"It is Finished" Was Just the BeginningSample

Day Four

Spiritual Preparation

Have you ever run a marathon or entered a cooking competition? If you’ve done any of these things, you know they require a great deal of preparation and training. Running a marathon without training or preparation is a surefire way to get injured or cramp up. Entering a cooking competition without planning your meal and practicing its execution and plating is a recipe for disaster. The same thing applies to your spiritual walk!

If, like Paul, we liken the Christian life to running a race, we can see clearly that running this race requires a great deal of preparation, training, and endurance. We can’t just walk forward, say a prayer, and expect that life will now be a stroll through the park. In fact, Jesus told His disciples “In the world you will have tribulation . . .” (John 16:33 (NKJV). Truthfully, this race may be the most difficult and trying race anyone can ever run because it requires us to completely adjust our focus, go against our nature, and have a change of heart. But, as is typical of our Lord, Jesus gives us the ultimate hope in the latter part of the verse when He says, “But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

And having overcome the world, Jesus provides examples of ways we can run the race with endurance; things like prayer (Matthew 26:36–56), studying the Word (Luke 2:51–52, 4:16–20), solitude with God (Luke 5:16), serving others (Matthew 20:28; John 13:1–17), fasting (Matthew 4), and more.

Along the journey of the Passion Week, there are no recorded events that took place on this day. The assumption is that Jesus and His disciples were preparing everything for the Passover. No doubt, Jesus, knowing what was to come, spent a great deal of time mentally, physically, and emotionally readying Himself.

In Acts, the apostles and the early church similarly endured a great deal of tribulation and difficulty. They suffered through persecution and torment, and many lost their lives for their faith. How did they get through it? How did they survive and thrive in the work God had tasked them with? Through the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–4) and with much spiritual training (Acts 1:14, 2:42, 9:8–11, 13:1–3).

And just like Jesus and His disciples, we can prepare ourselves each day for whatever obstacles the world can throw at us. But always remember, all the training and preparation means nothing if our heart is not seeking after God’s heart (1 Chronicles 22:19) and our will conformed to His (Luke 22:42). It also doesn’t hurt to have training partners (Philemon 1:6)!

For the Kids

Have you ever ran a race or participated in a spelling bee? Maybe you played in a piano recital. If so, you probably needed to practice a lot in order to feel ready!

In the Bible, a guy named Paul said that life as a Christian is like running a race. You might be thinking, “What does that mean?” Paul was trying to teach us that life is a journey and sometimes it’s not easy. Sometimes, it’ll be hard to obey God, your parents, or teachers. And sometimes, it might be hard to stand up for Jesus and do what’s right when all of your friends are pressuring you to do something else. But that’s okay, because Jesus is always with you! If you seek God’s heart, you can train for this race by spending time with Him, praying, reading the Bible, and loving others.

Reflecting on the Promise

As we approach Good Friday, we encourage you to prepare your heart. Spend time in prayer and Bible study, reflecting on the gravity of what transpired. Consider that the Creator endured physical torture (Isaiah 53:5a; Matthew 27:26, 35) and gave His life to pay the price for our shortcomings (Isaiah 53:5b; Ephesians 1:7). Reflect upon the fact that the perfect Son of God stood silently as He was accused and insulted by the ones He came to save (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 26:63, 27:12; Luke 23:34).