Last Sunday, we kicked off Passover by taking communion at Idlewild on Sunday morning. Communion is always special, but even more so this year since it was Bekah's first communion since she was baptized two weeks ago. It was just a really sweet time to sit next to her and teach/remind her about communion, why we do it, how we do it (examine yourself...), and why it is important.
Then Sunday night, I saw (on twitter!) that the Bible app that I use on my iPad (YouVersion) had a special Easter week devotional plan. I couldn't resist signing up for that - it gives me extra incentive this week to do my daily Bible study. Spending the time each day to walk through Jesus' life in His last week on earth just really gets to you...plus there were some new tidbits that God revealed to me this week.
In particular, I was reminded of a few things about the Holy Spirit. In John 14:15-17 it says "...I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." In John 16:13 it goes on to say "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth." This really spoke to me because I've been thinking a lot about truth over the last year - what truth is, and why some people are blinded from seeing truth when it is right in front of their eyes. And these verses reminded me that the Holy Spirit is the "Spirit of truth." He is the Counselor, the Spirit that gives discernment - discernment to evaluate truth from lies. ...and not everyone can see or hear the Holy Spirit ("the world cannot accept him"). But abiding in Christ allows the Holy Spirit to speak at his highest volume (John 15:1-17: "Remain in me, and I will remain in you...If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you."). The fact that I can know/discern truth through the Holy Spirit by abiding in Christ...that gives me comfort.
So now it's Friday night. What better to do on Friday night than watch a movie, right? Last Friday we watched the Social Network (good movie by the way). But today is Good Friday...the day that Jesus died on the cross. Watching a "normal" movie doesn't fit. So, Tammy and I dusted off "The Passion of the Christ." We've owned the DVD for years...since it came out...but I'm pretty sure we've only watched it once. It is a tough movie to watch. To sit through 2+ hours of visual images of your Savior's body being torn to pieces for your sins...yes, the sins you committed even today...it is stressful. it is painful. it brings tears to your eyes. but it is good. Too often we take Jesus' crucifixion too lightly. We don't want to think about it, so we don't. But when you take the time to really let the magnitude of Jesus' suffering wash over you, it really motivates you to get right with God.
Now i'm off to finish my Easter devotional plan for today and to put together a Easter playlist in iTunes. I'll leave you with a parting Bible verse - Isaiah 53:5:
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
