Easter with Broadmoor

Easter is a special time at Broadmoor as we remember the week of Jesus’ death and burial and celebrate his resurrection, which brings us new life! Join us as we gather for worship, participate in the Lord’s Supper, watch a dramatic recount of Holy Week through The Journey, take Easter to our community through Easter In The Park, and walk through Easter week through daily devotionals. For more information about specific events and activities, please click the images above as you scroll through them. 

Thank you so much for sharing your Easter with us! It was truly a special time celebrating the risen King! 
We hope that you will join us again next year on Saturday, March 30 and Sunday, March 31 for Easter 2024!

Holy Week Devotionals

The Resurrection of Jesus
Cliff Hardin
Luke 24
Early in the morning, some women went to the tomb where Jesus had been laid. But instead of finding Jesus’s body, they found the tomb empty. Two angels told them to share the news that He had risen. The women hurried to tell the other disciples. Jesus then appeared to His disciples in person. This event changed everything! Jesus is not dead. We have a savior resurrected from the dead and now seated at the Father’s right hand. Today we celebrate around the world with other Christians that HE HAS RISEN! Jesus has taken our sins and has shown himself victorious over death itself. We are children of the risen, living Savior. Happy Easter!
Questions For Reflection
1. With whom will you share the good news of Jesus’ resurrection and your salvation today? 2. How has Jesus changed your life? Take a moment today and write it down to remind yourself when times are more challenging and demanding in the future.
Burial of Jesus
Melinda Hendrix
Luke 23:50-56
It was Friday, and Jesus had been arrested, tried by the Sanhedrin, found guilty, and sentenced to die on the cross. The unthinkable had happened. Jesus had tried to prepare the disciples beforehand that His death was necessary. Still, they, not fully understanding, were devastated, scared, and in hiding. Though a member of the Sanhedrin, Joseph of Arimathea was a seeker of God’s Kingdom. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, wrapped Him in fine linen, and laid Him in his tomb. Meanwhile, the Passover lambs were being sacrificed at the Temple as this was the day of preparation. Little did they realize that Jesus was their Passover Lamb, the Lamb of God. He would take away their sin once and for all, saving them just as God had planned from the very beginning. Jesus’ death on the cross was necessary for the forgiveness of sins. It satisfied our debt and brought us back to a right relationship with God. Let us not miss the significance of this act as the early believers did.
Questions For Reflection
1. Is there a moment when you were pushed to a crisis of belief? What were the reasons that brought you to that moment? 2. How would you have responded if you had followed Jesus during this time and watched his death unfold in person?

Even On the Darkest Day in History…Love and Grace Shines Brighter Than Ever
Jordan Tew
Luke 23:26-49

There is nothing like having front-row seats at a big event. To see everything up close, to hear it, and experience it on such an intimate level. Imagine you have a front-row seat on the day the world changed. For some men and women, this is their story.

As Jesus was scourged, beaten, and torn apart, Simon of Cyrene was called upon to carry the weight of the cross for a time. Oh, to imagine walking steps behind the Savior as he made his way toward Golgotha. The daughters of Jerusalem watched as he carried his scarred and battered body through the streets. Oh, to hear the words of hate and mockery spewed at him. And finally, as he was hung on the cross, the criminals were placed at his sides. They looked down at the same crowd as Jesus while the people waited and watched.

Those who were there watched as his flesh was torn from his skin. They heard the mockery he faced as he was dragged through the streets. They saw the sky as darkness spread over the whole land. They had a front-row seat, not just to public execution, but to grace. They had a front-row seat to love. As he hung on the cross, experiencing physical pain, torment, and the weight of the world’s sin, Jesus cried out to God, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Grace was personified as the perfect, spotless Lamb of God that was slain for us. Soon, the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan would come to fruition.

Questions For Reflection

1. What emotions would rise up in you if you saw the crucifixion of Jesus first-hand?

2. How does this passage put grace into perspective for you?

3. What was the significance of the curtain in the Temple being torn in two?

 

A Costly Cup
Amy Elizabeth Cockroft
Luke 22:39-53

Jesus took His disciples to a place He typically retreated to in Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives. He knew what was about to happen and wanted to spend time with the Father. Jesus asked the disciples to pray while He went further into the garden to pray alone. Jesus dreaded suffering because He knew He was about to drink from “the cup.” The cup symbolizes the wrath of God. He knew what drinking from the cup meant. He would bear the sins of the world and the wrath of God that the world deserved. As He prayed, He asked the Father to remove the cup from Him but also yielded to the Father’s will. Jesus was fully God and fully man. He didn’t want to endure the suffering (fully man) but is also perfectly aligned with the Father’s will (fully God). He submitted to the Father’s will, and an angel appeared to strengthen Him. He continued to pray, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground. Even at this moment, the Father provided care and support for His Son. However, it did not remove the anguish that Jesus was feeling. As Jesus left the garden, He was resolved that this was the perfect and pleasing will of the Father.

Jesus knew this was the way it had to be. As He walked away with the soldiers, He didn’t fight it. He had allowed the cup to be poured out on our behalf. Our sin deserves God’s wrath (the cup). Someone had to pay the punishment for our sins. Because Jesus loves us so much, He chose to take the cup for us. God’s wrath was satisfied on the cross.

Questions For Reflection

1. Why did God not remove the cup from Jesus?

 

2. When do you have difficulty submitting to God’s will?

 

3. How do you fight against temptation?

Kings of Greatness or Great Kings of Regret?
Thomas Lister
Luke 22:7-38
A familiar debate loomed in their hearts as Jesus began the Passover meal with His disciples. The disciples had often debated which of them was the greatest. Jesus had often addressed this debate, but this time would be different. This time Jesus’ words would cut deep. Jesus likened their mindset to that of a Gentile king who would use his position of authority for his own personal gain. Jesus took this opportunity to refocus the disciples’ attention and realign their hearts with His. His goal wasn’t to be the greatest king, but a great servant. In fact, it was an act of service that would usher in Jesus’ Kingdom, the Greatest Kingdom ever: ushered in by the greatest act of service ever. Jesus’ Body and Blood were given for the members of this Kingdom. Jesus explained this to His disciples, but they didn’t understand. The Passover had always pointed to this, and now Jesus was fulfilling the old and establishing the new. He was establishing a new covenant evidenced by this great Kingdom. Did they understand? Could they see what was about to happen? Rather than enjoying Jesus’ presence or reflecting on His teachings, this old, familiar, self-centered debate was their focus. To give them a glimpse of what would happen, Jesus asserted to Peter that he, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, would deny Jesus three times. The disciples would quickly go from widely accepted followers of “Hosanna” to criminals “numbered with the transgressors.”
Questions For Reflection
1. What is significant about the new covenant for us? 2. When do you long for greatness or to be considered great? What is the danger of this for followers of Jesus? 3. What does it mean that Jesus was “numbered with the transgressors?” What do you think that means for followers of Jesus?

Poor Widow Give More
Josh Kinsley
Luke 21:1-4

The Sadducees of Herod’s Temple in Jerusalem began to investigate Jesus. His teachings weren’t making Him friends among the religious leaders, as He called them out in the parables He was sharing.

As we get to Luke 21, we read about Jesus’ encounter with “the widow,” as she is referred to in scripture. He noticed that she put two small copper coins in the offering box. At the same time, others much wealthier than her were giving more.

As Jesus looked on, He noted to those around Him that this widow, who gave the two small copper coins, gave more than anybody else. He said, “For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Questions For Reflection

1. Do you find yourself living your life in a way that you have to sacrifice luxuries to give of your time, talents, or treasures? Or do you live where you only use your time, skills, and treasures when convenient?

2. While this can be a lesson in giving, Jesus was trying to teach his disciples something deeper. What do you think that is?

Controlled Chaos in the Temple
Richard Denson
Luke 19:45-48
The devout Jews would travel many miles to Jerusalem from all over Israel and the Roman Empire for Passover, and worshippers would come to the Temple to offer sacrifices. Bringing a sacrificial animal long distances would be challenging. Merchants were eyeing a significant profit to help take that burden from these travelers by selling animals for an increased fee. In addition, there was the temple tax that each Jewish man had to pay annually (Exodus 30:13-14). This tax would only be accepted if it was paid in Jewish or Tyrian coinage because of the high amount of silver in these coins. The money exchangers took advantage of this situation by charging high fees for people to acquire the necessary coinage. As Jesus entered the Temple, He expressed His righteous disapproval of what was happening around Him. He saw that corruption had become normative in His house, a house of prayer, and that worship had become corrupt and was not centered on God. Jesus unleashed controlled chaos, overturning the tables and releasing the animals the merchants used for profit. After He did all this, He began teaching daily in the Temple, and the chief priests and scribes wanted to get rid of Him because of His teachings and actions. They couldn’t, though, because people hung on to every word He spoke. Jesus wouldn’t allow corruption to infiltrate His house while He was present. As we saw in this account, where Jesus is present, corruption and sin are brought to light and cleansed.
Questions For Reflection
1. Is there corruption in your life that has been dormant and never dealt with? 2. If you were to look at this corruption, where and when did it start? How long has it been there? 3. Is today the day you allow Jesus to come in and cleanse you from that corruption?

A Grand Entrance
Shaun Selman
Luke 19:28-40

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem the crowds poured into the streets. An overwhelming number of them cried out, “Hosanna!” (God Saves). This is only one side of the picture, though. Many of these people had recently seen him perform several miracles and heard him eloquently teach through several parables. Many wondered about the authority He taught with. One man named Zacchaeus had searched for him among the crowds earlier and encountered Jesus in a personal way. Zacchaeus had discovered new life and purpose. Others were searching for Jesus for a different reason. Many religious zealots wanted to find Him to bring him to death, death to the one disrupting their traditions and religious piety. Little did they know that Jesus was the King of Kings and deserved their worship rather than disdain. As Jesus continued to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, amidst the people’s praise, it became a stark reminder that not everyone felt this way. Every person had to come to grips with how they thought about Jesus. We are faced with the same questions today. Will we choose to live and worship Jesus, whom our worship was made for, or will we instead choose to turn our lives away from the one who can save us?

Questions for Reflection

1. What things in your life draw your attention away from Jesus?

2. As you think about your day-to-day life, what can you do to turn your attention (worship) to Jesus?

3. As we move toward Easter, will you commit to setting aside time to worship Jesus with others?

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering

Be part of the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American missions. This offering benefits the church planters and missionaries serving in the United States, Canada, and U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. Much like the Lottie Moon offering taken at Christmas, the monies collected will be used to help meet the needs of these frontline workers who faithfully serve. Please consider being a part of this special offering as we strive to gather over $100,000 to help meet their needs. You can click on the button below to give online (be sure to select Annie Armstrong as the fund you are giving toward), or you can bring your offering to Broadmoor anytime in April!