Open up your bibles to Luke 23:50-56
The church calls today Holy Saturday and often this day of Holy Week can be overlooked. We’ve just experienced the death of Jesus on Good Friday and we are ready to celebrate Resurrection Day tomorrow. It’s natural to want to JUMP over the grief and the waiting to the Good News of Easter morning. But, can I invite us to stop? Can we sit in the grief and waiting and lean into what can we learn from Holy Saturday?

Today, HOLY SATURDAY, we find Jesus’ followers grieving as they mourn the loss of their teacher, their friend. In their grief, they find themselves waiting – and to be clear, they are not waiting for the big Easter Egg Hunt at the Temple. They are waiting for what’s going to happen now. What’s next?

Their expectations have been shattered – this wasn’t what they thought would happen. Perhaps, they find themselves going over and over the conversations they had with Jesus. Trying to understand how the Kingdom of God he spoke so often of would come about now. Was there something they missed? It must have felt like all their plans were being buried with Jesus.

The disciples left all they had to follow him. And the time spent with Jesus changed them – they couldn’t just return to life as it was. Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God and he brought a new understanding to the law and how it was to be lived out. His message of hope pointed to another realm that was even more real than the one we see, touch and instinctively understand. They heard the Kingdom of God was at hand. They heard Jesus explained the Kingdom through his parables. He described a new way to live. Jesus put flesh to the invisible God and showed what a life of love, hope, and being led by the spirit looked like. He loved the lost, he healed the sick, and he spoke of a Kingdom that would never end. But now, their King was dead. How would all this happen now? This is Holy Saturday. The day that Jesus was buried.
Let’s read God’s word together. Luke 23:50-56 New International Version (NIV) 50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action (to crucify Jesus)  He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
Here we see Joseph of Arimathea and the women who walked with Jesus from Galilee living within the confines of what they could see, could touch and what they understood. Their reality was being with Jesus in his final moments. They heard Jesus declare, “It is finished” and then saw him die on the cross.

Imagine being them - their minds had no concept of any other ending then the reality of what they saw - Jesus was dead. So, they simply began to prepare for Jesus’ burial. Joseph, who Luke described as “waiting for the Kingdom” provided a place to lay Jesus’ body. And the women gathered spices and perfumes to do the work of preparing Jesus’ body for burial. And they grieved and waited for what was next.
If only they knew what tomorrow would bring.
If only they understood that God is not confined by earthly limitations.
If only they remembered that God makes a way when there is no way, that he is a promise keeper, that he is a miracle worker, He is the light in the darkness.
The truth is, Joseph and the women were no strangers to who God was. Or who Jesus was. They knew the phenomenal stories of God’s power through the scriptures. They walked with Jesus and saw him heal the sick, raise the dead and feed the five thousand with simply a few fish and loaves of bread. They DID know these truths, but on Holy Saturday, the earthly realities spoke louder and became their focus. I find myself falling into the same trap as Joseph and the women in this text. At times I allow what I understand or what I see to be the end of the story.

A few years ago we began preparing to send our oldest son away to college. The University of Washington was his goal. We filled out all the paperwork, FAFSA, and tried how to figure out how we were going to help pay for his college. The amount FAFSA reported we could contribute to tuition wasn’t even close to what Dave and I felt we could afford. Anyone relate?

I remember seeking God and asking him for wisdom on how to go forward and I felt him settle my spirit and simply call me to trust him.  As I trusted him, no matter the end results, I felt peace.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
As we walked the paths that became open to us, I was able to stand firm in my trust in God’s faithfulness. Whenever worry or fear would try to creep up while we were waiting, I would refocus on God’s promised peace and dwell on that, and the fear would go away. Cast all your cares on Him for he cares for you 1 Peter 5:7

One hard day in August, as deadlines were drawing near, I began to focus on how we would be able to make Andrew’s college dream come true. As I kept my eyes on the problem, I fell into the fear that was pursuing me. On this Saturday, all I could see was the financial burden we couldn’t meet. What I wasn’t focusing on was the peace and promises I heard from God during that season.

While I was worrying that night, unknowingly to me, God’s answer was quietly sitting in my email inbox. On Sunday, after church when I finally opened my email, I found I had a communication from the University of Washington. God had made a way, where I felt there was no way.

On Saturday, as I was burying my dream to send my son to the college of his choice because of earthly facts that had my focus - God’s provision was already sitting in my email.
As Joseph & the women were burying Jesus, God already had an answer that was going to be revealed tomorrow and it would be better than they could expect!
But on Holy Saturday, we find Jesus’ friends grieving and waiting. And how timely this theme of grief and waiting is for so many of us today. We have had our lives disrupted and put on hold due to the Stay Home Stay Safe order. And with this order comes grief with the loss of dreams and plans. Some of us may be in process of grieving as we bury our own dreams, plans, and expectations in this season…  

• We find ourselves being Isolated from our family (I’m thinking of you grandparents!)   
• Our plans of graduation with our friends and enjoying the end of our Sr year is gone.   
• The wedding we have been planning for months that no one can attend now.   
• For trips that have been cancelled   
• Do I even hear kids grieving because they can’t go to school? Or is that their parents?
  
  

When I think back to that season of figuring out college for Andrew, God solidified this truth in me. I realized that my peace wasn’t dependent on having things end up the way I desired, my peace came when my focus and trust was on God’s goodness and faithfulness. That He is for us, He is with us and that He loves us. We can trust Him to work things out for our good.  These are all promises found in His word!

On this Holy Saturday, let’s ask ourselves…  What dreams or plans have I started to prepare for burial that God is saying “Will you trust me? Keep your focus on me and watch what I can do.”

FAMILY ACTION: On Holy Saturday, sit quietly and reflect: Are you in a season of grief, or waiting? What are those things that you have lost or are left waiting for? Place these Holy Saturday realities in your hands and lift them up to God and remember he is the Way Maker, Promise Keeper, Miracle Worker, Light in the Darkness. Even when you don’t feel it – He’s working. Even when you don’t see it – He’s working. He never stops working.

Look up Romans 8:31. Give thanks to God for this truth.
When you are ready to build your HOPE in this season of grief and waiting, listen to this new song: Graves into Garden, by Elevation Worship
While we are waiting or grieving loss, let’s put our trust – our focus - on the one who is faithful – God never stops working. Romans 8:28

Overview: 
Welcome to Good Friday Experience at Sage Hills Church. You are about to begin an interactive stations of the cross journey tonight. There will be moments of sorrow, reflection, clarity, pain, and many other emotions. Our hope is that this evening will be saturated in prayer as you encounter the passion of our Savior.
There will be a total of 10 devotional readings explaining the crucifixion of our Savior that you will encounter tonight. For each devotional there will be an opportunity for prayer and experience set aside for you. As you move through the time tonight, you will end in a time of communion, so we want to encourage you have the elements ready to receive at the end of our time together.
A quick note of advice: this is not a race. Please take your time. Soak it all in. If you need to pause the video, please do. Our Savior did not rush anything. He didn’t numb out to any part of this experience. He took it all on Himself so that we might have life and remember this awful day as Good Friday. Don’t feel pressured to move forward until you’re ready.
Our prayer is that you would experience the love, grace, mercy, and devotion of Jesus tonight. Thank you for attending and God bless you as you journey with Jesus on this Good Friday.

Station 1: Garden (Mt. 26:39-43; Mk. 14:32-42; Lk. 22:39-46)
Experience: The Beginning of Redemption
Description: The journey to the cross began in a garden. Jesus went from partaking in the Last Supper with His disciples to praying in the garden at the Mount of Olives. During this time in prayer He is reported to have prayed with such agony that His sweat drops were like that of blood falling to ground. In this wrestling time with His Father, Jesus asks for this cup to be taken from Him and if there is any other way. Nevertheless, He chooses the cup of suffering before Him. In the garden of Eden humanity prayed, “Not God’s will but mine be done.” In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “Not my will but Your’s be done.” As His sweat drops like blood fell to the ground and His prayers like incense rose to the heavens, the process of redemption began.
Action: As you began on your journey with Jesus to the cross tonight, take a moment to imagine yourself in the garden with the Lord. Feel the weight of this moment, press into the agony of our Savior, be present with our King in His sorrow. With open hands pray with Jesus and to Jesus, “Not my will, but Your’s be done.” As your heart is ready, move onto the next station.

Station 2: Betrayal (Mt. 26:47-56; Mk. 14:43-52; Lk. 22:47-53)
Experience: Bitterness of Betrayal
Description: The Biblical writers tell us that as Jesus is praying in the Garden one of His disciples, Judas, brings the chief priests and other religious leaders to betray and hand over Jesus into their hands. All for 30 pieces of silver, one of Jesus’ disciples and friends handed over the world’s Savior. Yet, we recognize Jesus knew this would take place. He predicted that “The one who has dipped his hand in the bowl with me will betray me (Mt. 26:23).” And Judas did so, just as Jesus had proclaimed. O, how great the sting of this betrayal must have felt! But Jesus’ response is one that is powerful when Judas approaches Him in the Garden, “Do what you came for, friend (Mt. 26:50).” Judas kisses Jesus with betrayal and Jesus calls him friend. Before we single out Judas, let’s take a step back to who else dipped their hand in the bowl with Jesus: all of His disciples. And who dipped their hand in the bowl tonight? You and me. We may have kissed our Savior with betrayal but His response is to call us friend. Yet, the cost of calling us friend was the sting of betrayal and ultimately, death.
Action: All of us have betrayed the Savior. We have sold Him out for 30 pieces of silver or less more times than we can count. Yet, He still calls us friend and chose the cross to redeem us. Take a brief moment to think about the ways in which you have betrayed the Lord or others. Reflect on when you have been betrayed. Remember the sting and bitterness of this. Now, take an opportunity to receive the sweetness of being called a friend of Jesus. Sit with your Savior Friend until you are ready to move on.

Station 3: Jesus Before the Sanhedrin (Mt. 26:57-68; Mk. 14:53-65; Lk. 22:63-65)
Experience: Darkness and Alone
Description: As Jesus is led away by the religious leaders, He is brought to the house of the high priest, Caiaphas. Along the way, we discover Peter denies Jesus three times, He is accused by false witnesses, and He is struck on the face being told to “Prophesy!” and tell the crowd who had hit him. As this night comes to a close, the high priest determines Jesus is worthy of death and the religious leaders prepare to take Him to be tried before Pilate the next day. Many believe that on this night our Lord was held in Caiaphas’ dungeon as the authorities discussed what to do with Him. As He was in this pit, our Messiah’s closest friend was darkness. He was truly isolated the night before His death, but our Lord had you on His mind knowing that His time in the darkness would lead to your time in the light.
Action: For this next experience Psalm 88 will be on the screen. Read it to yourself and imagine being in the darkness, isolation, and anticipation of our Savior’s death. Think about what it was like to be alone so that all could come to true family and community in Christ. Thank the Lord for His pit leading to our peak. As you are ready, continue on the journey with Jesus.

Psalm 88:3-6 “I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death. 4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength. 5 I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care. 6 You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.”

Station 4: Jesus Before Pontius Pilate (Mt. 27:11-26; Mk. 15:1-15; Lk. 23:1-25; Jn. 18:23-19:16)
Experience: Freedom for Prisoners 
Description: After being held overnight by Caiaphas and the religious leaders, our Savior was then brought to trial under Pontius Pilate. While on trial, although Pilate could find no guilt in Jesus, the crowds shouted all the louder to condemn Him to death. During this time in the year, it was custom that one prisoner would be released by public vote. A well-known murderer named Barabbas was brought forth before this audience and they were asked if they wanted to release Jesus of Nazareth or Barabbas. They responded with Barabbas and then went out to shout out their desire of what to do with Jesus, “Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him!” Unwittingly, they had asked for Jesus to take the place of a criminal and this represented our posture before the Lord. Jesus took on the weight of our sin and the deserving effects of our transgressions: death. Jesus did what He said He came to do, “proclaim freedom for the prisoners (Lk. 4:19).” We experience this freedom because our Savior was bound with chains, beaten, flogged, and ultimately took the death we deserved.
Action: The chains that once bound us to sin and death were taken by the Lord for us. He felt the cold rust of heavy metal gather on His wrists that would later collect nails to pay for our transgressions. Take a moment to thank Jesus for the freedom He proclaimed to us prisoners. Think about the places in life in which you were bound and now are free. Thank the Lord for His liberty and allow the tension of His imprisonment and our freedom to resound in your heart. As you are ready, continue on the journey to the cross with Jesus.

Station 5: Crown of Thorns (Mt. 27:29; Mk. 15:17; Jn. 19:2,5)
Experience: Seeing Through the Blood
Description: During Jesus’ agonizing trial, flogging, and mockery at the hands of Pilate’s soldiers, He was stripped of His clothes, given a scarlet robe, a reed to hold in His right hand, and a crown made of our thorns was placed on His head. They insulted the Savior by bowing and calling Him the “King of the Jews”. In the midst of the flogging and ridicule, you can imagine what our Lord was seeing. The thorns crushed into His scalp caused blood to flow. It was this blood that was caused by our actions and shed on our behalf. As the blood came forth, you can imagine it covered the Messiah’s face and ran into His eyes. In this moment, although Jesus was surrounded by those who beat Him, mocked Him, and caused this pain, He saw them through the blood. Jesus saw those around Him, saw those coming after Him, and He sees today through the blood. When we see sin, He sees blood. When we see mockery, He sees His true authority to forgive sin. When we see what surrounds us, He sees grace.
Action: Take a few moments to write down the things that you see in your life. These can be circumstances, hardships, sins, pains, distractions, things about you, things about others,  etc. Ask the Lord to show you how to look through His blood. What do you see? What do you hear? Receive what you see and continue forward on this journey of crucifixion.

Station 6: The Road to Golgotha (Mt. 27:31-32; Mk. 15:20-21; Lk 23:26-32)
Experience: Bearing the Weight of the Cross 
Description: Jesus is led from trial to a bloody flogging at the hands of Roman soldiers. Following this gruesome experience, our Savior was then forced to carry a large beam of wood that was meant for His crucifixion. In the Roman culture, crucifixion was designed to humiliate the perpetrator and create such agony that we now have the word “excruciating” to define pain at such a level. As Jesus is on the road to Golgotha (place of the skull), a man named Simon from Cyrene is made to carry this cross, not out of relationship with the Messiah, but fear of the Roman guard. How might have this changed if Simon had known Jesus before he helped carry this cross? How incredible an experience to learn firsthand what it meant to pick up one’s cross and follow the Christ! As they arrived at Golgotha, Jesus was prepared for crucifixion. But how long was this journey from the Praetorium to Golgotha? How painful was this path? What agony did our Savior bear on our behalf?
Action: Reflect on the cross. Think about how it felt. The roughness of the splintering wood.How heavy was it? Think through how this felt on Jesus’ beaten and bloodied back. How weak He must have felt after being betrayed, going through a trial with false witnesses, and being repeatedly hit, flogged, and spit upon. Imagine what He was thinking of and simply give thanks for His carrying of something we could not. Envision what it must have been like to be selected in the crowd to carry this large wooden beam with Jesus. Let the Lord know you are ready to pick up the cross and follow Him. As you heart is ready, move forward to the next station of our Savior’s crucifixion.

Station 7: The Crucifixion (Mt. 27:33-44; Mk. 15:22-32; Lk. 23:33-43; Jn. 19:17-27)
Experience: Forgiveness 
Description: Once Jesus arrived at Golgotha, He was crucified. This process was quite disturbing and full of pain. One of the most excruciating parts of this practice was the nailing of the person to the cross. They would nail both wrists to the cross bar and then nail both feet overlapped to the taller cross bar. They would be careful to avoid bones to try to prolong this process and preserve the criminal for the longest time of humiliation. The Romans were skilled in this process and would enjoy the hanging of criminals upon wooden beams to show their triumph over them. However, they did not know that in the hanging of our Savior on the cross that He triumphed over all sin with forgiveness and grace. What was meant to be a sign of Roman dominance became a sign of our Savior’s victory over sin. This was not at a low cost though. It was worth the life of the Priceless Son of God. Because of Jesus’ agonizing crucifixion, atonement has been made for our sin and forgiveness is extended to all who would simply receive it by believing in the work and truth of Christ Jesus.
Action: None of us are innocent of our Savior’s death. In fact, the Jews even declared, “His blood be on us and our children (Mt. 27:25).” Imagine yourself in this scene of Jesus’ crucifixion. Picture our Messiah’s shouts of freedom and love with each pounding of the hammer. Conceptualize the Creator of all things in flesh bearing our sin upon the cross. Think about the sin in your life and visualize it upon Jesus on this cross. If you have never asked for forgiveness, receive what Christ has offered you. If you have said “YES” to Jesus, thank Him for the finished fact that you are forgiven. Once you have experienced the cross and its nails, move on as your heart is ready.

Station 8: Jesus’ Death (Mt. 27:45-56; Mk. 15:33-41; Lk. 23:44-49; Jn. 19:28-37)
Experience: It is Finished
Description: As Jesus was upon the cross, He declared many statements of forgiveness, hope, truth, and reconciliation. One of these last words was, “It is finished (Jn. 19:30)!” In the ancient world, when a criminal would commit an offense they would owe a debt to those they sinned against. Once they had paid their debt back to this person and society, they would receive a stamp upon their hand or wrist that said, “τετέλεσται,” which meant, “it is finished/debt has been paid.” When Jesus declares this statement on the cross, He is proclaiming over every debt we owe, “It is finished! I’ve paid your debt!” This is realized when, upon His final breath on the cross, the veil in the temple is torn from top to bottom (Mt. 27:51). This veil was created to separate the Holy of Holies from other parts of the temple. The veil being torn from top to bottom means that from heaven to earth there is no more separation between the Holy of Holies and humanity. Heaven has come to earth in the form of Jesus and He has paid every debt so that we could walk in the fullness of face-to-face relationship with God forever.
Action: Gather some paper, pens, and a container. As you feel led by the Spirit, take up a piece of a paper and pen to write out those things that you think are separating you from the Lord. Scribe out those hidden and deep sins. Record the lies you might be believing about God, others or yourself. Write out these things and then take the paper in both hands and rip it from top to bottom, heaven to earth. After you rip the paper, declare out loud, “IT IS FINISHED”, then picture the blood of Christ washing over not just this paper, but your life. Rest in knowing that through the death of Jesus, all sin has been paid for in full and we have been given access to the holy place of the Father, Son and Spirit. As you are ready, move forward to the next station.

Station 9: Burial of Jesus (Mt. 27:57-61; Mk. 15:42-47; Lk. 23:50-56; Jn. 19:38-42)
Experience: The Tomb
Description: After Jesus was pronounced dead on the cross, His body was taken down and given to Jospeh of Arimathea to be buried. We discover that our Savior was anointed with oil and prepared for burial, and then laid in the tomb that Mary Magadalene and Mary observed. This was also seen by Nicodemus, who first came to Jesus at night not to be seen (Jn. 3), but now comes to see the death of the One he started to follow (Jn. 19:39-40). Although we have seen the triumph of our Savior over sin, at this point in the journey we experience the sting of death. Many of Jesus’ followers must have been asking about this Promised Messiah and how He would overturn Rome and other systems of injustice. They must have felt hopeless in this moment as the stone was rolled to seal up the tomb of the One who promised breakthrough and victory. Many went back to their old work and left behind following their Savior altogether. As the stone was rolled, our King was sealed in the depths of darkness and death, isolated and alone, on our behalf.
Action: Imagine the tomb. See the darkness. Feel the cold. Look at the emptiness and sting of death. Think about what those who were following Jesus and what they were thinking at this point. Imagine what it was like to be part of the process of seeing Jesus on trial, beaten, crucified, and now preparing Jesus for burial. Visualize laying Him in the tomb and feeling the weight of His body that bore all sin. Simply observe and think upon the cost of our forgiveness and freedom: the death of God’s Son. When you are ready, move forward to the last station.

Station 10: The Last Supper (Mt. 26:17–30, Mk. 14:12–26, Lk. 22:7–39, Jn. 13:1–17:26)
Experience: Communion
Tonight, you experienced the journey to the cross of Christ. The last stop on this passage is an invitation to commune with the One who was crucified. Jesus’ welcome is for all to receive what He gave on the cross: His body broken and His blood shed. This journey is one that is filled with experiencing the lowest lows of brokenness and the deepest cuts of bloodshed. This expedition is also one that is brimming with the wholeness and life that we can receive from the death of our Savior. As your heart is ready tonight, we encourage you to come to the Table of our Lord to receive His body that was broken and His blood that was shed for you to be forgiven, healed, and given opportunity to follow Him.

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Closing: Thank you for journeying with us through the passion of our Savior tonight. Our prayer is that you encounter the fierce love of our King in new and powerful ways. We want to encourage you to reach out to us if you are in need of prayer or have questions about why Good Friday is good for us. We also want to encourage you to let us know if you said “YES” or would like to say “YES” to Jesus tonight. There’s better time than right now to declare that He is Savior and Lord, receive His forgiveness, and live in the fullness of life He came to give.

As we close our time, we’d encourage you to pray with us.

God bless you all and thanks again for joining us.

Scripture: John 13:1-17
"It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" Jesus answered, "Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

Devotional:
It's clear that in this text, there is the ultimate show of humility Jesus sets.  Every time I hear this message, it speaks to the humble service to which we're all called. I wonder though, if there is more… I wonder if what the "feet" represent is what Jesus died for. With tomorrow being GOOD FRIDAY where we remember the death Christ, today we're reading about the evening before, and what that may have symbolized.  I wonder if this was Jesus' example of the movement from KNOWING to GOING.
 
I want you to look at all of the times this text references KNOWING. We see it in Verses 1, 3, and 11. He knew the hour; He knew that God put all things under his power. He knew that He had come from God and was returning to God. He knew Judas would betray Him.

As I read this story, it's almost as though Jesus is suggesting a shift. A shift from KNOWING to GOING.

You see, the three previous years before this moment, when the disciples were seated at the table preparing for their Passover meal, these disciples were walking with Jesus, talking with him, learning. And at this moment, they had come to a place where their knowing ought to produce going. It's as though Jesus knew what they needed for the season ahead.

I'm going to backtrack a little bit to verses 4-10. This is where Jesus gets up from the table and washes the disciples' feet.  As I imagine this playing out in my head, I have a lot of questions. Whose feet did He wash first? And who was last? Where was Peter in that order?

Man, I love Peter.  It seems to me that none of the other disciples had anything to but Peter, oh Peter… the external processor. He sees what Jesus is doing and asks Him in verse 6 "Are you going to wash my feet?" And I love Jesus' response. "You do not know what I am doing, but later you will know what I am doing."

There is a beautiful dance happening where Peter is still participating, even though he doesn't quite understand. It doesn't stop him from being engaged. There is a tension between the studying of who Jesus was and being moved to interact and go.

I'll also note a few other observations you can ponder. In Exodus 3, Moses removes his sandal to receive a new inheritance. The timing of Jesus removing the disciple's sandals the night before the crucifixion seems important.

The use of water in the foot-washing reminds me of one of the sacraments we practice. Can you guess which one?  If you guessed baptism, you're right! Think about that!  The other sacrament we practice is communion…which is has a big tie to this evening with Jesus and the Passover supper.

One more observation, I wonder the significance of the feet. We know that our feet are what carry us; they're what we use to "go." Some facts: there are over 60 joints, 26 bones (13% of the bones in our bodies), and 200 muscles, ligaments, and tendons in our feet. Feet seem to be of great importance. They support our posture, identify where we stand are the foundation of our alignment and balance. Our feet keep our bodies stable.

As we jump back into verse 17, can you see the call? The call from KNOW and GO?  Jesus starts off with what He KNEW. That propelled Him to what He did: the example of humble service. Then, in Verse 17 He brings it back. Read verse 17 with me: "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

What we know and trust as truth, propels us to GO and do…and guess what…that's the blessing!

With that said, we want to give you a few questions to pray about and reflect on. Take your time with these. Press into the Lord. Go at your own pace with God. 

Questions:

• What things do you KNOW as truth about God's character?
• Knowing these things about God's character, how does that propel you to go?
• As you prepare for GOOD Friday, where are you STANDING with God? Others? Yourself?

 
Practice:
One practical way you can take what you KNOW and GO tonight is by reading through Philippians 2:1-11. This is an example of the humility that Christ Jesus walked in that revealed who He truly was, is, and will always be: The Name Above All Names. It is exactly this humility that we are encouraged to have in our mindsets. Taking what we know about Jesus and applying to how we go, we would encourage you to take one step in line with Jesus tonight. Think about one person through the mindset of the humble Christ. How can you honor them? How can you virtually, physically, or spiritually wash their feet? Take a moment to encourage them, honor them, pray for them (in person, over the phone, etc.), or ask the Lord for a prophetic word for them. Take what you know and go. How beautiful are the feet of those who tell the Good News (Is. 52:7).

Thanks for joining us tonight. We'd like to encourage you to reach out to us if you would like to pray or discuss any of the topics we've been talking about. We'd also encourage you to share your experiences with us from Easter week by messaging, emailing, calling, or tagging us in your social media content. Thanks again for joining us, and God bless you all.

Wednesday, we remember the betrayal. We sit in the tension of when the scene turned from powerful and poetic, to dark and deceitful. 

Scripture: John 13:18-30
18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned[a] against me.’ (Psalm 41:0)
19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.” 21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” 22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” 25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So, Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. 31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him,[c] God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

Devotional:
Friends, as we journey through Holy Week, we all long for the resurrection (rightly so). However, we ought not to breeze over the events that create great tension within us. This scene causes great tension. Jesus has just washed the feet of his disciples and charged them to do as he has done. And then the betrayal.  History has not been kind to Judas. We all know Judas as the betrayer. The deceitful person in the inner circle who turned Jesus over to the Sanhedrin (local Jewish officials). Judas is clearly the villain of this story. The world hears the name Judas and thinks one thing – betrayer. Until last week, I believed that “Iscariot” was a Greek or Hebrew word that meant betrayer. In fact, Iscariot was just his last name. But because history recognizes him as a villain, the English language changed the word Iscariot from a last name to a noun meaning traitor in 1640. It is natural that we all place the burden of betrayal on Judas.
In an effort to apply some practical take-ways, what if we painted Judas in a different light. Based on what we know about Judas, what if he was a revolutionary on board for a fight against the government, the system or Rome. We know that Judas was connected with Simon the Zealot and we know that Zealots of the day were known for violently taking matters into their own hands. It is possible that Judas was growing weary of “missed opportunities” for revolution to break out. Judas saw what happened on Palm Sunday and how much support Jesus had. But the moment came and went. What if Judas' intention was to turn Jesus over to the authorities so that it would ignite this revolution. Maybe Judas saw Jesus as the clear leader of a new kingdom who just needed help launching this plan into action. What if? Would that change your perception of Judas? Or what if we make it more personal? What if we use the same standards that we hold Judas to, and apply them to ourselves. When you investigate the definition of betray, you’ll find descriptive words like treachery, disloyal, treason, unfaithful, violating trust or break a promise. Could any of these words apply to you? As human beings, we fail our friends, our family and even ourselves. As Jesus followers, we fall short, we break promises, we justify our actions we are unfaithful, disloyal and on and on and on. If we hold ourselves to the same standards we hold Judas to, does your perception change? Maybe it does, or maybe it doesn’t. The point I’m trying to make in the context of this passage is this: “Don’t be hard on Judas, be hard on yourself.” Because of our behavior, because of our sin because of our brokenness we needed Jesus to be turned over to the authorities. We needed him to die. We are desperate for a sacrifice for our shortcomings. Today, our opportunity is to take a good, long look in the mirror. To own our brokenness. To name it. To ask forgiveness. To be grateful that our Savior took it all on and died for our need.

Practice: I had a conversation with another pastor the other day, and we were talking about the COVID-19 situation and current realities we are all facing. We began to discuss Psalm 23:2 which reads “He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.” The pastor began to explain that the reality of quiet (or still) waters implies that there are no ripples. Water with no ripples acts like a mirror. She then explained how it seems as though God has led us to still waters during this time, to be quiet, to listen and to look into those waters and evaluate what we see. When you look into the still waters, what do you see? What behavior do you need to acknowledge and address? As Jesus followers, we are called to reflect our savior. When you look into the still waters, do you see a reflection of Jesus?

What an opportunity we have as we prepare for resurrection Sunday. My encouragement is that you would take time to reflect, write down what you see, verbally process with a trusted friend or family member and confess to the Lord through prayer.

Celebration is greater after adversity. Don’t be afraid of the tension. Jesus faced it, lived it and overcame it. Let’s follow his example and do the same.

CONTEXT OF GOSPEL OF JOHN
AUTHOR: THE APOSTLE JOHN - JESUS’ DISCIPLE
WHEN: BETWEEN AD 80 & 95
WHERE: PROBABLY EPHESUS - MODERN-DAY TURKEY
WHY: GOAL WAS TO SHOW THAT JESUS WAS MESSIAH, SON OF GOD - RECEIVE LIFE THROUGH HIM
THEME: IMAGERY OF LIGHT AND LIFE DESCRIBING GOD’S ACTIVITY

DEVOTIONAL:
In these times, in the current days we are facing, we have been experiencing the full weight of our humanity. We are seeing the wages of sin and its root of anxiety, pain, and brokenness. However, as harsh and hopeless of a reality as we are being dealt right now, it is only fitting that we are in the midst of the greatest week in all of history. The week that reinstated hope at the centerfold of all humanity...the week that prepared a spot at the table for each and every one of us. And yet, in the thick of this joyous celebration, lies the darkest hours in all existence. A time where sin thought it had the final say. Where it had victory by way of crucifixion and the grave. Then came Day 3. The capstone of a week that declared victory beyond the grave...the week that provides the confidence of love, unity, and holiness. The week that leaves us...UNDEFEATED!

*READ JOHN 12:20-36*

In John 12, Jesus is setting the tone by predicting what will soon take place. As his attention becomes devoted to the climax of his story, the story of redemption and restoration, and he gives the precise details on what we are called into, there is one noticeable response from Jesus that resonates. In verse 27, he states, “Now my soul is troubled.” With everything going on with COVID-19, it seems effortless to find our souls being troubled. However, Jesus gives us a solution that we can hold onto, that helps sustain us through the storm of a troubled soul.

Often times, what we focus on becomes our reality. Jesus declares that although his soul was troubled, he was meant to be there and has come for that very moment, which all-in-all, was to glorify the Father and his promise of redemptive, restorative love and grace. Prior to Jesus detailing the state of his soul, he gives us a clear and concise design on how to live in the midst of a troubled soul. 

In verses 24-26, Jesus alludes to a kernel of wheat and the two different modes it exemplifies. We see a kernel that continues to live, taking on nutrients only for itself, and in this state, can only do things for its own benefit. However, the kernel that dies -- Jesus is signaling a life that dies to sin and lives in him -- is now capable of producing new crops, which then produces numerous kernels.

In this time, how can we deter ourselves from focusing solely on our desires, in the midst of having a troubled soul, and recentering it on pressing into others to create more kernels? How can we move through this Holy Week, focusing on Resurrection Day knowing that we already have victory...victory over pandemics, victory over anxiety, victory over sin?

During this week, the encouragement is to focus on what brings glory to the One who deserves all the glory. And through this, we get to press into the promise of Jesus’ death and resurrection, to which we can come alongside our family, friends, and community in a time like this, a time that is soul-troubling, and declare that we are undefeated.

QUESTIONS:
How is your soul today?
How can you recenter your soul around multiplying kernels for the glory of the Father?
When your soul is troubled, what do you take root in?

ACTIVATION:
As seeds die and fall to the ground, they become planted in the soul and aid in growing more crops (life). In this season, find a tree, take a picture of it, post it to social media, and tag 3-5 friends and our social media pages. By doing this, it is a reminder that we all start as a seed that is planted, and our call to glorifying the father is to continue to grow, as well as grow seeds that are to fall and be planted.

Scripture: John 12: 1 - 11

 Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. A dinner was given there in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; poured it on Jesus’ feet and dried his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.
 Meanwhile, a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of Him but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in Him.

Devotional:

This moment in the life of Jesus is marked by contrast. It is a contrast between life and death. Jesus was being anointed for his death and burial while sitting with Lazarus, the one he had brought back to life. The Jews were threatening to murder Jesus and Lazarus because many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and were finding life, not a dead religion full of laws!

It is a contrast of intent. Jesus’ actions, teaching, and obedience to the Father’s will revealed love and sacrifice...of submitting his body to be crucified and buried; Mary’s intent was also bent on love and sacrifice...to extravagantly and humbly anoint Jesus’ body by POURING expensive perfume on his feet, not simply dabbing and wiping. In contrast, Judas’ intent was full of selfishness and deceit. He tried to hide his desires to steal and manipulate. While Judas tried to conceal his intentions, Jesus and Mary revealed their intentions in plain sight.

It is also a contrast of the heart-purity of Jesus and the sin-filled heart of Judas...of Jesus giving and Judas taking; of Mary giving and Judas taking. It is a contrast of unwanted fascination. The Jews were fascinated to see a man raised from the dead, of seeing a walking, living miracle...but they hated and despised Jesus for it. It is a symbolic contrast of the fragrant aroma of the perfume and the stinky deadness of Judas.

These types of contrasts are used many times in Scripture to highlight our own spiritual struggles. Are we really going to help our neighbor, or are we going to use the money Jesus has given us for our own desires? Are we going to choose spiritual life in a certain situation, or are we going to choose spiritual death? Are we going to be sacrificial toward Jesus, or are we going to withhold? Are we going to let deception reign in our hearts, or are we going to be transparent? Are we displaying a spiritual fascination with Jesus but hating His call to obedience and denying him in our hearts?

While this holy Monday passage isn’t declarative about choosing the path of holiness, it is definitely illustrative of it. Holiness is found in the example of Jesus, submitting himself into the hands of sinful men because He trusted in the holy will of His Father. We see holiness in Jesus, allowing his feet to be anointed, though knowing the path of obedience he walked on led to a dirty, ugly cross. Holiness is the example of Mary in sacrificial humility and generosity, anointing Jesus’ feet with perfume worth about a year’s worth of wages. It’s about Martha serving; it’s about Lazarus continuing to serve Jesus even though he was being threatened with death.

Practice:

1. Discern your motives during this Holy Week. When prompted by the Holy Spirit are you leaning toward a Mary mindset or a Judas mindset? Are you tempted to reach into the money bag for yourself or others? Are you choosing life or death?
2. Ask yourself or your family, what can I bring this week, like Mary did at the dinner, to the feet of Jesus. What sacrificial gift can I bring?
3. How can I serve, like Martha, my community, especially during this COVID-19 crisis? Just like the religious community was watching Jesus and his Disciples with an unfortunate eye toward judgment, our neighbors, are also looking on, hopefully with expectation, to see how we can love them.
4. I love the picture of Lazarus reclining with Jesus. How can you recline with Jesus this week...be with Him and know His goodness?

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the palm trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”  “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Devotional: 
As God’s people we have celebrated Palm Sunday the Sunday prior to Easter for hundreds of years. This is a day in which we remember our Savior’s entrance into the holy city of Jerusalem in an obscure, yet powerfully meaningful manner. This entry is what is often referred to as the Triumphal Entry because of the entrance itself and the events that followed, His death and resurrection, the victory over sin and death.

In short, we collect from the Word of God that Jesus was approaching Jerusalem and sent His disciples into the nearby village to get a donkey and a colt. Just as He told His disciples, the donkey and colt were there and it fulfilled one prophetic message about the Messiah from Zechariah 9:9. This prophetic message was about a king who would be coming to save and restore His people. And that’s exactly what Jesus came to do, but not in the way they thought or the way that we would expect either…

As this account continues, we see a large crowd gather around Jesus, lay their clothes upon the donkey for Him to sit on, and then they cut branches from the palm trees and laid them on the road for a pathway for Jesus to ride upon. Then they begin to chant passages from the Psalms and Isaiah in worship declaring, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Let me stop here for a second. Jesus, the promised King, the Messiah, who came to restore the people of God and deliver them from the oppression of their enemies comes riding on a donkey covered with these people’s clothing in the middle of the shouts of an overlooked and oppressed people group while palm fronds are His red carpet… Weird, right!?

NOT AT ALL. This all means something. Jesus rode a donkey, which was an animal of peace. Any other king on this earth would have ridden a horse which was a symbol of war, but Jesus rode on a donkey which was a symbol of peace, marking His true Kingship and the way He would overcome sin and death. Our Prince of Peace rode upon the palm branches of trees, which was a symbol of triumph and victory! The shouts of the people from Psalm 118 and Isaiah 56 are worshipful declarations that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, and that He has come to save them!

In other words, Jesus, the Prince of Peace, rode on peace on a pathway marked with triumph and victory to the declarations of the truth that He alone can save! This is our King! Not the One who comes riding on the expected war horse, but the One who comes in humility and overcomes death by death, inviting us into His triumphal march for all of eternity!

God’s people chanted HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST then, and our invitation this Palm Sunday is to continue to join in the parade! Our invitation is to celebrate the victory over our blockades and to jump into the chants of those who have been remade! It’s an opportunity for God’s children to gather in dancing songs, to take a deep breath into our lungs because revival has come in the flesh, walking upon palm fronds, taking dirt and making life, turning our darkness into light!

And here’s the beautiful thing about this story: we read that when Jesus entered into Jerusalem, the WHOLE CITY was stirred and asked about who He was. The crowds then told them, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee!”

When we lift praises and declare the truth about Jesus the whole city is stirred to ask about who this One is. Why are you singing? What are these songs about? Who is this One?

And our response, This is Jesus! Our prophet, our King, our Messiah, our Redeemer, the One who has come to deliver us all. Hosanna in the highest. He has come to save. He rides on peace and His pathway is victory. Sin and death are conquered and we cry out with one voice, Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord! This is Jesus and He is inviting us to walk upon His victory and peace!

Practice:
One manner of celebrating this Triumphal Entry has been in holding palm fronds and singing “Hosanna” as the people of God in unison. However, gathering in this time is a bit difficult and palm trees are not the native foliage of Washington state.

But, these circumstances can’t stop our praise! The Triumphal Entry was filled with songs of praise and celebrations of victory and peace! So, we want to encourage you and your families to join in the never-ending worship of the One who has come to offer us redemption and restoration!

The practice for this Palm Sunday is simple. Throw on a song of victory, praise, and fun, and dance together in remembrance and celebration of the Lord’s goodness! We see the people of God dancing in the Old Testament and New Testament alike, and I believe this dance continues today! If you don’t feel comfortable in dancing, simply throw a song of worship and engage with the Lord in thanking Him for coming in the way He did.

We have listed some of our favorite worship songs focused on the victory and freedom of Jesus if you are not sure of what to sing and dance along to. If you feel comfortable in sharing, please take some video and share it with us on social media ( @sagehillschurch / #fillyourfeedwithhope ).

Jesus has come and His victory and peace are for all. The question is, will you join in the celebration? I have and there’s nothing better. Happy Palm Sunday and God bless you.

Songs:
Freedom by Jesus Culture
See a Victory by Elevation Music
Graves into Gardens by Brandon Lake
Alive by Hillsong Young and Free
Wake by Hillsong Young and Free
Unstoppable God by Elevation Collective (feat. Tye Tribbett)
Echo by Elevation Worship (feat. Tauren Wells)
Freedom by Bethel Music, William Matthews
We Have Overcome by Israel Houghton
You Keep On Getting Better by Maverick City Music