linen within a sealed tomb. On Saturday, God is dead.

The only reference from the Bible about what happened on Saturday is found in Matthew 27:62-66. After sundown on Friday – the day of Preparation – the chief priests and Pharisees visited Pontius Pilate. This visit was on the Sabbath, since the Jews reckoned a day as starting at sundown. They asked Pilate for a guard for Jesus’ tomb since they remembered Jesus saying that He would rise again in three days (Jn. 2:19-21) and wanted to do everything to prevent that from happening. Pilate granted their request and stationed a guard at the tomb on Saturday.

Holy Saturday is the darkest day in the Christian year. ‘There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain.’ The entire creation now lies waiting in stillness as the corpse of the Son of God lies in a tomb. Take a moment today to feel the tragedy of this day and mourn for the sins which you have done that killed God’s only begotten son. As you do this today, remember that tomorrow will be much more sweeter. Tomorrow will be the day when your mourning will turn into a joy-filled dancing when God the Son resurrects and bursts forth from his own tomb.

Day 39: Good Friday

Church Seasons, Inspiration, Lent 2016, Meditation
Artwork of Jesus Alone on the Cross on Good Friday by James J. Tissot
James J. Tissot, detail from “Jesus Alone on the Cross” (1886-1894), watercolor, Brooklyn Museum, New York.

Good Friday is the second day of the Triduum, the holiest days of the Christian church year which began on Thursday as Jesus ate his last supper with the disciples and ends on Easter morning when Mary and Martha found an empty tomb. On this day, the Son of God endured a sham trial, suffered greatly, and died painfully on the cross. He was jeered and mocked by other people, and Jesus was alone as he hung on the cross. It was not until he cried out his final word in John 19:30 when His redemptive mission and work on earth was completed:

Tetelestai! It is finished!

He died on the cross in order to satisfy God’s wrath and make salvation possible for all men and women who believe in Him, receive the free gift of grace, and follow Him. He died so that we might not experience eternal separation from God. Oh, Love so amazing, Love so divine!

Instead of my daily video meditations, I wanted to post a list of written, music, and video meditations you might want to read and view as you prepare your hearts for the glory of Easter morning. If you have good ones, please share it in the comment section at the bottom. You might end up blessing more believers by whatever you share on this website!

Good Friday Written Meditations

1) Intouch.org –> The Cross of Christ

2) Bible.org –> Good Friday Meditation

3) Pr. Vince Gerhardy, St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Caboolture (2013) –> Meditations for Good Friday on the Way of the Cross

Good Friday Music Videos

1) Nothing But The Blood (Matt Redman)

2) Watch the Lamb (ASL Song)

3) Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed (Isaac Watts)

4) At the Cross (Hillsong)

5) Man Of Sorrows (Hillsong Worship) — ASL Song Here

6) Can It Be that I Should Gain? (Charles Wesley)

7) Why (ASL Song)

8) The Cross of Christ (Chris Tomlin)

9) O Sacred Head Now Wounded (St. Bernard of Clairvaux)

10) Mercy (Matt Redman)

11) When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (Isaac Watts)

Day 38 (part 2): Gethsemane

Church Seasons, Exhortation, God, Lent 2016, Meditation

Day 38 (part 2): Gethsemane
Link to Lent 2016 Vimeo Channel

Transcription of the video above:

The hour has come! Judas has gone! Soon they will be here! Until then, the time is precious, to be spent in unison with His Father so that God’s eternal plan might be fulfilled. As Jesus stooped over at the Garden of Gethsemane in fervent prayer, His carnal soul was filled with grief, agony, and suffering with the knowledge of what lies ahead. The closest three of His disciples – Peter, James, and John – abandoned Him that night in prayer and fell asleep even though Jesus asked them to pray for Him. In the meantime, Judas Iscariot was gathering his troops, leading them up to the Garden, and preparing to give Jesus the betrayer’s kiss. Soon the silence of the garden will be shattered by the sounds of footsteps and the clamor of swords and staves, but more piercing will be the sound of Judas’ kiss.

Three lessons from the Garden emerges tonight:

1) Judas’ kiss challenges us to examine our loyalty to Christ. Are we truly loyal to Christ?

2) The disciples’ sleep challenges the freshness of our prayer and meditation life. Are we seeking to know God more deeply through our prayer and meditation life?

3) The soldiers’ brutality challenges our absorbing the hurts of this life. Do we willingly embrace suffering in this life for Christ’s sake?

Day 38 (Part 1): Intimacy

Church Seasons, Exhortation, Lent 2016, Meditation

Day 38 (part 1): Intimacy
Passages: Jn. 13:12; Exod. 12:1-8, 11-14; Psa. 116; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Jn. 13:1-15
Link to Lent 2016 Vimeo Channel

Transcription of the video above:

If we take seriously living with God and unto God, the evening of Holy Thursday ushers in the most holy time of the Christian year. It is a privileged time for it gives us the opportunity for the next three days to live completely with Him, as everything else fades into oblivion. This is the evening which Jesus spent his last night on earth with the Twelve. During the Passover meal, Jesus washes his disciples’ feet, eats with them, and shared in what would become the Holy Communion. On this evening, Jesus gives us almost too many good things: His example of humility by washing His disciples’ feet, the assurance of His peace, the command to love one another, the promise of the Holy Spirit, and His very Self through the Holy Communion.

Christians are bidden to spend time with Jesus tonight. On the eve of his betrayal, our Lord has done everything he could possibly do for His disciples and gave them the most wonderful gift possible in this world – Himself. Ponder tonight the intimacy Jesus longed to have with His disciples, and how He likewise desires to have an intimate relationship with us on a daily basis. Christ is calling you today; do you hear Him calling you to draw closer?

Day 37: Healing & Forgiveness

Evangelism, Lent 2016, Meditation

Day 37: Healing & Forgiveness

NT Passages: James 5:10-16, Romans 15:1-7, I Corinthians 12:27-31-13:1-8, II Corinthians 1:8-11, Galatians 5:22-6:2, I Thessalonians 5:14-23

Gospel readings: Luke 10:25-37, Luke 19:1-10, Matthew 10:1 & 10:5-8, Matthew 8:14-23, Matthew 25:1-13, Matthew 15:21-28, and Matthew 9:9-13

Link to Lent 2016 Vimeo Channel

Transcription of the video above:

Jesus is our Great Physician, and He has the power to heal us from all our infirmities. The foremost business he goes about everyday as our Physician is to heal us of our sin-sick soul. When Jesus encountered many needy people throughout His ministry, He often dealt with the sickness within their souls at the same time he brings them physical, emotional, or social healing. To the woman caught in adultery, Jesus commanded her to not sin any longer. To Zacchaeus, Jesus meditated forgiveness to him. To the lowest and the vilest offender who repents and desires to follow Jesus, Jesus promises to forgive them of their sinful past and give them new life, hope, joy, and peace.

Only until sinners are forgiven from their sins will they be able to be healed. Humans are made whole only when they have a personal and saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Complete healing of our sin-sick souls is given to us by God only because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God completely forgives us of all our sins on the basis of His Son’s sinless life and atoning death. God desires to heal us of our sin-sick souls and have a personal relationship with Him forever. Easter is a message of God’s triumph over sin, death, and the power of darkness. The same victory over sin and death is promised to everyone who chooses to follow Jesus. Through Christ and his finished work on the Cross alone, you can claim victory over sin, be healed from your past, and experience new life, hope, joy, and peace made possible.