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Journey to the Cross: Week Seven

3/16/2021

20 Comments

 
Journey to the Cross: Week Seven

This Week's Scripture:
Luke 23:50-58 & Matthew 27:62-66

Join us as we Journey to the Cross, a nine-week study designed to prepare our hearts for Easter. 

This study comes to us from The Daily Grace Company. Originally designed to be an eight-day study, we’re going to stretch it out over nine weeks and meditate on Scripture as we enter the season of Easter. I hope you’ll join us!

Last week we looked at Good Friday​​. This week we're looking at Sunday is Coming!

​In the coming weeks, we'll study topics like He is Risen, and finally Follow Me.
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Journey to the Cross
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CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD JOURNEY TO THE CROSS

​​Sunday is Coming!

"Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God." Luke 23:50-51
Joseph of Arimathea is an extraordinary man in Scripture. A member of the religious council, he somehow managed to be a good and upright man and keep his devotion to Jesus quiet. Luke 23:51 says that Joseph was looking for the Kingdom of God. While some of Jesus' own men missed Jesus' real mission on earth, looking for an earthly kingdom to overthrow Rome, this man knew that there was more to Jesus than politics. What faith he had! It is likely that he and Nicodemus hid in the tomb that Joseph had prepared until Jesus died, and then they approached Pilate asking for His body.
After Jesus was laid in the new tomb, the Pharisees asked Pilate to guard the tomb with soldiers for three days so that they could ensure that Jesus' prophecy wouldn't come true. They remembered that He said He would rise again in three days.

​While the disciples were hiding and mourning in a locked room, the chief priests were remembering the Words of Jesus. Sisters, we can know Scripture and not believe it. The Pharisees refused to accept that Jesus was the Messiah. We can also believe who Jesus says He is like His disciples did, and simply... forget. His own disciples mourned without hope, simply because they didn't remember what He said.

In our difficult circumstances, we can do one of three things:
  1. We can be Pharisees, hearing God's words and not accepting and applying them.
  2. We can be the disciples, focusing on our own misery and mourning without hope.
  3. We can be like Joseph and Nicodemus, studying Jesus' words and digesting them. We can cling to them for hope and peace and joy despite the things in our lives that don't make sense.

Are we women who look for the Kingdom of God more than we look for our own benefit? Do we seek His Kingdom above all else and let God take care of the rest (Matthew 6:33 )? Instead of caving to self-misery and even self-preservation, Joseph sought Jesus' Kingdom. What a miracle he got to be a part of!
I don't want to miss what God could do through me because I'm self­ absorbed. I want to keep my eyes open, searching for the Kingdom and how I can help bring it here on earth.
Tucked into the crucifixion story, we find a subtle parallel to the story of Creation. Just as God rested on the seventh day after creating the earth in six days, Jesus finished the "new creation" after six hours on the cross, and He rested on the Sabbath. What a beautiful reminder that every piece of this plan of redemption was orchestrated by God, down to the minutes. Nothing passes His notice. Nothing happens by coincidence with the Lord. 
And so, it is no coincidence that God wasn't in a hurry to raise Jesus from the dead. While the women and the disciples grieved, we know how the story ends. Things may have looked bleak on Saturday, but Sunday was coming!
Wait on the Lord. His plan is best and He has not overlooked us in our time of need. Let's meditate on His promises and memorize His Word. Let's seek for the Kingdom of God in the places no one else would think to look. And let's take hold of the hope that our Sunday is coming.

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Are we looking for the Kingdom of God? Do we seek His Kingdom above all else and let God take care of the rest? ​I love these questions! I too don't want to miss what God could do through me because I'm self­ absorbed. I want to keep my eyes open, searching for the Kingdom. How about you?
Please Share
20 Comments
Barbara Harper link
3/16/2021 09:14:02 am

You know, most sermons I've heard that mention Joseph and Nicodemus during this time focus on their how their discipleship was secret and shouldn't have been. Yet they demonstrated more faith and bravery here than the disciples.

Reply
Patsy Burnette link
3/16/2021 09:26:16 am

I absolutely loved watching Nicodemus' character on The Chosen! He's such an interesting man. He wanted to believe, but society made it so difficult for him to do so.

Reply
Donna link
3/16/2021 01:18:20 pm

Excellent post, such thought provoking ideas. This "Are we women who look for the Kingdom of God more than we look for our own benefit?" Inspires me to think about my intentions and how I am following Christ. Thank you!

Reply
Patsy Burnette link
3/16/2021 01:22:28 pm

This IS a thought-provoking post, Donna! I love this quote too —> "Are we women who look for the Kingdom of God more than we look for our own benefit?" It's something we need to ask ourselves every day.

Reply
Michele Morin link
3/16/2021 02:38:34 pm

Jesus's life and his death were such polarizing factors. People showed their true colors in response to him.

Reply
Patsy Burnette link
3/16/2021 04:37:49 pm

Yes, they did, and they still do at the mention of His name!

Reply
Susan Shipe link
3/16/2021 03:36:04 pm

SUNDAY IS COMING! But, let us never forget Friday.

Reply
Patsy Burnette link
3/16/2021 04:38:21 pm

"Sunday" holds HOPE for the world, Susan!

Reply
Mitzi link
3/16/2021 04:30:19 pm

So timely! Thank you again for these beautiful words. Love this quote:
Are we women who look for the Kingdom of God more than we look for our own benefit? Do we seek His Kingdom above all else and let God take care of the rest (Matthew 6:33 )? Instead of caving to self-misery and even self-preservation, Joseph sought Jesus' Kingdom. What a miracle he got to be a part of!
I'm focusing on the Kingdom of God. Thank you.

Reply
Patsy Burnette link
3/16/2021 04:40:56 pm

I love that quote too, Mitzi! I sure did enjoy hearing Sue Donaldson's podcast when you were on there!!! Well... honestly, I always love her podcasts! :)

Reply
Kimberly link
3/16/2021 04:43:21 pm

What a great parallel to the Sabbath. Thanks for sharing!

Reply
Patsy Burnette link
3/16/2021 04:46:14 pm

Yes, Kimberly! I agree. Thanks for stopping by! :)

Reply
Rebecca Hastings link
3/17/2021 08:26:36 am

I felt so convicted by this: "We can know scripture and not believe it."

What ways do I know the Word, know about God, but not believe it? He is so gracious to forgive me.

Reply
Patsy Burnette link
3/17/2021 05:32:17 pm

The Bible tells me if I had the faith of a mustard seed I could move mountains. That's difficult to grasp, or even believe. But the Bible says it... There's a lot of Scripture like that I've heard, I've read, I know... but do I really believe? Convicting and thought-provoking!

Reply
Vickie Munton link
3/17/2021 09:19:57 am

Joseph is such a beautiful story of a man who 1) refused to go along with the crowd and 2) was truly seeking God-- "looking for the kingdom". I love that his bold act of compassion (asking for permission to take Jesus' body) led to action. What a powerful testimony!

Reply
Patsy Burnette link
3/17/2021 05:37:06 pm

I LOVE the way you wrote that, Vickie!
1) refused to go along with the crowd
2) was truly seeking God
3) bold act of compassion led to action
What if we were all a little more like Joseph, or even A LOT more like him? Life-changing decisions Joseph made.

Reply
Sharon Hazel link
3/18/2021 08:39:39 am

So good, self absorption is such a trap and at times we even justify that we have good cause to be self absorbed! Thank you for this reminder again to keep our eyes fixed on the Lord so we don't miss what He is accomplishing.

Reply
Patsy Burnette link
3/18/2021 01:21:17 pm

Thanks for stopping by, Sharon. Let's keep our eyes on the Lord, together! I love this post too! :) The reminders are just what I needed this week! And He knew that!

Reply
Tammy Kennington link
3/18/2021 06:57:05 pm

Hi Patsy,

I love the parallel you draw between the six days of creation and the six hours on the cross along with the day of rest. I'd never considered that before. So insightful!

Blessings,
Tammy

Reply
Patsy Burnette link
3/19/2021 07:28:25 am

It's a fascinating parallel, Tammy!

There are so many parallels in God's Word like that.

I especially love this one:
Genesis: "It is good"
John: "It is finished"
Revelation "It is done!"

Thanks for sharing, friend! :)

Reply

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