- 3/3 Week 1 – Body, Blood, Betrayal
- 3/10 Week 2 – Mission Sunday
- 3/17 Week 3 – Crucify Him!
- 3/24 Week 4 – The Crucified King
- 3/31 Week 5 – The Empty Tomb
Hallelujah! What a Savior! This month we are going to be studying just a few of the events surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. We’ll start in the upper room, move to the court of Pilate, then to Calvary, and finally to the empty tomb. For many of you, this will be the first time you’ve studied these events, and I am praying that God opens your eyes to see Jesus and that you will believe in Him. For others, though, we’ve heard the sermons, read the Sunday School lessons, opened the resurrection eggs, and the story is no longer new to us. My prayer for us is that we will not be satisfied with summaries or with knowledge previously acquired. I’m praying that we will see Him more clearly and that God will refresh and invigorate our love for Him.
As I’ve been praying for our church this Easter season I have asked God to use my scripture reading to prompt my prayers. We just completed reading the Gospel of Mark, and in chapter 16 Mark records the first Easter morning when a few women went to the tomb. They encountered an angel and were naturally frightened. Here are some of the things we can pray together this month:
Mark 16:6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.
Father, first just take our fear away. Remind us of your sovereignty and providence. Strengthen our continual faith and dependence upon You alone.
And keep us seeking Jesus. It is so easy to seek other things, to be distracted and lured to seek comfort, acclaim, or our own way. Keep our eyes fully on you.
He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.
Father, you always keep your promises. Thank you for the empty tomb, the resurrected Savior, the defeat of death, eternal life, and bringing many sons to glory. Thank You that our faith is not blind, but You give us abundant evidence that Your Word is truth.
7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”
Father, let us never be silent about our faith. We’ve seen you, met you, been saved by You. May we be faithful to tell others of you that they may know Jesus, too.
Marty Price
