HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONS – WEDNESDAY APRIL 17, 2019

John 15:11; 16:1, 4, 33 (MSG)

I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy…so that you won’t abandon your faith…so that when they happen, you will remember my warning…so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, I have overcome the world.

If the video above does not play, click/tap: https://youtu.be/m1ZjxiUzlQ0

Surrender to Peace

As Jesus walked with His disciples from the place of the Last Supper and through the darkened street of Jerusalem toward the Garden of Gethsemane, He continued to press into their hearts important truths to sustain them in the coming hours. Jesus wanted them to possess joy, not to be shocked or demoralized by the imminent disaster. He wanted them to remember His words when the crisis came. He wanted them to enjoy peace in spite of outward turmoil.

The hour was late and the disciples were tired, but Jesus led them to Gethsemane, a favorite place to pray. He went there with full knowledge that Judas had bargained with the priests for His betrayal and would look for Him in this familiar place. Hours had elapsed between the dismissal of Judas from the upper room and the actual arrest in the garden.

Jesus could have left Jerusalem and been well on His way across the river to some hiding place where the authorities could not find Him. Instead, He went deliberately to the place where Judas would bring them. He waited and prayed while the disciples fell asleep. And when the mob finally arrived, Jesus walked boldly out to meet them. It was a conscious surrender, indicative of His entire attitude toward fulfilling the Father’s will. There was no need to fight, no need of any tirade against Judas. His hour had come and He was surrendered to His Father’s divine purpose.

As followers of Jesus, when we go through hard times, we must remember that He is leading the way. There is joy to sustain us. There is no need to abandon our faith for it was made for times like these when life doesn’t make sense. The Holy Spirit provides peace as we surrender to our Father’s will and rest in knowing that the Lord has the final word in our lives.

---

#HolyWeek #Wednesday #2019 #devotional #peace #Jesus #turmoil #joy #suffering #JeremyWoltz #weag #richmond #rva

Enjoy the Full 6-Day Series

• Monday, April 15 – Faithful to Your Mission – w/ Pastor Jamal Jones
• Tuesday, April 16 – Give Your Purest Worship – w/ Pastor Marlyn DeFoggi
• Wednesday, April 17 – Surrender to Peace – w/ Pastor Jeremy Woltz
• Thursday, April 18 – Confident in His Strength – w/ Pastor John Kelly
• Friday, April 19 – Share in His Suffering – w/ Pastor Dave DeMasters
• Saturday, April 20 – Faith in the Silence – w/ Pastor Lisa Eggert

Revisit Last Year’s Holy Week devotionals

Watch the 6-part Holy Week 2018 video series, The Week God Died, on YouTube