Holy Week - Monday

Jesus was in Jerusalem to celebrate passover on Sunday, a holiday commemorating the LORD, who was to kill all first born children, "passing over" the Israelite homes when they put sacrificed lambs blood across their door posts (this story can be read in Exodus 12). This was the final event that would move the Israelites into exile from egypt, and ultimately set them free from slavery.

Jesus enters Jerusalem like thousands of others this week - for the passover holiday. In remembrance of the freedom that was sparked by the passing over, each family (if they could afford to do so) would sacrifice a lamb in the temple to God. We know that Jesus came for another purpose, however. He came not to sacrifice a lamb, but to be sacrificed himself as "the Lamb of God" (as John refers to him).

The same message is clear though: the blood of the sacrificed lamb will save you and set you free.

Jesus in John 12 speaks about his own death:

27 ‘Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—“Father, save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour.²⁸Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’

I believe the question needs to prevalent on all disciples minds: What has enslaved you?

Insecurity and inadequacy? Greed or lust? Impatience and unfaithfulness? Selfishness and the needing to always get our way? The reluctancy to trust your creator?

We all can fall so easily into wicked hands of our adversaries. And they will enslave us if given the chance. But the Lamb is being prepared for sacrifice - to set us all free.

Are you, right now, preparing your life for the gift of freedom offered to you?

Psalm 142 (NRSV)

With my voice I cry to the Lord;
with my voice I make supplication to the Lord.
²I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.
³When my spirit is faint,
you know my way.

In the path where I walk
they have hidden a trap for me.
⁴Look on my right hand and see—
there is no one who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
no one cares for me.

⁵I cry to you, O Lord;
I say, ‘You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.’
⁶Give heed to my cry,
for I am brought very low.

Save me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me.
⁷Bring me out of prison,
so that I may give thanks to your name.
The righteous will surround me,
for you will deal bountifully with me.