A 40-Days Lenten Series
In the weeks approaching Resurrection Sunday, let’s walk through Scripture to hear how the story of salvation has been shared with God’s children throughout history using garden and vineyard narratives. The journey starts in the Garden of Eden and takes us to Easter morning when Jesus met Mary in the garden outside of the empty tomb.
Along the way, we’ll take notice of God’s great love for His creation, the damage that we have done to ourselves and the rest of creation, and His redemptive work in accordance with His character.
By the end of the series, we’ll see the bigger picture of how grace and mercy have been pouring from the heart of God (and eventually the side of Jesus) since the beginning of the human story.
SERIES RESOURCES
If you're looking to get the most out of the series, use the tools below to dive deeper! There's something for every type of learner, including songs, further suggested reading, and of course, Sunday morning messages!
WEEK SIX - Daily Devotionals
Starts March 24th
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:36-39
The one-year anniversary of my mom’s passing is quickly approaching. The week before she passed, our home was full of family and friends who had stopped to visit. I distinctly remember the contrast of that time. On one hand, it was so good to see people and share a memory or momentary laugh. On the other hand, the fog of grief continued to fill my heart and mind. I knew her passing was close. When I read the above Scripture and I think about the last week of Jesus’ life, I feel that same, uncomfortable contrast.
The week before His crucifixion, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. His arrival is covered in all four of the Gospels: Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:28-40, Mark 11:1-11 and John 12:12-19. The symbolism and Old Testament connections are so very rich in this story! In His triumphant entry, Jesus rides on the back of a donkey just as Zechariah prophesied (Zechariah 9:9). In the ancient Middle East, kings rode horses into war and donkeys if they came in peace. You may recall that Isaac rode a donkey as his father, Abraham, led him to the altar to be sacrificed. As Jesus entered Jerusalem, people cried “Hosanna” (meaning “Save us”) and laid palm branches in front of Him symbolizing that He was their victorious king. Scripture tells us that the people shouted, ran, and waved their palm branches. What a scene that must have been! Their king had arrived to save them! Imagine the energy and the joy of walking alongside Him as He entered Jerusalem. I suspect it would have been exhilarating! Now, imagine that just a few days removed from that glorious entry, you sit with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is in this garden that His grief and lament for what is about to happen pour out. Jesus tells His disciples that, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” We read how Jesus falls to the ground and cries out to God, “My Father, if it is possible may this cup be taken from me.” Wow. In the span of a few days, the mood has gone from joy to sorrow, from celebration to catastrophe. It is in this moment…in the garden…where we see the full humanity of Jesus. He knew what was about to happen. He was afraid. He was filled with sorrow. He was lonely…He was anguished by His impending suffering and maybe for the anguish He knew his people would face.
The Garden of Gethsemane, a grove of olive trees at the base of Mount Olive, represents much in the life of Jesus. The garden represents much for those who call Him ‘Savior’. The garden is a place of complete surrender and absolute trust. The garden is a place where we come face-to-face with our own sinfulness and Jesus’ love for us.
Weekly Overview Reading: Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:28-40, Mark 11:1-11, John 12:12-19
Highlighted songs: How He Loves by Crowder, Believe by Blessing Offor, God Really Loves Us by Maverick City Music
Click HERE to listen to a playlist for the series, including this week’s highlighted songs.
Click HERE to download a PDF of this week’s daily devotionals.
Read Zechariah 9:9
Jesus entered Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, a symbol of royalty and peace. This entry had to be in stark contrast to what many of the day were used to seeing. Being under Roman control, they witnessed Roman commanders on war horses parading through the city. What a contrast – Jesus was different!
Read Philippians 2:6-8
In these verses, Paul tells us that even though Jesus shares the same nature with God, He did not use that to His advantage. Rather, with the same nature of God and the same nature of man, He humbled Himself to God’s will and took our penalty. Let us be followers who love Jesus with complete abandon!
Read Galatians 2:20
This is a good passage to commit to memory. Our nature is contrary to God’s. Because of Jesus, we now share in His nature! “Faith connects you so intimately with Christ, that He and you become as it were one person. As such you may boldly say: I am now one with Christ. Therefore Christ’s righteousness, victory, and life are mine.’ On the other hand, Christ may say: I am that big sinner. His sins and death are mine, because he is joined to me, and I to him.” (Martin Luther)
Read John 16:33
Life can be difficult. We will experience loss, heartache, dashed dreams and trouble. Yet, Jesus tells us that in Him we may have peace. David Guzik, author of the Enduring Word Commentary writes, “Jesus did not promise peace, He offered it. We gain the peace Jesus offered by finding it in him! We won’t find real peace anywhere else other than in Jesus.”
Read Philippians 1:6
What encouragement! God has begun a good work in you and will see it through till the end. Charles Spurgeon said, “The work of grace has its root in the divine goodness of the Father, it is planted by the self-denying goodness of the Son, and it is daily watered by the goodness of the Holy Spirit…”