Special Holy Week Devotional - Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Welcome to Holy Week. Since the format of these devotionals is a little different, please take a moment to read these brief instructions.
First, read the Scripture passage. All five days include excerpts from the Gospel accounts of Jesus' last week before he was killed.
Then, watch the video. Each video includes a reflection on that day's passage and is hosted by a different member of our staff (Jonathan Ziman, Kellie Kammes, Gary Dausey, Calla Parker and Brian Hogan). We strongly suggest reading the Bible passage first before watching the video, or the video may not make sense.
Finally, underneath each video is a Psalm. God's words are more powerful and important than our words and these were chosen to be read as a form of personal reflection and prayer in response to the video devotional.We encourage you to read through these Psalms as if they were prayers,and allow yourself some time to really meditate on what God may be saying to you through them.
May God bless you this week as you turn to Him.
While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
(Matt. 26:6-13, NIV)
Watch the Video
Psalm 143
LORD, hear my prayer,
listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness
come to my relief.
Do not bring your servant into judgment,
for no one living is righteous before you.
The enemy pursues me,
he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darkness
like those long dead.
So my spirit grows faint within me;
my heart within me is dismayed.
I remember the days of long ago;
I meditate on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.
I spread out my hands to you;
I thirst for you like a parched land.
Answer me quickly, LORD;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.
Rescue me from my enemies, LORD,
for I hide myself in you.
Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.
For your name’s sake, LORD, preserve my life;
in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;
destroy all my foes,
for I am your servant.