The Importance of Holy Week and the Necessity for Believers to Emulate Jesus’ Example of Living this Earthly Life!

02 Apr 2026 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

John 13:15.        For I have given you and example, that ye should do as I have done unto you.

It’s Holy Thursday friends; a somewhat chilly and cloudy spring day. And we’re now getting down to the nitty gritty of this Lenten season, although lots of things happened during the past week; Jesus taught the multitudes, spoke to the disciples about what was to happen to him, although they never fully understood what He was talking about. They still didn’t think that He would  die and leave them alone.

Sometime during the week, while lunching in Bethany with Simon, a Pharisee, Jesus was also anointed by a woman, bearing an alabaster box (flask or vial) of spikenard precious (expensive) ointment. Supposedly it was Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. She brake the box (vial) and poured it on his head, washed his feet with her tears, then wiped them with her hair, kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Some of those around were indignant, calling it a waste of valuable oil, which could possibly have been sold for three hundred pence, or the yearly income of a rural worker, and been given to the poor.

“And Jesus said, Let her alone, why trouble ye her? She hath wrought a good (beautiful) work on me. For ye have the poor with ye always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand (beforehand) to anoint my body to the burying (for burial). Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.’ (Mark 14:6-9)  And just as Jesus said, two thousand years later,  we’re still talking about that incident.

During that week, Jesus also washed the feet of His disciples. One night He got up from the supper table, took off His clothes, girded Himself with a towel, poured water in a basin, and began washing the disciples feet. When He gets to Simon Peter: ‘Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet are you washing my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now (you don’t understand); but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

Jesus saith to him, He that is washed (bathed) needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit (completely clean): and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should (would) betray him, therefore he said, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and was set down  again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord; and ye say well; for so I am. If I then your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you and example, that ye should do as I have done unto you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither is he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if you do them.’  (John 13:6-17)

That same evening, as Jesus was preparing for His betrayal, He said to them: ‘I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, he that eateth with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me: and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you will betray me.’ (John 13:18-21)

Obviously the disciples were confused and wondered whom it could be, then John, leaning next to Jesus asked Jesus who it was. ‘Jesus answered, he it is, to whom I shall give a sop (a piece of bread), when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly…. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.’ (John 13:26-27, 30) That’s when Judas apparently went out and conferred with the Jewish leaders to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. They wanted Him dead, but were afraid of a possible riot with the many outsiders in the city to celebrate the Passover. Judas however promised an opportunity to betray him without the multitude around.

Finally, the day of the Passover arrives, and when the disciples ask Jesus where He wanted to celebrate it, He said to Peter and John,’ Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say to the goodman (master) of the house, The Master (Teacher) saith unto thee, where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples? And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.’ (Luke 22:10-13) Reminds us of the donkey and the colt on Palm Sunday.

Later that evening Jesus sat at supper with the twelve disciples, ‘And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you: do this in remembrance of me. And he took the cup , and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for you and for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day I drink it new in the kingdom of God. And when they had sung an hymn (or hymns), they went out into the Mount of Olives.’ (Mark 14:22-26 )

And that’s where the night’s drama really began. They retreated to a favourite spot of Jesus called the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus said to them, ‘Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee (James and John), and began to be sorrowful (grieved)  and very heavy (deeply distressed). Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here (stay here), and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayer, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch and pray with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me except (unless) I drink it, thy will be done.’ (Matt. 26:36-42)

Jesus then went back to the disciples and again found them asleep. Not saying anything to them, He went away and prayed the same words for the third time, then went back to the disciples, and said to them, ‘Sleep on now, and take your rest (are you still sleeping and resting?): behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.’ (Matt. 26:45-46)  

And while He was speaking, Judas arrived with a great number of people from the Jewish leaders, armed with swords and staves. ‘And forthwith He came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master (rabbi), and kissed him, (an arranged sign to the soldiers). And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.’ (Matt. 26:49-50)

Yes friends, Holy Week is just the introduction to a sorrowful Good Friday, but we do have a joyful Easter Sunday to look forward to! Much LOVE!

…Jesus…the shining example that believers ought to emulate…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 April 2015 Proverbs 3:5‏

19 Apr 2015 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Proverbs 3:5.  Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Well Friends, it’s Sunday, the big day for worship! Hear the church bells ring, inviting us all to come and join in sincere fellowship with each other and our wonderful God. What can be more appropriate on a Sunday morning eh? Nothing really!
 
And I guess most of the young people have never heard about church bells ringing to call us to worship. But at one stage of life Sunday morning was a marvellous time with church bells pealing all over the land. Unfortunately though, that aspect of our lives has gone the way of the do-do bird, becoming almost extinct, with less than a handful of church bells still alive to tell the tale.
 
I don’t know exactly why the bells went out of style, but I guess it was a combination of the noise factor, upkeep and maintenance and finding people to do the job. And sadly my brethren, another religious aspect of our society is about to bite the dust. I’m talking about prayers before city council meetings.
 
Ah Lord eh! The Supreme Court of Canada this week ruled it unconstitutional and infringing on the rights of non-believers to have prayers before a council meeting.  The state should be neutral, regardless of whether the majority of members are of a particular faith.
 
Hn! What’s next eh? Our leaders have already been making terribly unwise, evil and corrupt decisions, can you imagine the ones they are going to make now that they can’t even pray for guidance in their deliberations?
 
Nowadays it’s all about the Christian faith restricting the rights of other religions and faiths. But please tell me, what about the rights of the Christin faith eh, especially in a supposed Christian land? You think we can go in any Muslim or Hindu country and clamour for Christian rights?
 
Steups! You have another think coming. But everybody who comes here wants it to be just like it was back in their country. Well if it was so good there, then why didn’t you stay?
 
Ah Friends, I don’t want to get into any religious arguments, but suffice it to say, that unless we Christians seriously stand up and be counted, raise a stink about our religious rights, which everybody else seem to have except us, then we are in very grave danger of losing what little we have left. They have already banned prayer from public schools and other secular places.
 
But it’s just impossible and rather impractical to keep church and state completely separate, because they depend on each other. In fact, the church sets the tone for the kind of state you have. Once the church loses its strength and relevance, then a society is wide open to become a police state, dictatorship and all the other evil forms of government.
 
Ah Friends, since our supposed Christian leadership don’t have the manly parts to stand up to all those of other faiths, selling us out for political gain, then we just have to get political and fight back…with a significant difference though; prayerfully guided by the wise words of our Bit and the subsequent verse. ‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct (make smooth or straight) thy paths.’
 
Ah Friends, when you talk about words of wisdom, that’s what you’re referring to. If we lived our lives by those words, we’d be living in an earthly paradise, rather than an earthly hell. Anyway, here are some explanations from the scholars re those verses.
 
‘3:5-6. Three commands are given: trust, meaning “rely on, depend on”; lean not, meaning do not depend on your own native instincts; and acknowledge him, meaning have fellowship and intimacy with God in all of life. The result of such devotion is that God will make the paths straight before you.’ 
 
Ah mih people, it’s obvious that our leaders don’t want God to have any say in their decisions, and that’s partly why we are moving closer to a secular police state every day.
 
But yuh know what Friends? We’re going to win them! We’ll never give up or give in to their harassment and fear mongering. Instead we’ll abide by the words and wisdom of our God, who created this universe and all therein. Let’s see them try to stop us when we sincerely do that!
 
Now listen to Bruh David hold forth on the subject at hand; this from Psalm 37 – The true state of the wicked. ‘Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
 
Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed (feed on his faithfulness). Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgement (justice) as the noonday.
 
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices (schemes) to pass. Cease from anger and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil (it only causes harm). For evildoers shall be cut off (destroyed): but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.’ (Ps.37:1-9)
 
Yes Friends, more words of godly wisdom, from a man termed the Friend of God. That means he truly knew what he was talking about. So fellow believers, let’s seriously get together and sincerely support the cause of Jesus nuh. That’s why the church is suffering today from all sorts of ungodly and worldly stuff. 
 
Ah mih people, it’s finally getting down to the nitty gritty, which means it’s all up to us now, both as individuals and as the church, the body of Christ. Nobody else can solve our problems but us. So please, I’m imploring us to live the kind of life Jesus desires of us; a life that encompasses the words of Cousin Sol and Bruh David above. Much LOVE!
 
…let the bells peal once more…as wisdom reigns…and prosperity ensues… over the land whose Lord and Saviour is Jesus Christ…

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 September 2014 Psalm 118:8-9

23 Sep 2014 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

  Psalm 118:8-9. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. 

Oh Friends, it’s the dawning of another new day in Paradise – a godly Tuesday morning Wow! So the day has already dawned, so big deal! (smile) And if you’re still alive, please give God some thanks and praise for instilling and keeping that breath of life in your mortal body.
 
And having done that, I want to remind us, as Bubba Joel (Joel Osteen) says, that ‘TODAY IS MY DAY!’ Yes Friends, it’s my day, your day, our Day! God blessed us with it so that we could live it abundantly, all to the glory of His Holy Name. Now we’ve done this before, but I believe it’s time for us to do it again.
 
So let’s make this acclamation, this declaration of faith, per Bubba Joel. Please declare with me: ‘God has destined me to be a barrier breaker! He created me to be uncontainable. I have talent and potential given to me by the Creator of the universe. There are seeds of greatness inside of me.
 
Today, I choose to break free from a limited mindset and enlarge my vision. Today, God is taking me places that I’ve never even dreamed of before. Today, God is fulfilling His purpose and destiny in my life. Today, I will experience His favour like never before in every area of my life.’
 
And all God’s people said a loud and joyful, ‘Praise the Lord! Amen!’
 
Believe it my brethren, and then please, let’s put it into action, because words without action are simply a waste of both words and valuable time. 
 

Now let’s turn to our Bit: ‘It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.’
 
I think today is the last day for that particular scripture, but obviously I can’t promise it, since there are so many scripture passages that encourage and promote trust in Almighty God instead of man, that one never knows where the Holy Spirit will guide us. (smile)
 
So those of you who like to have a new Bit everyday, just hold on to your horses, and remember that your wonderful, ever-LOVING, ever-faithful God ALWAYS works on your behalf, for your good, regardless of the prevailing circumstances. And who knows, He might just be trying to teach you patience with the continuation of this particular Bit. (smile)
 
Now let’s delve into a few more scripture passages that ever so wisely and strongly advise us to put our all, our utmost trust, faith and confidence in Almighty God.
 
Let’s begin with the wisdom of Cousin Sol from Proverbs 25. ‘Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken (bad) tooth, and a foot out of joint.’ (Prov.25:19)
 
Ah mih people, those words are ever so true! And I like how Cousin Sol brings it right down to the nitty gritty, down to the practical, day-to-day activities of life.
 
And the scholars’ add their two cents worth by saying: ’25:19. Faith is only as good as its object, and an unfaithful man is useless.’
 
All of us have had some bad experiences with that kind of thing, but yet we continue to place undue faith and trust in unfaithful and untrustworthy mankind, instead of Jehovah God, our Creator and Provider.
 
But as the old people would so rightfully say: when you don’t hear, yuh certainly going to feel. And that’s especially true in this current unreliable, fraudulent and crooked society in which we live.
 
And from 1 John, we learn: ‘These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
 
And this is the confidence we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired (asked) of him.’ (1 John 1:13-15)
 
Oh my fellow believers how could it get any better than that eh? NO WAY JOSE! (smile)
 
Then Bruh David declares it thus in Psalm 65 – God is powerful in nature. ‘Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
 
By terrible (awesome) things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea. Which by his strength setteth fast (established) the mountains; being girded with power: which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.’ (Ps.65:4-7)
 
Now tell me Friends, why do we put overmuch trust and confidence in mortal man, when we have such an omnipotent and LOVING God eh? We shouldn’t, but unfortunately, for whatever reasons, we still do, much to our misfortune and personal chagrin.
 
And we’ll close, end this Bit (smile) with wise words from Hebrews, words we all know, but don’t follow as much as we should. ‘Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience (endurance, perseverance), that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.’ (Heb.10:35-36)
 
Yes my people, the Lord of hosts created us and provides for us, and is still the most powerful and caring force in the universe! So please let’s show our wisdom, faith, trust and confidence in Him nuh, by solidly leaning on His exceedingly strong, everlasting arms, and safely sheltering under His awesome protective wings. Now that is the true wisdom of life! Much LOVE!
 
…All State Insurance might claim to have safe hands…but until you check out Jehovah God…you’ll never know what truly safe hands are… 
 
P.S. Oh Friends, it sure was a smiley kind of day today…and why shouldn’t it be eh, since my half-brother and his wife are visiting from sweet Tobago. That means there was plenty laughter and joy in the house yesterday, which obviously led to a late night, filled with reminiscences of the past and the making of new memories for the future.
 
And that joy and laughter will undoubtedly continue over the next few days of their visit. My sincerest apologies for the lateness of the Bit, but as you can very well see, there are extenuating circumstances for it. (smile) Much LOVE!