Holy Week DevotionalSample

In the last two days, we discussed some of the most dramatic events of Jesus’ ministry. These last public actions of Jesus were also the final straw that would break the camel's back. Now both the demonic powers in the heavenly realms and the faithless rulers at the heart of Israel would pursue their ultimate goal: destroy Jesus of Nazareth before it is too late.

John describes the meeting between the priests and the pharisees, which occurred after Jesus’ most stunning miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. Huddled together fretting in secret, they were desperate: “If we allow him to go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation” (John 11:48 ESV). Unless Rome was kept happy, they knew everything would be in jeopardy, including the vast wealth and influence they had come to possess as servants of their pagan lords. But with the crowds affirming Jesus as the rightful King and son of David, this was revolutionary language that could bring the wrath of Rome down upon them. 

We can see the difficult position that comes from pledging allegiance to the powers of this world when we are called to be obedient to God. It is impossible to serve two masters, Jesus had warned, precisely because we will always be tempted to obey one and not the other. But they had forgotten. 

The heart of their concern shows the very nature of the problem - if we allow him to go on, we will lose our place and our nation. They were called to be shepherds of Israel who cared for the flock which belonged to God, but instead they had become deluded into believing it all belonged to them. They were to be like tenants of a vineyard that God had planted, producing fruit for harvest; but when God sent prophets and messengers, they turned against them. Even worse, as Jesus says in his parable, “[W]hen the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance’” (Matt. 21:38-39 ESV). 

But God would use even the faithless hearts of these men to ensure that his purposes would be accomplished. Caiaphas said they must kill Jesus so the nation might survive, but John tells us that Caiaphas spoke prophecy without realizing it. Jesus would give his life for the nation and “also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad” (John 11:51-52 ESV). Seeking to save their power and influence through the murder of Jesus, they would lose everything they had, for Jesus had warned that “the kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a people producing its fruits” (Matt. 21:43 ESV).

God’s purpose from the beginning was not to build a kingdom for his priests to possess for themselves, but to build a kingdom of priests which would unite every tribe and tongue into one nation redeemed and obedient to the rightful King! Despite their best efforts, Jesus would bring victory through his own defeat, resurrection through his own death, and forgiveness for all who call out to him by the sacrifice he makes on behalf of us all! 

This Holy Week, may you know the love of God that has been shown in Christ Jesus, which takes him into the lowest valley of death so that death and sin might be no more. May you have confidence that the God who works good, even turning the greatest acts of wickedness on their head, is the very God who holds you in his care and promises to never leave nor forsake you.