The worship resource on this page is designed to be used on the first five Sundays of Lent. The object of each devotion is displayed in a place of prominence in the worship space. I ussually place them on the altar table. At some point early in the service the following readings are presented to call the congregation's attention to the symbol and its significance. These symbols can be presented at any point in the service. I usually choose to use this as a call to confession and to sing a verse of "Where You There" as a congregational response. There are four versions below. One is designed for general use. The other three focus on one of the three Synoptic Gospels so that they can be used in Years A, B, or C in the lectionary cycle. Of course you can always mix and match. On the sixth Sunday I ussually let the children process with palms, but users of this pattern may write a sixth devotion for Palm/Passion Sunday.

John 13:3-5 "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded."

Jesus was facing death, yet he thought of others first. By washing his disciples' feet Jesus set an example of servanthood that we should remember and follow. This basin and towel represent the basin and towel used by Jesus, and they remind us to be humble like Christ.

Matthew 26:14-16 "Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, 'What will you give me if I deliver him to you?' And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him."

The Devil tried to defeat Jesus by entering into Judas and enticing him to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Despite the Devil's intentions that betrayal was part of God's plan to save us through Jesus' death. This bag of coins represents the Devil's folly and our gain.

Mark 15:15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas; and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified."

Usually if a person survived being scourged they were not crucified. But Jesus was both scourged and crucified. This whip represents those stripes he received on our behalf.

Mark 15:17-18 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on him. And they began to salute him, 'Hail, King of the Jews!'"

Mark 15:22-24 "And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him."

Jesus was born the King of Kings. Yet the only crown he ever wore on this earth was a crown of thorns and the only time he was lifted up was when he was nailed to the cross. This crown and these nails represent the kingly garb that Jesus gave up to suffer for our sins.

Mark 15:25-26 "And it was the third hour, when they crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, 'The King of the Jews.'"

It was customary for the charge to be placed on a sign above the head of one being crucified. This was done so that all would know why they were being crucified. Ironically, the inscription above Jesus proclaimed the Gospel truth.

"Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, 'What will you give me if I deliver him to you?' And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him."(Matthew 26:14-16)

The Devil tried to defeat Jesus by entering into Judas and enticing him to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Despite the Devil's intentions that betrayal was part of God's plan to save us through Jesus' death. This bag of coins represents the Devil's folly and our gain.

"And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."(Matthew 26:51-52)

When they came to arrest Jesus one of his disciples reacted with violence. Jesus reacted by loving his enemy and handing himself over to be sacrificed. This sword represents all those times we have reacted to evil with violence instead of sacrifice.

"So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, 'I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.'" (Matthew 27:24-25 )

Pilate thought he could please the crowd and cleanse himself of any guilt by symbolically washing Jesus' blood off his hands. Yet it was only Jesus' blood shed on the cross that could cleanse him of that guilt.

"Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!'" (Matthew 27:27-31)

Jesus was born the King of Kings. Yet the only crown he ever wore on this earth was a crown of thorns. This crown represent the kingly garb that Jesus gave up to suffer for our sins.

"And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, 'This is Jesus the King of the Jews.'" (Matthew 27:37)

It was customary for the charge to be placed on a sign above the head of one being crucified. This was done so that all would know why they were being crucified. Ironically, the inscription above Jesus proclaimed the Gospel truth.

"Jesus said, 'It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread in the bowl with me.'"(Mark 14:20)

Judas had already planned to betray Jesus yet he was sitting next to Jesus at the table and sharing a bowl with him. Often times we try to appear close to Christ to draw attention away from our sin and betrayal. This bowl represents all the times we have eaten at Christ's table without giving up our sin.

"But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear."(Mark 14:47)

When they came to arrest Jesus one of his disciples reacted with violence. Jesus reacted by handing himself over to be sacrificed. This sword represents all those times we have reacted to evil with violence instead of sacrifice.

"Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betry him to them. When they heard it, they were greatly please, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betry him."(Mark 14:10-11)

The Devil tried to defeat Jesus by entering into Judas and enticing him to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Despite the Devil's intentions that betrayal was part of God's plan to save us through Jesus' death. This bag of coins represents the Devil's folly and our gain.

"And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on him. And they began to salute him, 'Hail, King of the Jews!'"(Mark 15:17-18)

Jesus was born the King of Kings. Yet the only crown he ever wore on this earth was a crown of thorns. This crown represent the kingly garb that Jesus gave up to suffer for our sins.

"And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him."(Mark 15:22-24)

Jesus came down from heaven to be our Savior, yet the only time he was lifted up on earth was when he was nailed to the cross. These nails represent the high place Jesus gave up to die for our sins.

"And it was the third hour, when they crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, 'The King of the Jews.'"(Mark 15:25-26)

It was customary for the charge to be placed on a sign above the head of one being crucified. This was done so that all would know why they were being crucified. Ironically, the inscription above Jesus proclaimed the Gospel truth.

"And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come and take him down."(Mark 15:36)

Jesus had cried "Eloi, Eloi, lema' Sabach'thani?" - "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Some in the crowd thought he was calling on the prophet Elijah. So to add insult to injury they gave him vinegar to drink. This sponge represents all the mocking that Jesus endured for our salvation.

John 13:3-5 "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded."

Jesus was facing death, yet he thought of others first. By washing his disciples' feet Jesus set and example of servanthood that we should remember and follow. This basin and pitcher represent the basin and pitcher used by Jesus, and they remind us to be humble like Christ.

"And when those who were about him saw what would follow, they said, 'Lord, shall we strike with the sword?' And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him."(Luke 14:49-51)

When they came to arrest Jesus one of his disciples reacted with violence. Jesus reacted by loving his enemy and handing himself over to be sacrificed. This sword represents all those times we have reacted to evil with violence instead of sacrifice.

"they also blindfolded him and asked him, 'Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?'"(Luke 22:64)

To mock the claim that Jesus was a prophet the soldiers used a blindfolded. Ironiacally Jesus could see clearly what was happening and the soldiers were ones blind to their own place in history. This blindfold is to remind us of our blindness to sin and Jesus ability to see right through us.

"And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple robe; "(John 19:2)

Jesus was born the King of Kings. Yet the only crown he ever wore on this earth was a crown of thorns. This crown represent the kingly garb that Jesus gave up to suffer for our sins.

"There was also an inscription over him, 'This is the King of the Jews.'"(Luke 23:38)