Many of us have been in the habit of preparing for Christmas.  We do Advent readings, we plan, we shop, we get excited and we celebrate.

But when it comes to Easter, it seems like it sneaks up on us.

Well, maybe not all of us–but at least those of us who did not grow up in a church that followed a regular church calendar or common lectionary.  I have talked to some who did not grow up observing Lent, then began observing Lent because they needed a means to get ready for Easter.  But for me, the idea of “giving something up” in preparation for remembering the cross-event of Christ, feels like I am trying to earn or pay back the cost of Christ’s sacrifice. (I know that is not true for all.)  And I know I did not deserve it–that’s why it’s called grace…and I could not earn it or pay it back.

But, the Lent Season does give a structure for preparing both to remember and celebrate the life-giving, world-transforming, substitutionary death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Today, I purchased a resource to help me do just that.

The Final Days of Jesus

Get it in paper or Kindle (just $5.99)

Two free resources: a study guide and a Bible reading plan.

Description and additional resource–see Justin Taylor’s blog.

Walk With Jesus During His Last Week on Earth

On March 29, AD 33, Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem and boldly predicted that he would soon be put to death—executed on a cross, like a common criminal. So began the most important week of the most important person who ever lived.

Nearly 2,000 years later, the events that took place during Jesus’s last days still reverberate through the ages. Designed as a day-by-day guide to Passion Week, The Final Days of Jesus leads us to reexamine and meditate on the history-making, earth-shaking significance of Jesus’s arrest, trial, crucifixion, and empty tomb.

Combining a chronological arrangement of the Gospel accounts with insightful commentary, charts, and maps, this book will help you better understand what actually happened all those years ago—and why it matters today.