Daily Meditations for Holy Week:

Day 3—Separation of Earth and Sea and the Seeds of Fruitfulness
Tuesday

 

Mark 11
The Fig Tree Withered

 

Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it.

 

John 12
The Fruitful Grain of Wheat

 

Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

 
The cross reveals that through death Christ triumphed over death. The parable of the sower describes the process of refining that takes place in our lives in the course of human events. The seed which produces a hundred fold has been sown in the good soil of hearts tilled under the pressure of God’s loving hand, fertilized by trial and watered by tears of brokenness.
 
The world is in need of seeing the display of God in strength once again. God’s most glorious display is manifest in earthen vessels that consecrate themselves fully to His will. When we face difficulty it causes the separation between the things of the flesh and the things of the spirit. The cutting away of the flesh reveals a soft heart in us and into that soil God will sow His new life.
 
We pray, “Father of life, we offer our hearts to you. Forgive us our pride and make your strength perfect in our weakness. Where you have sown in us bring forth your harvest in abundance and righteousness that the world may have food to eat in their time of famine.” Amen.
 

Our third meditation is from Psalm 45:

    To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.”
    A Contemplation of the sons of Korah.
    A Song of Love.
 
    1 My heart is overflowing with a good theme;
    I recite my composition concerning the King;
    My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
 
    2 You are fairer than the sons of men;
    Grace is poured upon Your lips;
    Therefore God has blessed You forever.
    3 Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One,
    With Your glory and Your majesty.
    4 And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness;
    And Your right hand shall teach You awesome things.
    5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the King’s enemies; The peoples fall under You.
 
    6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
    A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
    7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
    Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
    With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
    8 All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia,
    Out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad.
    9 Kings’ daughters are among Your honorable women;
    At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.
 
    10 Listen, O daughter,
    Consider and incline your ear;
    Forget your own people also, and your father’s house;
    11 So the King will greatly desire your beauty;
    Because He is your Lord, worship Him.
    12 And the daughter of Tyre will come with a gift;
    The rich among the people will seek your favor.
 
    13 The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace;
    Her clothing is woven with gold.
    14 She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors; The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You.
    15 With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought;
    They shall enter the King’s palace.
 
    16 Instead of Your fathers shall be Your sons,
    Whom You shall make princes in all the earth.
    17 I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations;
    Therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever.
 

From our family to yours, may the blessings of Easter surround you this season. HE IS RISEN!

 

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Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda, 4/11/2017