SUNDAY
Broken To Be Used Of God
Today is Palm Sunday, a time to remember when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey that had never been broken. Colts or foals have to be broken before they can be ridden and used. In the same way we often have to be broken to be used of the Lord. This young donkey had never been broken, but he was broken in the hand of the Lord. "And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him." (Mark 11:2) A colt would have to be broken before a person could sit on it and ride it. They took the colt to Jesus and He sat on it and rode into Jerusalem. Imagine how a young animal would have reacted to garments thrown in front of it, people waving tree branches at it, and shouting, yet the colt went on, being used by the Lord. As we yield our lives to God we sometimes need to be broken so that we can keep our minds and eyes on the Lord. Sometimes we need to be broken so that we will take our eyes off what is ahead of us, and what is going on behind us. We need to be broken from the noise of the world and focus on serving our Savior. Sometimes our pride needs to be broken so that we put our Lord first in our lives and say like John the Baptist. "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30)
"8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest." (Mark 11:8-10)
MONDAY
Broken Bread
Jesus wanted to have the Passover supper with His disciples before He was to be crucified. They went into an upper room that was furnished. He gave thanks and broke the bread and gave it to His disciples. “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19) They were there when Jesus broke the loaves and fishes to feed the multitudes. Two chapters later we see the account of two of Jesus’ disciples that were on the road to Emmaus and they were sad over the death of Christ. They did not know Jesus when He walked and talked with them. But, when they sat to eat that evening their eyes were opened when He broke bread. “And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.” (Luke 24:35) Jesus wants to fellowship and eat with us, too. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 20:3)
“21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.” (Luke 24:21-35)
TUESDAY
A Broken Friendship
Most of us have probably felt the hurt caused by broken friendships. It may have been something that was done on one side or the other that caused pain, or maybe just time or distance that caused you to break apart. You may have lost touch with friends that had been close for many years, or someone you knew only for a short while. No matter how devastated you felt at the time, it could never compare to the sorrow Jesus felt when Judas Iscariot betrayed His friendship. Judas Iscariot walked and talked with Jesus. He saw the miracles and ate of the loaves and fish. He chose to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Even though Judas betrayed Jesus, He still called him “Friend”. The next time you feel betrayed, cheated, and hurt by a one-time friend, remember that Jesus went through so much more for you.
"14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
20 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
23 And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him." (Matthew 26:14-16, 20-25, & 48-50)
WEDNESDAY
A Broken Tradition
Back in the days when Jesus walked on the earth, He actually walked on the earth. The only time that is recorded that He rode on a donkey was when He rode into Jerusalem just before His death. The people walked and their feet and their sandals got dusty. It was tradition that a servant of the house was to wash the feet of people who came into the house. Jesus and the disciples went into the upper room to eat the Last Supper of Passover. Jesus took on the role of a servant and washed the feet of the disciples. He broke the tradition to be an example to the disciples to serve others. Are we serving others?
“1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” (John 13:1-17)
THURSDAY
A Broken Watch
When Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, He asked the disciples to watch. He knew all things and He knew that His time had come to die. The disciples were tired and sleepy and they fell asleep. They didn’t keep their watch. Jesus also tells us to watch and pray. Are we faithful to watch for His coming? Are we faithful to watch over others?
“32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
39 And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.
40 And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.
41 And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” (Mark 14:32-41)
“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Matthw 24:42)
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” (I Corinthians 16:13)
“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;” (Colossians 4:2)
“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” (I Thessalonians 5:6)
“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” (I Peter 4:7)
FRIDAY
The Veil Between God And Man Was Broken
God gave Moses the law concerning the veil in the tabernacle. "And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy. And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place." (Exodus 26:33-34) The veil separated God and sinful man. Once a year the high priest would enter the holy of holies behind the veil and offer an atonement for the sins of the people. Job cried out, “O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!” (Job 16:21) Jesus came to intercede on our behalf. When Jesus died on the cross the veil was rent in two, from the top to the bottom and the wall of partition between God and man was broken. Jesus made the final sacrifice, and we can enter into the holy of holies by the blood of Jesus!
"50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God." (Matthew 27:50-54)
"19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)" (Hebrews 10:19-23)
SATURDAY
The Seal Of The Tomb Was Broken And Jesus Broke The Hold Of Death!
I was brought up in church and we went to church all year, not just at Easter, and I have known the meaning of Easter from an early age. But, reading the gospel accounts of the Passover, the agony in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, the mockery of a trial, and the cruelty of the cross, my heart and soul are deeply touched by all Jesus went through to save me. If the story ended there, it would be the most sorrowful story of all time. The story of Jesus does not end in the tomb. Today we rejoice! Christ rose up from the grave! Pilate said, "Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can." They rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher and made it sure, sealing the stone. Come Easter morning the seal was broken and the stone was rolled away! Jesus broke the hold of death! The angel of the Lord didn't roll the stone away so that Jesus could get out of the tomb. No, the stone was rolled away so that the world could see the He was risen, just like He said! And because He lives, we live. "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 15:55-57)
"59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch." (Matthew 27:59-66)
"1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." (Matthew 28:1-6)
