Are You Prepared?

On this Maundy Thursday we begin to prepare ourselves for Good Friday as we focus on the Last Supper 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 and the new command Jesus gave his disciples John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

What are your family traditions for preparing for Good Friday & Easter?

One year my husband & I attended a Passion Play with friends. I was not prepared for what I was about to witness. It literally brought Good Friday to life along with other miracles Jesus performed. When the soldiers began to nail Jesus to the cross I had chills running down my body. As you heard the hammer hitting the nails, Jesus cried out in pain each time they nailed him to the cross. Matthew 27:46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me." I began to cry & instantly began asking for forgiveness. I was so overwhelmed by this profound experience & all he endured just to save us! The other part of the play that moved me was a mother was running down the aisle with her dead child in her arms as she ran to Jesus asking him to bring him back to life, that too made me cry as our 2 yr old son Nathan had died just years before this so I was flooded with emotions as I could relate to this mother's agony of wanting her child to live. It was a powerful, emotional & educational experience that gave me a deeper & richer appreciation for all Jesus endured to save me, I'm indebted to him!!

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.

I hope you will take time to reflect on all God has done for you as well. We should humble ourselves, ask for forgiveness, and live our lives with gratitude that he loved us enough to endure this inconceivable pain to save us. I encourage you to read John 13.

Written by: Jill Theriault

Crossroads Coaching - @crossroadscoachingongodstime