The Winning Weekend that Changed the World

Every year, for slightly more than two thousand years, Christians all around the world acknowledge that Jesus of Nazareth was crucified on a fateful Friday during a Passover weekend. He was buried in a tomb and rose on the third day. R C Sproul reflects "If we look at the intricacy of the drama of the events of Jesus’ crucifixion, we see that some amazing things took place so that Old Testament prophetic utterances were fulfilled to the minutest detail." (https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/crucifixion-and-old-testament-prophecy)

On a personal note, this weekend in 2025 was from 18-20 April and I determined to seek God in the early hours. I was automatically woken up at specific times during this weekend. I have always known that when I wake up in the wee hours of the morning when it is still dark, my Heavenly Father desires to speak. I often take a listening and writing postures with my Bible, my journal and iPad next to me. I love such moments because I would never know how long this divine conversation will last or which route of thought I would take. God's guidance is always the best.

This time, my special moment with God began on Thursday when I reflected on the Passover Communion and the betrayal of Jesus by his own disciple, Judas. This cut deep into my heart. Oh, how many times I have been like Judas. No, I did not betray anyone for money. However, every time I disobey God even in the slightest manner, it is a form of betrayal. In that unholy moment, I drive the nail into my Saviour's hands, once more.

The inspired writing on Friday was the most difficult to write. It took me almost an entire day. I understood that God wanted me to dwell on the whole process of the shame and humiliation that Jesus experienced to the time when He was lifted high on the cross and released His last breath. So much pain to bear for the redemption of this world. The greatness of the Heavenly Father's love for each one of us is pure amazing grace.

Saturday's and Sunday's writings were fairly easy and a sort of lightness and joy took over the holy solemnity as the hours progressed. What a relief to know and understand that Christians worship a Living God. Christ is risen and will return again. We can be thankful that all our sins - past, present and future - have been nailed to the cross. This does not mean that we stop asking God for forgiveness when we do sin presently. In fact, we can approach Him humbly with our confessions and repentance. And as God forgives us, we must remember NOT to dwell in any form of shame or guilt. You see, dwelling or experiencing shame and guilt even after receiving the forgiveness of God does indicate that what Jesus did on the cross is still not enough.

Let us not fall into this snare. We dust off every speck of shame and guilt and walk in the grace that God has determined to give us. The most excellent part of God's redemption plan is that we get to live it everyday of our lives. This winning weekend is not meant to be remembered once a year but to be ingrained in our thoughts and actions, imperfect as we are. This winning weekend is to be demonstrated to others with the love and grace of God - ever single day. Thank God that His Perfect only begotten Son paid the price for us all and the Holy Spirit of God is able to help us to succeed in God's ways. We will falter now and then but let us quickly run to be restored to the Father through Christ.

Here are the writings for you to read and enjoy:

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11: 25-26)

. . . because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

. . . And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2: 8-11)

Much blessings of grace,

Rachel R