Sunday devotional for 3/24/13
I have ascended mountain top experiences that carry me for weeks on a natural high. And I have fallen into valleys so deep that I thought I would never climb out. Our Savior knows what that is like.
Jesus entered Jerusalem in honor and glory on what we celebrate today as Palm Sunday. People threw their cloaks on the ground as a royal carpet and waved palm branches as a sign of honor. But the tide would quickly turn.
The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!” ... John 12:12-13 NIV
Jesus soon talks about what will happen later that very week, about his death on the cross in order that many might have life. And he faced this impending "valley" in his life with resolve. It troubled him, but he knew it was necessary.
Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ...
“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!”... John 12:23-24, 27-28 NIV
Even in his "valley" of impending death, Jesus was able to share that there would be great benefit to come of it, and that was what he came to earth to do. We can take heart in knowing that our valleys also serve a purpose, to point us back to God so that we lean on him in our troubles. There is an end to every valley, and it is in the valleys that we can most appreciate the majesty of the mountains. Just as we do not remain in our "valleys", Jesus did not remain on the cross.
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.” John 12:31-32 NIV
As we enter Holy Week on this Palm Sunday mountain top and see the approaching valley of the passion of Christ, we look forward to the climax of Easter, when Jesus will be "lifted up from the earth."
Prayer: Lord, God, almighty and everlasting Father, we thank you for sending your son triumphantly into our world and being willing to sacrifice him in payment for our sins. We are ever so grateful for the free gift of salvation that we could never earn for ourselves. Help us to appreciate the mountains as well as the valleys in our lives. Draw us unto you that we might have everlasting life in the shadow of the cross. In the name of your son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Hallelujah, Amen.
written by Jan Andersen
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