Maundy Thursday!

For Thursday, April 2, 2026, Maundy Thursday:

Matthew 26:21 NLT: “While they were eating (the Last Supper), Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”

This was an unpleasant day in the Christian diary. Jesus knew this was their last meal together. He knew the end was imminent. But the 12 remained optimistic despite opposition from Jewish leaders and the Roman government. God, in his wisdom, made this day of suffering go quickly.

Before the meal, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, a task usually executed by servants. Jesus emphasized that he had come to serve, not to be served. Simon Peter protested, but eventually relented. Following the meal, Jesus instituted what we call Holy Communion, telling those present to “Do this in remembrance of me.” They then adjourned to the Mount of Olives.

Judas Iscariot later betrayed Jesus, pointing him out so he could be arrested by representatives of the leading priests and elders. He was brought before the high priest, Caiaphas, and those involved in the conspiracy sought witnesses who would lie about Jesus to get him killed. Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. This all happened overnight. The rooster crowed the next morning.

Found guilty in a kangaroo court, it was up to Mount Calvary. Jesus had been beaten and spat upon, then nailed to a cross stuck high in the air. The 12 had abandoned him, fearing for their own lives, I suspect.

The story ends tomorrow, on Good Friday. Or does it?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Kingdom!

For Wednesday, March 4, 2026:

John 14:3 NLT, Jesus speaking about our next life in the Kingdom: “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.“

Jesus said he would prepare a place for loyal believers, and when that’s ready, he’ll meet us with open arms as we transition to the next reality. At that time, it might have seemed like a lot was going wrong around Jesus. But he’s not worried, and he doesn’t want the believers to worry either. It’s all going to work out for the best!

Think about it. If Jesus hadn’t been betrayed, he wouldn’t have been arrested. Without the arrest, there would have been no mock trial in the kangaroo court where he was found guilty and eventually crucified. We usually think of death as a bad thing, but this time Jesus took the sins of the world to the place of the dead, and mankind was given a fresh start! With our sins forgiven, we could once again seek residence in God’s eternal heavenly Kingdom! You see, everything that happened was part of God’s vast eternal plan!

It all played out exactly as Jesus knew it would, a series of illogical steps in exactly the right order that allowed God’s plan to come to fruition. God knows exactly what he’s doing, wouldn’t you say?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Mission Accomplished!

For Tuesday, March 19, 2024:

Mark 14:55 NLT: “Inside, the leading priests and the entire high Sanhedrin council were trying to find evidence against Jesus, so they could put him to death. But they couldn’t find any.”

Jesus, who had done nothing wrong, would face six trials or judgments, three before a religious court, and three before a Roman court. No one could find any evidence against Jesus, but his adversaries persisted.

Nowadays we would call this a “kangaroo court,” an unjust group which is without proper authority and characterized by dishonesty. This trial of Jesus was totally illegal according to Jewish law. Just like in our country, there was much in the Jewish legal process to protect the rights of the accused. Those rights were deliberately ignored by those who were determined to put Jesus to death.

Surprisingly, Jesus’ oppressors couldn’t even put together a decent case for their position. Their witnesses kept contradicting each other!

Remember that Jesus was on a mission trip to earth. While he taught and healed people, I believe his primary mission was to take the sin of the world upon himself, deliver it to the place of the dead, thereby leaving believers pure, forgiven, acceptable to join the Lord in heaven.

As bad as this all seems, it was fulfilling God’s plan for mankind’s rescue. We should be grateful to Jesus for obedience, for following God’s masterplan for our rescue. And we should thank the Lord for a second chance, for an opportunity to repent and return.

When this entire scenario draws to a close, Jesus could shout out, “Mission accomplished!”

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship