• Daniel Baker • Posted in Easter
This year we want John's Gospel to help us encounter the glory of Easter. If you get a chance to read John 12–21 this week, please do. These are the chapters that depict the week of all weeks in human history.
The Gospel of John presents a very different Easter week than do the Synoptics (Matthew, Mark, and Luke[1]). At times John is silent where the Synoptics speak (like the verbal sparring with the Jewish leaders in Matt 21:23–23:36), and at other times John is verbose where the Synoptics say nothing (like the Upper Room Discourse in John 13–17).…
• Daniel Baker • Posted in Easter
Sunday, April 10th, is referred to by many as Palm Sunday. That's because it highlights the historic Sunday Jesus rode into Jerusalem riding on a donkey—when the large crowd who had heard he was coming lined the street and "took branches of palm trees" and placed them in his path (John 12:13). And when he came they shouted, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” This triumphal entry begins the most important week of Jesus' earthly ministry, the week that would begin on this Palm Sunday, include his crucifixion on…
• Daniel Baker • Posted in Easter
Today marks a convergence that is not easy to process. On one hand we’re in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the numbers are continuing to rise. Experts are predicting the numbers to rise into the weekend. Our prayer is that we see the downturn soon. For God to be merciful and to spare lives. Let this plague pass. On the one hand is COVID-19. On the other hand it’s holy week. We’re at Wednesday of the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. We’re looking ahead to Good Friday and then Resurrection Sunday. There are no days more glorious or more important than the Friday Jesus was crucified and the Sunday he rose again.