Lent Day 37 – Lenten Devotion – Holy Week Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Remaining Holy Week Worship Schedule:
“Passionate Hearts!”
Were You There
Barton, African American Spiritual
Were you there
When they crucified my Lord
Were you there
When they crucified my Lord
Oh
Sometimes it causes me
To tremble
Tremble
Tremble
Were you there
When they crucified my Lord
“While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed.”
Who do you listen to when you have a tough decision to make? Whose voice do you turn to?
Pilate was politically one of the strongest men of the region. Instead of listening to his own conscience, instead of laying down the law as he knew it and interpreted it, instead of standing his ground; he allowed himself to be torn between his wife and the crowd. He let the pressure of the crowd and others dictate the situation.
The crowd had welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem days earlier. They shouted, "Hosanna," as they hailed him as the Son of David. They knew who he was. They were ready to stand firm. By themselves, and corporately, they were the loudest voice. One by one, they gave in to the chief priests and the elders. One by one, they left what they knew, and they were not there when they crucified their Lord; instead they followed the jealous and insecure lead of the chief priests, and they called out for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be crucified.
Who do you listen to? Are you able to stand firm on your own? Or does the crowd get louder and louder for you, when things are not easy?
Are you able to keep your heart on Christ alone, to be there for your crucified Lord this week? What other plans and voices are calling out to you? Did you start the week, thinking, 'Yes, I will be there,' only to have the crowd calling to you as the week goes forward?
Trust The One who keeps his passionate heart on you, is the loudest voice, helping you stand firm, calling you to beat the crowd each day, so willing to be there for you, in the grace of Christ alone!
Let us pray: Jesus, I am sorry I am not always there for you. Even as I walk this Holy Week journey, I easily hear the crowd, the other influences in my life, calling out to me. By your Holy Spirit, keep your passionate heart on me, bless me by your grace to faithfully listen to you alone. In your name I surrender my heart to you, and not to the crowd; I am there for you, I am here for you, as I pray. Amen.
