Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

The following comes from the Holy Week devotional guide I wrote for our church, "Jesus' Final Week":   In less than a week, the voices that rang in Jesus’ ears went from cries of praise to cries of condemnation. Although the exclamations most likely came from two different crowds, the fact was the tenor in the air had changed. How quickly Jesus went from being hailed as King and Messiah to being condemned as a blasphemer and criminal.  By the end of the day, Jesus was dead.   If we had been there we would have said it was a terrible day, the worst day any one of his followers could have imagined. All of their hopes and dreams had been pinned to this One who was now hanging on a cross and fighting for every breath. Defeat filled the air. We read “Jesus said, ‘It is finished. With that he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30) It was all over—or, so it seemed.  Before we jump too quickly to Sunday, we need to pause and soak in what Jesus went through on this d

Most of us know the old saying, “April showers bring May flowers.”  It’s an expression that’s used to help us get through the many rainy days we face during the early weeks of the month of April. We say it to help ourselves maintain hope that the weather will turn a bit nicer and the temperatures will become a bit warmer. By saying, “April showers bring May flowers,” we are telling ourselves that in the end, this season of rain will be well worth, reminding ourselves that, what is will not always be.  This time of the year within the Christian calendar—i.e., the Easter Season—is really all about hope. As we recall the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are remembering both the darkest of days and the brightest of days. It’s a time to reflect upon the fact that, the greatest tragedy our world has ever known turned into the greatest victory that has ever and will ever touch the face of this earth. Within just a few days, Jesus went from dying on a cross to stepping forth from what would