ASLC Devotions - Saturday

Mark 10:34

 ... they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again. 

Three is a pretty amazing number. Go to the Wikipedia homepage online and enter “3” and you’ll see what I mean. For Christians, three can help define the concept of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Spirit) and also Christ’s threefold office (prophet, priest, king).

In Mark’s Gospel Jesus foretells of his death and resurrection three times while teaching his disciples. The verse above is the last part of the third time Jesus talks about his impending course. Earlier in the chapter the disciples are described as being afraid, not understanding what Jesus is saying. I can sympathize with them – I don’t know what I’d make of Jesus telling me in words like that about what was to come in the week ahead. After hearing it three times, I’d be just as afraid, no doubt.

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, also known as Sunday of the Passion, the beginning of Holy Week. This year we hear Matthew’s account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and then the passion story about what he endured on his way to the cross – and his rising three days later.

Did you catch that last part? And after three days – resurrection! Fear, be gone!

Doug Williams

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. This Sunday is Palm Sunday. Weather-permitting we will begin our procession outside. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.