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Easter The Gospels

A Meditation on Maundy Thursday

He was their leader. The disciples hoped this was the beginning of a coup that would bring the Romans to their knees and usher in a new Davidic kingdom. So they were naturally shocked when he began to wash their feet, displaying the dirty business of Maundy Thursday.

It was a filthy job fit only for a slave. Yet here he was, stripped down to his undershirt and washing their dirty, ugly feet. This wasn’t the kind of coup they were expecting.

photo of person standing on grass illustrating dirty business of Maundy Thursday.
Photo by Edward Eyer on Pexels.com

The disciples were horrified. Peter said what everyone else was thinking (He usually did). “No! You’ll never wash my feet!” He couldn’t bear to think the Messiah he looked up to would humble himself to the point of humiliation.

But Jesus made it clear that Peter would have no part in this kingdom if he refused. So he continued by washing all twelve disciples’ feet, including the one who planned to turn him in to the authorities.

When Jesus finished, he wrapped up his lesson.

You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”

John 13:13–15 (NKJV)

He gave them a new command, or mandate, to love one another. That isn’t easy. It’s the dirty business of Maundy Thursday.

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Easter holiday

Easter Bunny Controversy

Happy Easter! This morning, the birds are singing as I get ready for this Resurrection Sunday. Let’s start off with an Easter bunny controversy cartoon.

Easter Bunny Controversy cartoon. A boy says to the Easter Bunny, "Why do you choose to make kids happy by stealing from chickens?"

The Easter bunny has always given me the creeps. I giant six-foot rodent never appeared to me no matter how many treat-filled eggs I received. Besides, an Easter egg hunt looked to me like a terror-filled survival of the fittest. I have an early memory of running frantically to try to get at least one egg before the bigger, faster kids took them all.

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Easter holiday

Between Good Friday and Easter

Nobody talks about the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter. Some Christians call it “Holy Saturday” or “The Great Sabbath.

Really, it is a time of waiting. It is a moment between the agony of Friday and the joy of Easter morning. It’s simply a day of waiting. Nobody likes to wait. Who likes to be in darkness, after all? But it is essential in every worthy endeavor. 

spotlight illuminating smoke depicting the darkness between Good Friday and Easter
Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com
Categories
Easter holiday

Lessons from a Good Friday

That’s right! There’s no cartoon today. I saw this scene and thought it would be perfect for this day. Here are some observations and lessons from a Good Friday.

Daffodils around a mailbox with the caption, "Good Friday"

The joy of Easter wouldn’t mean much without the suffering and sacrifice of Good Friday. There would be no resurrection without death. One needs the other.

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Adobe Illustrator children cartoons holiday single panel cartoon webcomic

Palm Sunday Cartoon

Happy Palm Sunday! It will be an exciting time in many churches and children’s ministries today. The palm branches will be flying in many church services. It can be a confusing time for the kids and since the event happens so close to spring break, I had to draw this Palm Sunday cartoon!

Palm Sunday Spring Break cartoon. A boy says, "I thought Palm Sunday was when everyone went to Florida for spring break."

For those who don’t know what Palm Sunday is, here’s an explanation. The story is found in all four of the Gospels.