It is very easy to hear the words “holy week” and not think much about it. To many it is just like Christmas, a time to gather as a family and enjoy a meal together and take the obligatory photos. It is an occasion to have some time off from work or buy a new outfit for Easter Sunday morning. For over 2000 years God’s people have celebrated the events of Holy Week. We remember the coming of Christ into the city of Jerusalem riding on a donkey, greeted with shouts of hosanna. We are reminded of the humility of Christ. When he entered this world, he stooped down to our level and took on flesh, becoming one of us. He enjoyed the glory and splendor of heaven but was willing to forsake his position to be forsaken by God, just for us. By the end of the week, he would announce to his closest friends that he was about to die.
During the celebration of the Passover, Jesus showed how that celebration was pointing towards him. He is our Passover lamb, the sacrifice that was needed to cover over our rebellion against God. His blood would be shed in order to take away the sin of the world. That same night our Savior experienced a cruel betrayal from one of his followers. Money would be at the heart of the betrayal exposing the heart of the betrayer. Another would be so ashamed to acknowledge his closeness to Jesus that he would deny it repeatedly. The disciples were overcome with fear and disillusionment.
Early that Friday morning our Savior was beaten, despised, mocked and rejected, treated like a common criminal. He was sentenced to die on a cross, among thieves. The crowd, with all their hatred and animosity said let “his blood be on us and our children.” What a contrast to the words said a few days earlier, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Instead of receiving the worship of his people, Jesus was crucified. He was nailed to a cross for his enemies. With one last gasp of air, Jesus would tell the world that all that he came to do was now finished!
He came to set the captives free; he came to reverse the curse. He was forsaken by God so we would never be. He died on Friday, but Sunday was just around the corner. His body was placed in a common tomb for a common burial and then silence came over the city. The weeping of his followers could be heard if you listened carefully. Jesus was dead and buried but early Sunday morning everything changed. The distress, the unbelief, the grief that filled the hearts of his followers, awakened to an empty tomb. The empty tomb would enable them and us to make sense of the cross. God can take distress, unbelief and grief turn it into hope. As a theologian once said, “God weeps with us so that we may someday laugh with him.” Let us look back to that holy week where God showed the extent of his love for us and may it forever change you and me.
He is risen!
