Holy Week

by charityrattray

Yesterday Christ cursed a fruitless fig tree. Today, Wednesday two followers will prepare Jesus for Friday, when Christ, God incarnate is forsaken nailed upon a dead tree. (Gal 3:13, Deut. 21:23)

Thursday will inaugurate the new covenant meal for the church. (Luke 22:20 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Christ’s body broken for you. Wine that flows sapid and smooth is offered to us. Forgiveness offered us tastes fresh, mineral rich and balanced, the wedding in Cana can’t compare to the drinkability of this cup of mercy Christ inaugurates. A bitter cup is poured for Christ. And out of his side life springs eternal. Eastertide is coming.

It’s men who must do the harm to the body of Christ. Corruption will lash upon incorruption.

“They are determined to be experts at doing evil; government officials and judges take bribes, prominent men make demands, and they all do what is necessary to satisfy them. The best of them is like a thorn; the most godly among them are more dangerous than a row of thorn bushes. The day you try to avoid by posting watchmen – your appointed time of punishment – is on the way, and then you will experience confusion.”
‭‭Micah‬ ‭7‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NET‬‬

Blessed are the poor in spirit. Are you poor enough, hungry enough for this covenant meal? Judas hungered for silver over the Savior.

God fulfills his word. As HE has done in the Old Testament he does even with the betrayer, Judas.

Lean in and learn from the prophetically accurate destruction of the house of Ahab through the kingship of Jehu. We too can trust God’s word. There are 14 years from the pronouncement of judgment and Ahab will die as Elijah said– with dogs even licking up his blood. Due to Ahab’s repentance full disaster would not arrive until “his son’s days,” however the word of prophecy was not canceled. God proves his word in Ahab’s death. (1 Kings 22:1, 34-38; c. 853 BC). Delay may seem as if no judgement is coming…when his son Ahaziah then reigned two years, followed by another son, Joram, who is crowned and reigned twelve years (2 Kings 3:1; 1 Kings 22:51–2 Kings 1:17; 2 Kings 8:25). Elijah departs for heaven in a chariot of fire and it is Elisha who will see the prophecy fulfilled.
In 841 BC, Elisha sent a prophet to anoint Jehu as king over Israel (2 Kings 9:1-10). Jehu immediately fulfilled the prophecy by:

Killing Joram (Ahab’s son) and throwing his body into the very field of Naboth at Jezreel the act that provoked the judgment of God (2 Kings 9:21-26; explicitly recalling Elijah’s words from 1 Kings 21).
Killing Ahaziah of Judah (Ahab’s grandson through his daughter Athaliah).
Throwing Jezebel from the window so dogs ate her (2 Kings 9:30-37).
Later slaughtering the rest of Ahab’s descendants and destroying Baal worship from Israel. (2 Kings 10)

God’s word has always materialized and right on time. Delay is an act of mercy.

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Habakkuk 2:3

The plot to betray Jesus and kill the King and Good Shepherd, is part of the grand scheme and word of God put forward through the prophet Zechariah:
Zechariah 11:12-13 NIV

I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.
And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord.

Matthew 27:7 NET and Acts 1:19 NET describe the field and the same language is used from Zechariah.
What happened to the shepherd? He lays down his life.
The betrayer? His blood is spilt in the field.
And you what will you do with this Christ? Who do you say HE IS?