Pastor Robert McConathy

04/03/2026

✝️ Holy Friday: Jesus Sentenced to Suffering & Shame.

1. Jesus Is Tried, Condemned, and Sentenced to Crucifixion

On Holy Friday, Jesus stands before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, is unjustly condemned, and is handed over to be crucified. This fulfills the Scriptures that the Messiah would suffer and be rejected.

2. Jesus Is Crucified at Calvary

Holy Friday commemorates the moment Jesus is nailed to the cross and lifted up at Golgotha. He willingly suffers and dies as the ultimate sacrifice for humanity’s sins.

3. Jesus Speaks His Final Words

The Gospels record seven final sayings from the cross, including:

• “Father, forgive them…”
• “Today you will be with Me in paradise.”
• “It is finished.”

These words reveal His mercy, His mission, and the completion of His redemptive work.

4. Jesus Dies Around 3 PM

Tradition holds that Jesus dies at approximately the ninth hour around 3 p.m.

5. The Temple Veil Is Torn

At the moment of His death, the veil of the Temple is torn from top to bottom, symbolizing that through Christ’s sacrifice, access to God is now open.

6. Jesus’ Body Is Taken Down and Buried

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus take Jesus’ body, wrap it in linen, and lay it in a new tomb before sundown, as the Sabbath approaches.

🌑 Why Is It Called “Good” Friday?

Even though it is a day of sorrow and mourning, Christians call it “Good” because Jesus’ suffering and death accomplished salvation. He took the punishment for sin and opened the way to forgiveness and eternal life.

🌅 Holy Friday Points Forward to Resurrection Sunday

Holy Friday ends in silence and sorrow. Jesus is dead. The tomb is sealed. The disciples scatter in fear.

But the story does not end there.

Good Friday is only “good” because Sunday is coming.

Sunday Is Coming By Phil Wickham features video clips from the movie Son of God. Not an official music video. Phil Wickham's music video can be found here: h...

04/02/2026

🌙 Holy Thursday: The Day of Love, Betrayal, and Surrender

Thursday is the day Jesus gathers His disciples for the Last Supper, gives His final teachings, prays in agony, and is ultimately betrayed and arrested.

Let’s walk through it in order.

🍞 1. The Last Supper (Passover Meal)
Matthew 26:17–30; Mark 14:12–26; Luke 22:7–23; John 13

Jesus shares the Passover meal with His disciples and transforms it into the Lord’s Supper:
• He breaks bread: “This is My body.”
• He shares the cup: “This is My blood of the covenant.”
• He reveals that one of them will betray Him.
• He gives the disciples a new commandment:
“Love one another as I have loved you.”
(This is why it’s called Maundy Thursday; mandatum, “command.”)

Theme:
Jesus offers Himself as the true Passover Lamb.

🧼 2. Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
John 13:1–17

In a shocking act of humility:
• Jesus takes the role of a servant.
• He washes their feet one by one.
• He teaches them that greatness in His kingdom is found in serving.

Theme:
Love looks like humility, sacrifice, and service.

🗣️ 3. The Upper Room Teachings
John 13–17

This is Jesus’ final, intimate teaching session:
• “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
• “I am the Vine; you are the branches.”
• The promise of the Holy Spirit.
• Warnings about persecution.
• His prayer for the disciples and for all future believers (John 17).

Theme:
Jesus prepares His followers for life without His physical presence.

🌳 4. Gethsemane: The Agony and Surrender
Matthew 26:36–46; Mark 14:32–42; Luke 22:39–46; John 18:1

In the Garden of Gethsemane:
• Jesus is overwhelmed with sorrow.
• He prays three times, “Father, not My will, but Yours be done.”
• His sweat becomes like drops of blood.
• The disciples fall asleep instead of praying.

Theme:
Jesus embraces the Father’s will and the weight of the world’s sin.

😔 5. Judas Arrives With Soldiers
Matthew 26:47–50; Mark 14:43–46; Luke 22:47–48; John 18:2–9

Judas leads a crowd of soldiers and officials to arrest Jesus.
• He identifies Jesus with a kiss.
• Jesus calls him “friend,” even in betrayal.

Theme:
Jesus is betrayed by one He loved and served.

⚔️ 6. Jesus Is Arrested
Matthew 26:50–56; John 18:10–12

• Peter strikes the servant of the high priest; Jesus heals the man.
• Jesus willingly submits to arrest.
• The disciples flee.

Theme:
Jesus is not overpowered He surrenders Himself for our salvation.

✨ Holy Thursday in One Sentence

Jesus gives His final command, His final meal, His final prayer, and then offers Himself to be betrayed and arrested for the salvation of the world.

04/01/2026

🌿 Holy Wednesday: What Jesus Did on This Day
🕊️ 1. Judas Arranged the Betrayal
This is the central event of Holy Wednesday.
- Judas went to the chief priests
- He asked what they would give him to hand Jesus over
- They agreed on 30 pieces of silver
- From that moment, Judas looked for the right opportunity to betray Him
Because of this, many Christians call today “Spy Wednesday”
Judas acted as a spy among the disciples.

📖 2. Jesus Continued Teaching and Preparing His Followers
While Judas plotted, Jesus spent the day:
- Teaching in Jerusalem
- Warning against hypocrisy
- Speaking about faithfulness and readiness
- Preparing His disciples for His coming suffering
This was part of His final public ministry before the events of Thursday and Friday.

🙏 3. The Church Reflects on Christ’s Obedience
Traditional readings for Holy Wednesday often include:
- Isaiah 50:4–9 the Suffering Servant
- Passages highlighting Jesus’ obedience and willingness to suffer for humanity
These Scriptures help believers prepare their hearts for the solemn days ahead.

✨ Holy Wednesday Devotional
“While Jesus prepared for the cross, Judas prepared to betray Him. Yet Jesus kept loving, kept teaching, kept moving toward redemption.”

Today reminds us that even when darkness plots in the shadows, God’s purpose keeps moving forward.
Nothing done in secret can stop what God has planned in the light.
Stay faithful. Stay steady. God is working even when others aren’t.

03/31/2026

🌿 Holy Tuesday: What Christ Did on This Day
✨ 1. Jesus Returned to Jerusalem from Bethany
He began the day leaving Bethany, where He had been staying during the week.

🌳 2. The Withered Fig Tree Was Discovered
On Monday, Jesus had cursed a fig tree for having leaves but no fruit a symbolic act representing Israel’s spiritual barrenness.
On Tuesday morning, the disciples saw the tree completely withered, and Jesus used it to teach about faith, prayer, and spiritual fruitfulness.

🕍 3. Jesus Taught in the Temple All Day
This was one of His most intense days of public teaching.
As Jesus taught He:
- Confronted religious leaders
- Told parables exposing hypocrisy
- Answered challenges from Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes
- Taught about the Greatest Commandment
- Warned the crowds about corrupt leadership
- Spoke about true righteousness and the coming Kingdom
The Gospels describe this as a day full of teaching, debate, and prophetic warnings.

⛰️ 4. Jesus Gave the Olivet Discourse
As He left the temple and walked toward the Mount of Olives, Jesus delivered one of His most significant teachings:
- The destruction of the temple
- Signs of the end of the age
- The need for watchfulness and readiness
This is found in Matthew 24–25 and is known as the Olivet Discourse.

💰 5. Judas Agreed to Betray Jesus
While Jesus taught, Judas met with the religious leaders and bargained to betray Him for money.
This dark moment sets the stage for the events of Thursday night and Friday.

Holy Tuesday reminds us to stay faithful, stay fruitful, and stay focused on Jesus. The story isn’t finished and neither is His work in us. He’s still speaking. Let’s keep listening!

03/30/2026

It’s Holy Week
🌿 Holy Monday: What Took Place?

Holy Monday is a day of confrontation, cleansing, and prophetic action. Scripture gives us a glimpse of these events:

1. Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
Matthew 21:18–19; Mark 11:12–14
• On the way back into Jerusalem from Bethany, Jesus sees a fig tree with leaves but no fruit.
• He curses it, and it withers.
• This is a living parable:• Israel had the appearance of religion but lacked the fruit of righteousness.
• It’s a warning against empty spirituality.

Jesus isn’t angry at a tree He’s exposing the danger of looking godly without living godly.

2. Jesus Cleanses the Temple
Matthew 21:12–13; Mark 11:15–18; Luke 19:45–48
Jesus enters the Temple courts and:
• Drives out money changers
• Overturns tables
• Stops people from using the Temple for selfish gains
• Declares:
“My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.”

Why this matters:
• The religious leaders had turned worship into a business.
• Jesus restores the Temple to its true purpose: prayer, purity, and presence.
• This act directly challenges the corrupt religious system, intensifying the plot to kill Him.

Where corruption is removed, healing and true worship flow.

Devotional:
Jesus curses the fruitless fig tree and cleanses the Temple. He exposes empty religion and restores God’s house to purity.
He still does this in us today removing what doesn’t belong so His presence can dwell.

Today’s Focus:
Ask God to cleanse your heart of anything that blocks His voice.

12/18/2025

10/03/2025

Today’s Word of Strength
“The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”
— Exodus 14:14 (NLT)

You don’t have to carry every burden or win every battle in your own strength. When the pressure rises and the path seems blocked, remember: God is not distant. He’s active. He’s present. And He’s fighting for you.

Your role? Stay calm. Stay faithful. Stay focused. The victory isn’t earned by striving—it’s received by trusting.

Let peace be your posture today. 🙌⚔️

09/29/2025

🌿 Encouragement for Today 🌿

Galatians 6:9 “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” — (NLT)

If you’re feeling worn down, overlooked, or like your efforts aren’t bearing fruit—hold fast.

God sees every seed you’ve sown in faith, every act of kindness, every prayer whispered in the quiet.

The harvest is coming. Not on our timeline, but His… and His timing is always perfect.

Keep showing up. Keep trusting. Keep doing good. Your breakthrough may be closer than you think. 🙏🏻