Scrolling Scripture and Screening Jesus this Holy Week

If you’re reading this, it’s at least Maundy Thursday[1] during Holy Week 2024. That means, including Easter Sunday, we have four days to walk through this week and consider the love of God displayed in the cross, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ alongside the global Church. On this last Sunday, I encouraged all of us to consider replacing the focused attention we give to worldly things on our smartphone scrolls and our T.V./computer/tablet screens with a renewed focus on Jesus, at least for this week. But maybe you were left wondering, “How do I scroll Christ in Scripture? How do I screen Jesus?” This is really just an encouragement to help you pursue a focused attentiveness to Christ this week, that we might sit in the reality of His love and walk in it throughout the year ahead.

 

1.        Scrolling Jesus in Scripture

 

Now, if you do not use a smartphone or watch programming on any screens, God bless you! Pick up your Bible (if you don’t have one, please take one from the pews at church or buy one for yourself – I happen to prefer the English Standard Version [ESV], but there are several wonderful English translations to choose from) and pray through the Scriptures below!

 

For the rest of us, download and open a Bible app on your phone or tablet. Again, I especially enjoy the readability, audio voice options, and translation work available through the English Standard Version (ESV) App. YouVersion (commonly called, “the Bible App”) has the widest selection of Scripture translations — way more than you could ever want or use! Get a Bible app and use it!

 

Once you have your Bible app open, here are two options to focus your attention on Christ’s cross and resurrection, with a bonus podcast recommendation. The Bible App will offer more!

 

Option 1: Daily Reflection on The Same Two Passages, Morning and Evening

Morning: Slowly read Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 aloud. Next, pick a verse or two, and read it/them even more slowly, dwelling upon each word. Finally, ask the Lord to help you grasp the wonder of His love displayed in Jesus’ cross and resurrection, as described in these verses.

 

Evening: Slowly read 1 Peter 2:19-25 aloud. Next, pick a verse or two, and read it/them even more slowly, dwelling upon each word. Finally, ask the LORD to help you live in light of the cross and resurrection of Jesus as described in these verses.

 

Option 2: Daily Reflection on the Cross and Resurrection in the Four Gospels

Maundy Thursday Morning: Slowly read Matthew 27 aloud. Next, pick a verse or two, and read it/them even more slowly, dwelling upon each word. Finally, ask the Lord to help you grasp the wonder of His love displayed in the passion and death of Jesus as described in these verses.

 

Maundy Thursday Evening: Slowly read Matthew 28 aloud. Next, pick a verse or two, and read it/them even more slowly, dwelling upon each word. Finally, ask the Lord to help you grasp the glory of the resurrection of Jesus and to trust and hope in the victory of Christ.

 

On Good Friday, use Mark 15 and 16 (I’d personally recommend reading 16:1-8); on Holy Saturday, use Luke 23 and 24; on Easter Sunday, use John 19 and in the evening, 20 and 21 (or you could break this into morning, noon and evening with John 19, 20, and 21!).

 

Bonus! Listen to the “Undeceptions with John Dickson” podcast episode 121 titled, “The Resurrection,” featuring New Testament Scholar Richard Bauckham throughout this week into the weekend. It’s long but worth it! You’ll find it most anywhere you listen to podcasts. Then invite a believing or skeptical friend to listen and discuss over a drink and/or a meal!

 

2. Screening Jesus

 

I have to be honest; I was skeptical when I first heard about The Chosen. But having watched it, now I find it compelling. Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ is powerful, though, profoundly difficult to watch (for good reasons!). Watch it if you need a stark reminder of the suffering Christ endured for our salvation. But The Chosen is simply a beautiful introduction to Jesus. There are imaginative elements that lead up to explicitly biblical words and moments from the Gospels. (Like all man-made reflections on the Gospels, don’t confuse the interpretation with the text!) But to this point, I have only experienced The Chosen positively. It’s another great opportunity to invite believing and skeptical friends together to experience Jesus this Easter season.

 

Well, there you go, Faith! I encourage you to give a little less attention to the scrolling of social media and “news,” and a little more to Christ in Scripture this week. And I encourage you to screen Jesus. Who knows? Perhaps you can even invite a friend or coworker or skeptical family member along for the journey!

 

[1] Maundy comes from the Latin “mandatum” or commandment – for the new commandment the Lord gave His disciples on the night He was betrayed and instituted the Lord’s Supper.