Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  It is holy week.  That is the week that leads us to the horror of Friday’s crucifixion and Sunday’s resurrection.  We remember all of what Jesus has done for us.  His purpose was completed in the events of holy week. That is why we spend the next 5 days examining different parts of the week.  Yet I first declare and remind each of us that God is good.  No one truly compares to Him, His love for us and the price He was willing to pay for our need and His desire to connect to us. That fist Palm Sunday was the day Jesus entered Jerusalem as a king and a hero.  It must have been a situation of festive crowds and joy for so many.  Most likely the news got around town, and there were likely large crowds who came to see and even to celebrate Jesus.  Let’s remember. Luke 19:36-38  NLT   As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. 37 When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount o...

  This Sunday is Palm Sunday.  That is the Sunday before Easter that we remember the day that Jesus went in to Jerusalem and was celebrated by all the people around. What seems weird is that just a few days later these same people were part of having Jesus put on the cross and killed as a criminal.  Again, the cross was not meant for Jesus, yet Jesus chose to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. John 12:13  NIV   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!” Make sure that you are preparing for Easter and thanking God for all He has done! In the next few days I will be part of an Emmaus Walk, and I ask that you join me praying for each person that is on this special Walk. There are many people I encourage you to pray for today and in the days ahead.  You fill in the list where God leads you as well. Pray for … Your family, your neighbors, yo...

  Easter week or holy week is happening right now.  Yesterday we observed the triumphant entry of Jesus remembering the time Jesus entered Jerusalem just five days before He was crucified.   At this point He is celebrated and praised as the Christ and king.  On Friday He will be accused and cursed as a criminal sentences to death.  Making this a week wrought with irony, confusion and struggle. John 12:12-13  NLT The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors 13 took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God!  Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hail to the King of Israel!” The person praised is Jesus.  He is the first and the last.  He is one for us and going ahead of us.  He is the one for whom we live.  He is the one who brings the glory of a good, good father. Jesus is the one.  He is the...

  The road to Easter is one that few had ever traveled before.  Yes, many had been hung on a criminals cross.  But before them was now a perfect man who would give His life in substitute for others. John 12:13  NLT they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, indeed, the King of Israel!” That had to be an awesome day.  So many people had heard about Jesus, and now He is coming to town.  Crowds gathered to meet Jesus, to see who He is  and what He is about. They shouted praise on this day, but not many hours later their shouts would be much different.  Jesus came to town not to make people happy but to make people right with God. John 15:13  NLT There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. That is what Easter is about.  That is what the road to Easter, to the cross of Calvary, was all about.  Laying down His...

Matthew 21:8-11   (NLT) Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David!   Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the lord!   Praise God in highest heaven!” 10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked. 11 And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” Can you imagine what the day must have been like?   For almost 33 years Jesus had walked the planet, and His days on earth were drawing to a close.   Jesus knew that fact, yet few others were listening close enough to understand this. In fact this day, known as “Palm Sunday” in our Easter week celebration, seemed to be a normal day where Jesus and His followers were greeted, appreciated and welcomed by the residents...