Easter Devotional 2016

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ou will notice that this edition of the Crossings Magazine is a little different. Although it still contains a calendar of upcoming classes and events (see center insert), our

intention for this magazine is to focus on Easter and truly be all about Jesus. With that in mind, we asked some of the Ministry Staff to help us put together a devotional for Holy Week (the week before Easter, starting with Palm Sunday) that could be read every year at this time, if so desired.

There are 14 individual devotions, each one includes Scripture reading and a simple application to help you relate it to your life. Our prayer is that each of us makes it a priority in our busy lives to set aside time to focus on Jesus during this season. May these words encourage us all to strive to live a deeper, more Christ-centered life as we reflect on the circumstances leading up to Jesus crucifixion and triumphant resurrection, which we’ll celebrate together on Easter weekend.

Our culture makes Christmas a major event while Easter gets far less attention. Christmas shopping begins before we even have Thanksgiving dinner. There are Christmas sales, Christmas parties, Christmas gifts, Christmas decorations, and on it goes. But not so with Easter. There will not be a month-long schedule of Easter parties. Easter decorations are usually centerpieces on dining room tables, and we are far more likely to have rabbits and eggs as Easter décor than a cross.

Yet, without Easter, Christmas doesn’t matter. Think about that for a minute. If the child in the manger did not die and rise again, there is no need for Christmas. Of course, the world would still party, decorate, buy gifts, and take advantage of the shopping. But without Easter, Christmas doesn’t matter.

So, this great group of people I get to work with has put together an amazing devotional series to help us make Easter the life-changing experience it is meant to be. Jesus died for our sins, forgave us, set us free, and empowered us to live a life we could never have dreamed or designed on our own. So, let’s journey to the empty tomb together. We’ve been working on the Easter services and—well, I don’t want to spoil it for you, so all I can say is the services will be powerful and unforgettable!

Jesus gave His life, asking nothing in return. Let us at least give Him our undivided attention as we celebrate the greatest gift ever given to mankind.

MARTY GRUBBSSENIOR PASTOR

Y

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"As the hands of Jesus opened

for the nail, the doors of heaven

opened for you."– MAX LUCADO


R E A D I N G S C H E D U L E :

GREAT EXPECTATIONS – 7

LOVE AND HUMILITY IN ACTION – 8REMEMBERING – 9

ULTIMATE SACRIFICE – 11FORGOTTEN IDENTITY – 13

A LITTLE BIT RIGHT, BUT PRETTY MUCH WRONG – 15DAILY DENIALS – 17

SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE – 18FICKLE IS THE CROWD – 19

MOCKING GOD – 21PAID IN FULL – 23

HAVE THE SAME MINDSET – 24IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD – 25

GRACE VS. MERCY – 27

PALM SUNDAY TO RESURRECTION SUNDAY – 28ILLUSTRATED EASTER STORY – 30

PALM SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

MAUNDY THURSDAY

GOOD FRIDAY

HOLY SATURDAY

RESURRECTION SUNDAY

HOLY WEEK AT A GLANCE

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In today’s world, we understand the importance of symbols. Think about logos from companies that have become symbols in this culture: the Nike swoosh, the Mercedes icon, McDonald’s golden arches, the Apple, the green mermaid of Starbucks, the red circular Target, etc. These symbols quickly draw thoughts, images or desires to our minds.

John, in telling the stories of Jesus, relies on symbols to bring certain expectations or thoughts to the minds of his readers. Jesus’ popularity had grown quickly. Word of Him raising Lazarus from death had spread among the Jews, and as they gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, this miraculous story of salvation was on their minds. Their arrival in Jerusalem, the city of peace, reminded them they were under Roman rule, and they longed for freedom.

Stop for a moment and consider all these events coming together:• Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, giving credence

to the thought that He was the Messiah, the One who would save Israel.

• The Passover celebration was a reminder of God saving the Israelites from the Egyptians.

• The Passover also called for the Israelites to sacrifice a perfect, spotless lamb to cover their sin.

• The people felt oppressed by the Romans, and they were ready to take their country back for God.

With these thoughts in mind, the people began waving palm branches and laid them before Jesus as He entered Jerusalem.

Palm branches were national symbols of kingship and peace. The people were placing upon Jesus their expectations of Him as a nationalistic king. But Jesus chose not to play into their expectations; instead of riding on a powerful horse or stallion, He chose a donkey. As He arrived, the people chanted from Psalm 118, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Hosanna literally means, “Save us!” However, their understanding of salvation was far different from what Jesus had come to do—and what He had come to do was much more important than the salvation they wanted.

I wonder how often we miss the mark and place our personal expectations on Jesus. How often do we miss the real salvation Jesus has brought to us?

APPLICATION : Pray the following prayer.

Father God,Thank you for the gift of salvation you gave me through Jesus. As I begin Holy Week this year, help me see Jesus for who He is, not just who I want Him to be. Don't let me get caught up in placing my expectations above the work He needs to do within me.

In Jesus' name I pray,Amen.

MATT ANDERSON | PREACHING ASSOCIATE

GREAT EXPECTATIONSREAD: MATTHEW 21:1-11, MARK 11:1-11, LUKE 19:28-38, JOHN 12:12-18

… A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down to the road to meet [Jesus]. They shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord! …" - JOHN 12:12-13 (NLT)

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Jesus washing His disciples' feet is one of the most significant stories in the Bible. It has inspired powerful songs, compelling sermons, beautiful art, and lives to be changed. But, why? I think it captures the essence of Jesus and the life He lived: one of humility, love, and servanthood.

Imagine someone who doesn’t know anything about Christianity. If I were to share this story and say, “This is my God!” What would his reaction be? I doubt he would expect a story like this to describe an all-knowing, all-powerful God.

The beauty of our God is that He is all of those things, but He is also close, loving and present. By washing the disciples' feet, Jesus taught us two things:

1) Humbly serving others requires sacrifice, not convenience. 2) There is nothing in our lives too dirty for Christ to clean.

I hope we can be inspired and challenged by His exampleof love.

APPLICATION: Take a few minutes to honestly answer these questions: • Is your life one of humility, love, and servanthood? If so,

thank God for the fruits He has developed in you. If not, pray God will give you the strength and courage to do so.

• Think of all the people in your life whom you have the privilege of leading. How can you humbly and sacrificially love them as Jesus did?

• What are some areas of shame in your life that you haven’t offered to God? Remember, there is nothing too dirty that He can’t make clean.

JOSH EDINGTON | PASTOR OF CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP

READ: JOHN 13:3-17

Then [Jesus] poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter." - JOHN 13:5-7 (NASB)


The Last Supper appears in each one of the Gospels. This sacred moment is the last meal Jesus had with His disciples the night before He was crucified. Each account describes Jesus giving thanks, blessing the bread and the cup, and then giving them to His disciples saying, “This bread is My body,” and, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood.” Jesus came to create a new covenant between God and His people. Jesus fulfilled the old covenant as He was put to death on the cross, and when He was resurrected, He sealed a new covenant. The old covenant was written in stone, but the new covenant is written on our hearts.

After Jesus thanked God for the bread and the cup, He said one more thing, “Do this in remembrance of Me." As we take communion, there are two acts instructed by Jesus: a physical act and a mental act. The physical act consists of eating and drinking; the mental act is remembering. The mental act is vital as we take communion. It forces us to center our thoughts on

Jesus, His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of our sins. Taking part in communion helps center our hearts and minds on the redemptive work of Jesus. The Lord’s Supper roots us, again and again, in the foundation of our faith. Taking communion isn’t about us or the person next to us grabbing pieces of bread—it’s about Jesus. He is the centerpiece of our faith and of human history. No one is more worthy to be remembered. No one is more worthy to be proclaimed.

APPLICATION: Next time you prepare to take communion, don’t take it lightly. Look back on what Christ did for you, and look forward to His triumphal return. Communion is one of the most precious and priceless gifts Christ has given to His church. Let’s celebrate it together.

LEAH NORMANGRADUATE RESIDENT, COLLEGE & YOUNG ADULTS

READ: MATTHEW 26:26-29; MARK 14:22-25; LUKE 22:14-20

…This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me. - LUKE 22:19 (ESV)


After celebrating Passover with His disciples, we find Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane ... “as was His custom” (Luke 22:39). Jesus often went away to pray … away from the multitudes to be with His Father … to find strength, comfort, guidance. It’s no surprise that He would do so on that evening. He had an idea of what was ahead for Him … betrayal, pain, separation. But in His humanness, could He anticipate how terrible it would really be? Sometimes, we know something hard or bad is coming ahead of time. We expect it to be difficult, but until we actually experience it, we have no idea how awful it will really be. And most of the time if something dreadful is ahead of us, we will do everything in our power to avoid it.

Jesus did what was “His custom.” He went to His Father. He prayed and agonized, asking if there was any other way … not once, but three times. Yet, each time He submitted His own will to that of His Father. It’s revealing that He says to the disciples who kept falling asleep, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” I believe He was talking about Himself as much as He was talking to the disciples. He also said, “Watch and pray that you don’t fall into temptation.” In His humanness, it had to be tempting to let “the cup” pass. He could have chosen not to walk the path He knew was coming. At any point, He could have chosen differently. He could have called a legion of angels to save Him. It had to be tempting—not just in that garden, but at many moments over the course of the next few days—to stop the ridicule and the pain. Yet, over and over,

He surrendered His own will, His preferences, His desires. Is that not the ultimate sacrifice? Is that not what God asks from each of us … to give up what we want for what He wants?

APPLICATION:In what area of your life is “the spirit willing, but the flesh weak?" Take a moment to stop and pray that you will not fall into temptation and that you will have the strength to do His will, not yours.

JENNIFER AYOTTEDIRECTOR OF INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS

ULTIMATE SACRIFICEREAD: MATTHEW 26:36-44, MARK 14:32-40; LUKE 22:39-46

… nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will. - MATTHEW 26:39 (ESV)


When a fisherman takes up a sword, bad things are bound to happen. Peter was most likely feeling overwrought. He had spent the evening with Jesus and the other disciples in the upper room, and now they had moved to a favorite spot in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus had talked more than usual at dinner, using slow and calculated language, like He was trying to prepare them for something big. Saying things like, “A little while, and you will no longer see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me.”

Peter saw the soldiers approach, with Judas leading them, barging into this serene place. As he watched in horror the betrayal of Jesus unfold before him, maybe his mind flashed back to Judas’ quick departure earlier.

When Jesus identified Himself to the soldiers, saying “I am He,” the seven repetitions of that phrase, I AM, probably thundered in Peter’s memory. “I AM the bread. I AM the light … the door … good shepherd … resurrection … the way, the truth and the life … the vine. Maybe it all hit him at once, and he thought, “This is it! This is the moment of the Messiah’s rise to power! Jesus has come for this! I’ll fight for Him!”

But he wasn’t a trained soldier; he had no feel for the weapon or heart for the kill. He was a fisherman who now served the Prince of Peace. The sword probably felt awkward in his hands; he jabbed without thought or precision. Immediately, he found himself where he’d been before, on the receiving

end of Jesus’ correction, “Put that sword away, Peter." Then, Jesus reached down to touch the injured soldier, healing what Peter’s recklessness had wounded.

When we forget who we are, even for a moment, our actions can be very hurtful. The best way to remember who we are is to remember who our Master is—“I AM … life, light ...” When we know who we are following, we know how to proceed.

APPLICATION:Set an alarm for two or three different times throughout the day. When the alarm goes off, take a few moments to remind yourself who you are following: Jesus Christ … the great I AM.

DEIDRE FRANKLINPASTOR OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION AND WOMEN’S MINISTRY

FORGOTTEN IDENTITYREAD: MATTHEW 26:47-56; MARK 14:43-49; LUKE 22:47-53; JOHN 18:1-11

Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given Me?" - JOHN 18:10-11 (ESV)


“A Little Bit Right, but Pretty Much Wrong” could be the title of a Country Western love ballad bemoaning a love gone sour … but in reality, it describes the minds and hearts of the religious rulers as they convened the illicit trial of Jesus. Caiaphas advised the religious rulers that it was best if one man die for the people rather than the whole nation perish. Simply killing Jesus would assure the protection of the fragile political balance between Roman rule and Jewish law and identity. Moreover, His death would preserve their religious traditions, and more significantly, His death would remove the threat to their own ruling position.

Caiaphas’ insight was actually a little bit right. In fact, his statement held reflections of the intention of the Heavenly Father regarding Jesus. Contrary to Caiaphas, however, God’s motivation was very different. The phrase “it is better that one man die for the many” meant something much bigger and much deeper. Through the death of one, that is Jesus, the forgiveness for all sin committed by all of humanity would be offered. (See John 3:16-17.)

So while Christ did come to earth to die, and Caiaphas got that much right, the reality of the religious rulers’ motivations made each and all pretty much wrong. Their misguided commitment of Jewish religious traditions, and their own positions of socio-political influence, blinded them to who it was standing before

them and what His mission was here on Earth. How “right” the religious leadership could have been had they been open to God’s plan. How wrong their religious mindset led them.

Christians often take shots at these religious rulers for their self-righteousness and religious pride. Yet how often do we Christians use our “faith” in the service of our own needs; our “beliefs” to justify our agenda; our “traditions” to sanctify our preferences; our “righteousness” to secure power and/or position; or our “heritage” to seek false peace and dysfunctional alliances? How often do we assume Jesus will bless both our efforts and the outcomes because we use His name in the process? How often do we, in our own way, repeat the errors of the religious rulers of that day, missing the true will, motivation and intent of God?

APPLICATION:As we move through this Holy Week, let us each pray for God’s “right” work to occur within us.

RON MAHN | PASTOR OF LIFECARE MINISTRY

A LITTLE BIT RIGHT, BUT PRETTY MUCH WRONG!READ: MATTHEW 26:57-68; MARK 14:53-65; LUKE 22:54, 63-71; JOHN 11:47-53 & 18:12-14, 19-24

Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."- JOHN 11:49-50 (NIV)


Simon Peter gets a bad rap. Think about it. We roll our eyes at his impetuous comments during and after the transfiguration of Jesus. Haven’t all of us said things that we regret as soon as the words fly out of our mouths? We ridicule him for taking his eyes off of Jesus while he was walking on the water and promptly sinking. Did you realize Peter was the only one who had enough faith to actually get out of the boat? We shake our head in dismay as we read how he denied Jesus not once, not twice, but three times. With great incredulity we shake our heads and ask, “Peter, how could you?”

If we were courageous enough to undergo some intense self-examination, would we find our behavior that dissimilar from Peter’s? What about when we engage in any behavior that runs counter to Christ’s nature … let’s say gossip, for example? What about those times we are just “too busy” to offer a word of encouragement or perform a random act of kindness and compassion? How about those opportunities we let pass without sharing with someone how Jesus changed our lives and how He wants to do the same for them? These (and other actions) are forms of denial that we all engage in as we make our way through the hustle and bustle of life. We are Simon Peter … only our daily acts of denial generally are not recorded in the best-selling book of all time.

As always with Jesus, there is hope. After the resurrection, we see Jesus restore Peter. Not once, not twice, but three times.

(See John 21:1-17.) Jesus offers us this same forgiveness and full restoration in the same way whenever we deny Him. And the best part? Jesus still has a purpose for us in His kingdom’s work and wants us to join Him.

APPLICATION:Ask God to reveal to you those areas of your life that deny Him. Look for opportunities today, in word and deed, to testify of our Savior’s great love.

MICHAEL MILLIGAN | PASTOR OF PASTORAL CARE

DAILY DENIALSREAD: MATTHEW 26:33-35, 69-75; MARK 14:30-31, 66-72; LUKE 22: 33-4, 54-62; JOHN 18:15-18, 25-27

After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. - MATTHEW 26:73-75 (NIV)

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The account of Jesus standing trial before Pontius Pilate is an important event as the Passion story unfolds. As we pause and look deeper into the account, we see more clearly into the persons of both Pontius Pilate and Jesus of Nazareth. All of the Gospel accounts seem to agree on the details of Jesus being taken to stand trial before Pilate, who was Prefect of Judea. But of all the Gospel accounts, only Matthew describes Pontius Pilate as refusing involvement in Jesus' crucifixion saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!”

I find this statement most revealing of all we know of Pilate in the story. Did Pilate, deep down in his own heart and mind, ultimately see Jesus as innocent? Could it be that Pilate ultimately knew the "right" thing to do, but he let his circumstances dictate his response?

What stands out about Jesus in the account is His deafening silence as He’s asked question after question by an ever-growing impatient and frustrated Pilate. Jesus was brought before Pilate, after having been falsely accused by the Jewish

authorities of blasphemy, and was standing trial for treason. Jesus’ most telling remarks come in John 19 as He is brought before Pilate for the last time. When Pilate reminds Jesus that he holds the power to release or to crucify Him, Jesus simply says, “You would have no power over Me at all unless it were given to you from above …"

In that moment, we see clearly into the mind of Christ; He's beyond His current circumstances and impending criminal’s death. His silence spoke not only to His trust in His Father, but also in His trust of His Father’s plan for mankind.

APPLICATION:As we apply this story to our lives, let us be reminded that when our circumstances would have us looking only with our earthly eyes, we must see from a different perspective? Can we, this Easter season, follow Jesus’ lead and look ultimately to our Heavenly Father’s plan?

DON PESLIS | ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF MINISTRIES

READ: JOHN 13:3-17

Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!”

- MATTHEW 27:24 (NLT)


Can you imagine what the Roman soldiers were feeling during the week leading up to Jesus' death? Think about the events that transpired from Sunday, with huge crowds and a triumphal entry, up until the moment He died. How terrifying would that moment have been? Five days earlier, the soldiers were ready for an uprising by a town full of people welcoming Jesus. Then, only a few days later, those same people turned on Him; they just went along with the crowd who called for His crucifixion!

I quickly begin to wonder, “Would I have done the same thing if I were the soldiers?” Even now, “Do I still do the same, by not accepting His Lordship over this world and more specifically over my life?” The crowd of soldiers were following each other’s lead, beating and mocking Jesus; they were working to get things back in order.

This passage reminds me of how quickly things changed for Jesus and of the part my sin played in all of it. BUT God still worked through it, and He continues to reveal His Son to us today and to those who seek Him and say, “This man truly is the Son of God!"

The story of these soldiers is different because they didn’t even start with the foundation of faith the Jews practiced. This was a true realization of a Man who allowed them to mock Him, beat Him and take His life—and the whole EARTH responded with groaning when He took His last breath. AMAZING!

APPLICATION:Does it take the Earth to move for us to remember who Jesus is? Do we remember Him on Monday, as much as we did singing together on Sunday morning? I don’t always—AND I WORK AT A CHURCH! So, I encourage you to pray, as I do, that we not follow the “crowd” that pulls our attention and hurts the heart of God, but rather, that we remember Jesus’ love and sacrifice for each of us and that we live in a way that makes the crowd wonder who Jesus is.

KYLE PLEMONS | PASTOR OF WORSHIP & MEDIA MINISTRIES

READ: MATTHEW 27:27-31, 54; MARK 15:16-21

The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!" - MATTHEW 27:54 (NLT)


One question that has haunted me for years is related to the scene presented in the Gospels in the last hours of Jesus’ life. The question usually runs through my head like this, “If I was in the crowd that day gathered outside the city gates where Jesus was crucified, would I have been one of the many who were mocking Jesus, challenging His character, and questioning His strength?” I have come to the conclusion that there are definitely days my attitude and heart are the same as those mocking Jesus. My statements sound different in word, but in spirit they are identical.

The crowds and the religious leaders of the day were questioning and challenging Jesus, “If you really are who You say You are, then prove it by doing what we tell You to do.” Well, when put that way, there have been countless times I, too, have said to God, “Hey, if You really are who You say You are, then You need to fix this in my life … or provide that in my life … or come through for me in the way I think You should.”

The scene surrounding the cross represents the scene in each of our hearts. There are parts of us that understand God’s sacrifice and love for us, yet there are parts of our hearts that challenge God, question His character, and yes, even mock His strength.

APPLICATION:Take some time to ask God to search your heart and to reveal ways you have played the role of the mocker. Recognizing these areas of our hearts helps to clarify our need for everything the cross represents … God’s love poured out for you and for me.

TODD POE | PASTOR OF LIFECARE MINISTRY & CARESERIES

MOCKING GODREAD: MATTHEW 27:32-50; MARK 15:22-37; LUKE 23:32-49; JOHN 19:17-37

Those who passed by derided Him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him, saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God; let God deliver Him now, if He wants to; for He said, ‘I am God’s Son.’" - MATTHEW 27:39-43 (NRS)


We often describe the cross by using the phrase, "Jesus died for my sins.” Although that is certainly true, focusing only on Christ’s death stops short of the full gospel, which not only makes payment for our sins but also provides for our justification before God. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 4:25, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”

Jesus’ death paid the price for our rebellion against God, but it was His triumph over death—His resurrection—that justified us before God. Justification moves beyond repaying a debt; it is a credit declaring that not only are we forgiven, but we are righteous. To put it another way, it’s as if we had a massive debt we could never pay off, and Jesus came along and paid it in full. Then on top of that, He gave us access to His account as if it were our own. Christ’s defeat over death brings us into right standing with God the Father. This is the crux of our faith. Jesus’ death means nothing without the resurrection.

C.S. Lewis says, “… to preach Christianity meant [to the Apostles] primarily to preach the Resurrection … The Resurrection is the central theme in every Christian sermon reported in the Acts. The Resurrection, and its consequences, were the 'gospel' or good news which the Christians brought” (Miracles).

APPLICATION:Ask yourself: "So what?" As a follower of Christ, how does the knowledge that you are forgiven and that Jesus’ righteousness is credited to you need to impact your daily life, attitudes, fears or actions?

PRAYER:Spend a few minutes specifically expressing your gratitude to God for paying the debt of your sin but also crediting to you the righteousness of Jesus.

ANDY RAUSCHKOLBPASTOR OF YOUNG ADULTS & COMMUNITY GROUPS

PAID IN FULLREAD: MATTHEW 28:1-7; MARK 16:1-8; LUKE 24:1-12; JOHN 20:1-20

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said." - MATTHEW 28:5-6 (NIV)

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“Stop picking up trash!”, my co-worker exclaimed while we were walking around Crossings. You see, we were having a “walk and talk meeting,” and as we went down the Crossings Kids and Adult Education hallways, I would stop and pick up small pieces of trash and debris. I wasn’t even consciously thinking about my actions, it is almost second nature to me. Why?

While I was in high school, I had a job at a grocery store. Above the door in the breakroom a sign read, “Work like you own the place.” I took that to heart and put on the lens of an owner during my shifts. I wanted every aspect of the store to be at its best, and I was going to do whatever it took to make that happen, whether it was a clean up in aisle 13 or ensuring product looked good on the shelves. There was no job, big or small, that I was “too good” to do.

That is still true for me today! It has been said, “If serving is below you, leadership is beyond you.” While those words cannot be attributed to anyone specific, they remind me of the words in Philippians 2:5-7 that Paul wrote in his letter to the Christ-followers in Philippi.

I know what you are thinking at this point, “He is going to challenge me to pick up trash for the next week.” However, this is where we take a sharp turn. The 46 words from those verses knock me off “my pedestal” every time I read them. While it is easy for me to pick up trash in the hallways of Crossings and serve the Church, it is not as easy to be a servant in my relationships—with my wife and kids; for my friends and co-workers; to those I come across at the gas station or grocery shopping. My default is to be all about ME.

When I am “serving” others, I too often expect something in return. If I am going to take on the “very nature of a servant,” as Christ did, I have to do this in my relationships, not just in my actions and tasks!

APPLICATIONToday, pray for, and act on, an opportunity to really serve someone close to you, and expect nothing in return!

BLAKE SABISTONCROSSINGS STUDENTS PASTOR – TEAM LEADER

READ: PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant … – PHILIPPIANS 2:5-7 (NIV)


Pull out your smart phone, and look at all the little symbols. If you press the blue box with the white F, you get Facebook. If you press the vintage looking camera, you get Instagram. Those are called icons. They represent the actual program itself. The only way to have access to Twitter is to press the little bird icon.

In Colossians 1:15, Paul says that the Son is the image of the living God. The Greek word used for image here is the word eikon. It’s where we get our word "icon." Paul is saying that Jesus Christ is the actual icon of the Eternal Creator. He is an image of God that we can see, we can grasp, and we can know and communicate with. You want to have access to Facebook? You have to press the icon. You want to have access to your Creator and understand your life’s purpose? You have to go to His icon, Jesus Christ.

This is important, however, because we can easily treat Jesus as less than what is properly due. He’s such a nice guy. He was a great moral teacher or a really important philosopher—a great spiritual consultant we turn to when we need advice. But if what the New Testament says is true and this man who we follow is actually the One who was there before the creation of time and space and who spoke all life into existence, who

is the great “I AM,” then certainly we must not come to Him in any other fashion but to throw our lives at His feet and say, “Command me, Lord.” He’s certainly more than our personal moral coach.

APPLICATION:Take a moment to read some of the statements of Jesus found in the Gospels, and read them through the lens of Christ being the icon of the Eternal God. View Him as the forever One who holds the vast universe together by the words of His mouth. Have you treated your relationship with Jesus like this? Or has He been more like your own personal spiritual assistant? If you’ve treated Him in any way less than who He is, or not given His words the potency they deserve, take heart, you’re not alone. Most of us have been guilty of this less than appropriate view of Jesus, but we can change that. One of His most welcomed commands is to ask for forgiveness every time we pray. So, let’s do it. Let’s repent of a low view of our Savior and ask for a proper one of Jesus Christ as the icon of the Living God.

JEREMIAH BRAUDRICK | COMMUNITY CENTER DIRECTOR

READ: COLOSSIANS 1:15-18

The Son is the image of the invisible God ... – COLOSSIANS 1:15 (NIV)


Mercy and grace are sometimes used interchangeably, but they’re different. Mercy is when you don’t get what you deserve: punishment. Think of it as being let off the hook without absorbing penalties for a crime you committed. Grace is receiving something you don’t deserve: reward. If you work for your money, that’s earning wages. If you just show up and receive money for nothing, that’s grace—you don’t deserve it; it’s a gift.

When the prodigal son returned to his father, he received mercy. When the father threw him a party, that was grace. When the thief who hung on the cross next to Jesus asked to be remembered, Jesus forgave him—that was mercy. When he joined Jesus in paradise, he experienced grace.

When we fail to live up to God’s standards and our lives are out of control—by a little or a lot—and we turn to God and sincerely seek forgiveness, we experience God’s mercy. When we encounter blessings, big and small, God is extending grace. We received mercy when God left heaven to walk among us, to minister, to suffer and die to save us from present and future spiritual death. We received grace when He gave us eternal life—when we became co-heirs with Jesus with an eternal inheritance.

Mercy and grace are different, but they are both critical elements of our salvation story. Thankfully, God abundantly gifts both to us. Our response? Gratefulness. Our best, and only response, is one of living a life grateful for present, and future, mercy and grace.

APPLICATION: Put into words how you have experienced God’s mercy and grace in your life, and share it with someone (in person, through social media, etc.).

CINDY WESTERN | PASTOR OF DISCIPLESHIP MATERIALS

GRACE VS. MERCYREAD: EPHESIANS 2:4-9

… He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life … we are united with Christ Jesus … God saved you by His grace when you believed … it is a gift from God. - EPHESIANS 2:4, 6, 8 (NLT)

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PALM SUNDAY TO RESURRECTION SUNDAYTraditionally, the week before Easter (and the final week of Lent) is known as Holy Week. It begins on Palm Sunday and is a week of reflection on the events leading to Jesus’ death on the cross. While Holy Week is solemn and sorrowful, it also anticipates the joy of Easter, celebrating Christ’s resurrection and victory over death and sin.

PALM SUNDAY commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, which occurred several days before His death. As He rode into the city on a donkey to participate in the festival of Passover (a Jewish holiday celebrating God’s deliverance of the Israelites

from their slavery in Egypt), the people of Jerusalem waved palm branches and spread them on the road in front of Him, saying, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel” (John 12:13). Today, we understand the people had certain expectations for Jesus as their King and Savior—expectations He would not meet in the way they anticipated.

Note: Traditionally, the palm branches used in Palm Sunday services are saved so they can be burned and used on Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent) the following year when the ashes are placed on people’s foreheads.

On MAUNDY THURSDAY, also known as Holy Thursday, the emphasis is on the Last Supper—a Passover meal Jesus shared with His disciples the night before His death. On this evening, Jesus surprised His disciples by washing their feet, a task that was normally

done by a servant. Afterwards He tells them, “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15). During the meal, Jesus took bread and wine, and blessed them. He broke the bread, saying “This is My body, given up for you” and offered the wine saying “This is My blood, poured out for you … Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19-20).

Derived from the Latin word mandatum, which means “commandment,” Maundy Thursday refers to the commands Jesus gave His disciples at the Last Supper: to follow His example of love with humility by serving one another and to remember His sacrifice, which we do through communion.

Today, many churches practice footwashing and most participate in communion during Maundy Thursday services.


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GOOD FRIDAY focuses on the Passion of Christ*—Jesus’ trial, crucifixion, death and burial. Sadness, mourning, fasting, and prayer have been its focus since the early centuries of the church. It is the most somber service of the year. Church services generally revolve around reading the accounts of Jesus’ suffering and death. Often, services are left in darkness with only a simple cross on the altar—symbolizing Christ’s burial and the seemingly lost hope of the Jewish people.

There is some speculation as to why a day of remembering such dark and bleak events would be referred to as “Good” Friday. One theory is that “good” originated from the older name of “God’s” Friday. Another is that it comes from an antiquated meaning of good as holy. And yet another way to view it is that although the events remembered on this day were awful, the results were most definitely good.

Regardless of the origin, the name Good Friday is entirely appropriate because the suffering and death of Jesus, as terrible as it was, marked the dramatic culmination of God’s plan to save His people. As we remember the day Jesus willingly suffered and died, it reminds us of the human sin that caused His death, while at the same time declaring the greatness and wonder of God's love—that He should submit to death for us.

*The term “Passion of Christ” is often mentioned during Holy Week, especially Good Friday. Though today the word “passion” has romantic connotations, it was originally derived from the Latin word passio, meaning suffering. The Passion of Christ refers to the torture, crucifixion, and death of Jesus.

Easter or RESURRECTION SUNDAY, a foundational Christian holiday, is the glorious celebration of the day Jesus, having been in the grave for three days, rose from the dead. It commemorates the central event of the Christian faith. It is a time of rejoicing and hope, and it symbolizes forgiveness, rebirth, and God’s saving power. Easter is a celebration of Christ’s victory over sin, death, and all destructive forces in people’s lives, and it points ahead to a future resurrection for all who claim Jesus as their Savior.

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On Palm Sunday, the crowds waved palm branches and cried, “Hosanna!” as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey colt.

He also blessed the bread and cup, saying “Thisis my body broken for you and My blood pouredout for you. Remember Me when you do this.”

At the Last Supper, Jesus surprised His disciples by washing their feet. He did this to show them how to love and serve others.

After the meal, Jesus and His disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus prayed to His Father,

yet gave up His own will to do what God wanted.

AN ILLUSTRATED STORY OF JESUS' LAST DAYS & RESURRECTION


While in the garden, one of His disciples betrayed Him, and soldiers arrested Him. Even though He didn't do anything wrong,

He was punished anyway and died on a cross.

Three days later, His mother went to visit His grave, but it was empty. An angel told her, “He’s not here. He has risen just as He said He would!”

Indeed, before He went to heaven to be with His Father, Jesus appeared to many of His followers—proving He was, indeed, alive—

teaching them to go tell the world about His love for each of us.

He has Risen!

– MATTHEW 28:6

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Easter Devotional 2016

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Transcript of Easter Devotional 2016