Ever notice the verbs from Maundy Thursday and Good Friday? I read the other day that too often we speak and write about faith in Jesus and ignore the faith of Jesus.
Jesus’ words, prayers, tears, humility, and suffering during this point of the Holy Week story illustrate His faith. WE can research and listen for these action words occurring during Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and all the way through Easter morning celebrations.
The verbs – the part of speech that shows action and perhaps the most important word in a sentence – show us Jesus’ faith. Breath in their meanings and ponder their lessons as you worship this holy week.
I looked up the verbs of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday – the week that changed everything:
Jesus spoke
Replied
Answered
Took bread
Gave thanks
Broke it
Gave it to the disciples
Took the cup
Gave thanks
Offered it to the disciples
Sang hymns
Predicted
Knelt in the garden
Fell on his face
Prayed more
Found the disciples sleeping
Prayed a second time
Found them sleeping again
He healed.
He was seized
Stood before Pilate
Answered questions
Gave no answers
Heard the cries, “Crucify him!”
He was flogged
Humiliated
Betrayed
Deserted
Stripped
Blindfolded
Beaten,
Mocked
Spit upon
Rebuked
Denied
Condemned
Nailed to a cross
CRUCIFIED
Verbs – all showing the faith of Jesus.
As Christians, we know the story doesn’t stop here. We learn from the verbs from Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. We can take them into our hearts and allow them to transform our wills into holy actions too.
All these verbs are past tense, but the best verb of all is present tense:
He lives!
He lives!
And that is the living, present tense faith of Jesus. Amen!
As you look over this list of verbs from Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, which ones resonate the most with your spirit?
Thanks so much for your kind and wise words,Nancy. I was amazed at the power of verbs. I did miss one. Jesus washed their feet!
As writers, we know the power of verbs. As Christians, we SHOULD know the power of Jesus’ actions, especially the week before His crucifixion. I see the power of His humility, the power over the physical realm (as in the healing of the servant), and spiritual strength beyond what any human has ever endured, as He was forsaken by God. Thank you, Jean, for once again focusing our hearts on important truth.
Thank you for your kind words and stopping by today! Blessings on your Easter weekend
You are so right! I did miss that verb and an important one to add. Thank you! blessings on your Easter weekend, Leanne
Blessings on your Easter weekend too, Lynn
This is beautifully written! A lovely reflection for this Easter weekend. Thank you for sharing it.
Having just attended the Maundy Thursday service at my church yesterday, I noticed a verb you missed … he washed their feet! Such a totally upside-down thing for Christ to do!
Hope you’re having the best TGIF ever! And hope you have a blessed Easter as well!
Great verb list! And my favorite…He lives! He lives! Awesome, Jean!
And let’s not forget the ancient greeting which also uses a verb form: “He is risen!” “He is risen indeed!”
Thanks for this thoughtful post, Jean.
Dear Jean
I once read that only as we admit that we don,t have the true kind of faith, can our Pappa give us Faith as a gift as grace. Wihtout Him we cannot even believe.
A blessed Easter to you
Mia
What a great exercise to look up the verbs of Jesus. It spoke to me this morning. I am so grateful for the present tense wording, “He lives!”. Thank you for sharing. I visited from Thoughtful Thursday link-up.
What a great exercise to do – writing down all the verbs. So grateful that “He lives!!!” is present tense! Thank you for sharing this. It blessed me this morning. Visiting from Thought Provoking Thursday link-up.