Holy Week

OUR REAL ADDRESS…

Over the course of a lifetime, the average person will move about 16 times (once every 5 years). That adds up to a lot of boxes and “change of address” cards. In addition to the physical address changes, we also encounter spiritual life-changing experiences.

The events of Holy Week, culminating in Easter, provide us with a series of spiritual opportunities that help us choose where to live spiritually. First, we have the somber events that lead to Maundy Thursday. Those hostile to and threatened by Jesus – his style and his messages – finally gain the upper hand and their poison even infects Jesus’ intimate inner circle of supporters. The mood here is one of tension. Tension had been in the air for weeks, and tension was surely present at the final meal shared by Jesus and his Disciples. Afterwards, that tension follows Jesus and his companions to the garden of Gethsemane, and it reaches its height when one of Jesus’ followers draws his sword and cuts off one of the ears of the high priest’s slave.
The spiritual movment then continues on Good Friday with its suffering, and the mood of defeat. Jesus is treated to a kangaroo court, completely lacking in any semblance of judicial respect, found guilty and taken away to be murdered. The synoptic Gospels paint a picture that reflects defeat.

The following day, Saturday, is mentioned only briefly when it is recorded that Jesus’ followers “rested according to the commandment.” The day had to be one of disillusionment. Where the disciples had met, they met no more. Where they had belonged, they belonged no more.
Sunday presents a new mood. Tension, defeat and disillusionment are now transformed into triumph. The tomb is empty. Jesus is alive! What had fallen apart is now again together in a new and victorious fashion. Not only are these moods Holy Week moods, they are contemporary moods where you and I can choose to take up residence. They are “our” spiritual addresses. Where do you want to live? Whereas it is important for us to visit each of these addresses this week (Thursday’s tension, Friday’s defeat, Saturday’s disillusionment), the most important place for us to take up our spiritual residence is within the Resurrection Victory!

It is my privilege to be a Pastor.

Scott