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Holy WeekApril 7, 2009"What do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?" They shouted back, "Crucify him!" - Mark 15:12 This week is Holy Week. Christians all around the world regard this week as the holiest week of the year. This week that we remember the final events of Jesus' life. These events begin on Palm Sunday when Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem on the back of a donkey and it ends the following Sunday with his discovered resurrection on Easter morning. In between these two events, are the darkest and yet most meaningful moments for Christians. Christ teaches his last lessons and confronts the authorities. Christ shares his last supper with his disciples. He is betrayed by one of his own. Arrested and put on trial by the authorities. He is sentenced to death by crucifixion. He is beaten, mocked, and then crucified. He breathes his last breath, and then dies on the cross. He is taken down and laid in a tomb. For three days no one enters the guarded tomb. On the third day some women come to anoint his body only to discover that Jesus is not there. They are scared and don't know what to make of it. Later, they discover that Jesus, their beloved, has risen just like he said he would. This week is not merely a week to recount what happened long ago, but it is an opportunity for us today to participate in these redemptive actions of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christ did not endure all this only for people living during his lifetime, but he allowed these events to take place because he sought to redeem Christians of every time and place. That includes us. The last three days of this week are collectively called the Triduum. If you want to impress your pastor or priest, use this word when talking about Holy Week. The Triduum begins on Thursday and ends on Easter Sunday at sunset. The early church packed this in to one long, overnight service beginning on Easter Eve and ending on Easter Day. Although some Christian churches still continue this tradition, most extend telling the story over the course of three days. On Thursday evening we relive the last supper with Jesus and his disciples while they shared the Passover together. It was during this supper that Jesus instructed his disciples in the ritual of Holy Communion. He took bread and wine and blessed them and instructed his disciples to eat the elements, for they are Christ's body and blood. He instructed them to do this when they gathered in his absence. Of course, at this point, they didn't know the trials that Jesus would soon face. On Thursday we also remember what took place after supper, the betrayal and arrest of Jesus by one of his closest friends. On Friday, we recount the crucifixion, death, and burial of Christ. Many churches strip the sanctuary bare, removing all symbols, or they might shroud everything in black to suggest the emptiness and darkness that comes with Christ's death. On Saturday, we wait, we mourn, and we anguish in a world of darkness because our Lord is dead. Light and hope returns on Sunday morning when the stone is rolled away and we celebrate the empty tomb. Our Lord is not there, he has risen. And with his defeat of death, we too travel from death to life. These fancy words and organized worship services might seem foreign to some of you, but I know the stories recounted within these services are familiar to many. Your church might or might not be having one of these services this week, but we will be observing these in Real Deal and Chapel. Take the time to not merely recount, but to participate in these saving actions of Jesus Christ our Lord. Prayer: Jesus, my Savior, you died so that I may have life and have it abundantly. Thank you for loving me so much that you gave your life for me. May I never take your death for granted. Amen. For more informationRev. Leigh Martin |
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