Tag Archives: Maundy Thursday

Dear Agony

Posted on April 18, 2019 by expressyourself4him

Passion Week celebrates the last week of Jesus’ life as a human being. Today, churches will have Maundy Thursday services recounting the last supper. Bible verses will be read, a betrayal will be revealed and a new covenant introduced now known as Holy Communion. Yet, during a 24 hour period, Jesus endured agony that few have ever experienced.

Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart, Hebrews 12:3.

This series of events began when a disciple, Judas Iscariot, agreed to a bribe in exchange for handing Jesus over to the authorities. False witnesses attempted to smear Jesus’ reputation, soldiers punched Jesus in the face and flogged him, ripping most of the skin off his body. When this torture was completed, Jesus was mocked, ridiculed and had a four inch thick crown of thorns driven into his skull. Then, the long walk to Golgotha began.

You have not yet struggled to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; Hebrews 12:4.

The author of Hebrews addresses the topic of agony in the passages above. If you are having a bad day, rough week or undergoing extreme circumstances, a question is asked. Are you on the verge of death, hanging from a cross? If not, consider him, Jesus, who shed his blood as the perfect lamb of God. The agony Jesus endured was a payment for sin, to save the world, John 3:16-17. Therefore, if you are overcome by the pain of agony, hang in there by casting your concerns up to God in prayer.

by Jay Mankus

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Memory Loss

Posted on January 10, 2018 by expressyourself4him

There are 10 common symptoms of memory loss.  Whether it’s confabulation, confusion, forgetting names, getting lost, irritability, language difficulties, depression, struggling with day to day affairs, following directions or neurological issues, any of these are signs of old age.  Anyone who exhibits these traits are often diagnosed with dementia or in severe cases, Alzheimer’s disease.  As medical and science advancements enable human beings to extend life expectancy, memory loss will likely affect you at some point in the future.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing, James 1:23-25.

In the first century, some of the disciples developed memory loss between Maundy Thursday and Resurrection Sunday.  Despite being warned on several occasions, eluding to this event in the future, Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion a day later led to a spiritual meltdown.  One of Jesus’ vocalist followers, Peter, denied knowing Jesus three times in public within 24 hours.  Others went into in hiding, afraid they too many be arrested or sentenced to death like their leader.  After 3 years together, a few days of trials resulted in spiritual memory loss.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, Philippians 3:13-14.

The latest democratic talking point is accusing President Donald Trump of memory loss day after day, claiming to be signs of dementia.  Unfortunately, these accusers are suffering from the same thing, unable to come to grips with Hillary Clinton’s 2016 election loss.  Instead of wasting their breaths on endless excuses, it’s time to follow the advice of the apostle Paul in the passage above.  Sure, memory loss is a reality in most individuals, especially when it comes to names of people you just met.  Nonetheless, worrying about the past is a lost cause.  Rather, press on toward the future, focusing on that which God has called you to do.  Those who heed this call will begin to feel much better while you invest your time on heavenly causes.

by Jay Mankus

 

 

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Don’t Tell Em’… Show Them

Posted on April 17, 2014 by expressyourself4him

On Sunday evening following the Masters coverage, the Golf Channel debuted a 3 part documentary on the Relationships, Major Accomplishments and Legacy of Arnold Palmer.  Although I didn’t catch every second of the 3  one hour special presentations entitled Arnie, I was struck by one life lesson Arnold learned from his father.  Like a shrewd man unveiling a secret to life, “don’t tell people how good you are; show them.”  If you watched any of this program or you were one of Arnie’s Army, then you know this is exactly how he lived his life.

Modern politicians could learn from from Arnold Palmer’s actions during his professional career and retirement.  Fans were always acknowledged, the press was never dodged and this man gave back more to the game and community than anyone.  Perhaps, this is why Arnold was called the King, showing the crowds, his opponents and the television audience the proper way to carry oneself whether in victory or defeat.  Despite Arnold’s fame and fortune, he remains humble, remembering where he came from, who he is and what his father taught him about being a good man.

Though Arnold tries to be good daily, he learned the same truth that we all have to come to grips with, no one is perfect, Romans 3:23.  According to the Bible, there is only One who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin, Hebrews 4:14-15.  Today, on Maundy Thursday, we celebrate the man called Jesus.  On his way to the cross, He refused to tell others about his goodness.  Rather, he set the example, shining his light in a dark and dying world.  Before you go to sleep tonight, read Jesus’ words in John 3:16-17 so that you too may be inspired to let the light of Christ shine through you, Matthew 5:13-16.  Don’t tell em’ about Jesus; show them God’s love!

by Jay Mankus

 

 

 

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