Multimedia Lent Devotional – Thursday of Holy Week
2025:
Thursday of Holy Week:
- Scripture (Ally Vick) – Luke 4:16-21
- Reflection (Karen Sculley)
- Prayer (Patricia Dotson)
- Videos: Luke 4:16-21
- Music: “The Spirit of God Is Upon Me” (Rickie Byars) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTUfNT9ffmY
Reflection on Luke 4:16-21 – “16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ 20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’”
According to the Chinese zodiac, we are currently in the year of the snake. I’m sure herpetologists could illuminate me on the wonder and magnificence of snakes, but I confess that I’m not completely comfortable with them. Luke 4:19 tells us of an even better year that we are in. On what might have seemed to be an ordinary day in the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus read from the prophecies of Isaiah and announced that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, had anointed him to bring good news to the poor, had sent him to announce salvation and healing and liberation … and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor! The Greek word that Luke uses for favor tells us that this is also the year of the Lord’s acceptance and welcome, too! Whoa! This was a radical and unheard of proclamation! The Message translation puts the words that Jesus read aloud this way: “The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. God sent me to announce the year of his grace.”
Welcome to the year of God’s grace right here, right now! In Jesus, you are welcome, you are accepted, you are favored. You are invited into salvation and healing and liberation. You are blessed to receive the good news of the kingdom of God and then to become a partner with and participant of that good news!
What is our hope in life and death? Christ alone, Christ alone
What is our only confidence? That our souls to Him belong
Who holds our days within His hand? What comes, apart from His command
And what will keep us to the end? The love of Christ in which we stand
What truth can calm the troubled soul? God is good, God is good
Where is His grace and goodness known? In our great Redeemer’s blood
Who holds our faith when fears arise? Who stands above the stormy trial?
Who sends the waves that bring us nigh Unto the shore? The rock of Christ
Unto the grave, what will we sing? “Christ, He lives, Christ, He lives!”
And what reward will Heaven bring? Everlasting life with Him
There we will rise to meet the Lord Then sin and death will be destroyed
And we will feast in endless joy When Christ is ours forevermore (forevermore)
Oh, sing hallelujah Our hope springs eternal
Oh, sing hallelujah Now and ever we confess
Christ, our hope in life and death
2024:
Thursday of Holy Week:
- Scripture (Theresa Mayhue) – Luke 4:16-21
- Reflection (Nancy Penton)
- Prayer (Shelly McClain)
- Videos: Luke 4:16-21
- Music: “The Spirit of the Lord” (Freedom Band) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGw9UtO-8zo
2023:
Thursday of Holy Week:
- Scripture (Pam Cammarata) – 1 Corinthians 11:23b-26
- Reflection (Nancy Penton)
- Prayer (Jim Roberson)
- Videos: John
- Music: “Bread of Life” (John Michael Talbot)
Each short Multimedia Lent Devotional is an invitation to set aside time each day during the season preceding Easter. Lent is a solemn 40-day period we observe as we seek to draw near to God prior to the great celebration of Easter. During Lent,
- we intentionally practice sober reflection, serious repentance, and sincere restitution, in which we more fully recognize our brokenness as humans, looking always to Jesus Christ as our Savior and sanctifier;
- we seek to live lives marked by simplicity, self-denial, and surrender, in imitation of Christ Jesus, who fasted for 40 days in the wilderness before He began His public ministry;
- we look for ways in which we express love for neighbors and nations in need in practical ways through generously giving of our time, talents, and treasures.
This collaboration is brought to you by Liberty Vineyard Church
