Holy Week

Though every week should be holy, to be sure, this week is regarded by many Christians as "Holy Week," because this is a week that commemorates the last week of our Lord's life on Earth--Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday.

On that first Palm Sunday the people, including children, shouted, "Hosanna in the highest!" They spread palms along the road and honored the King of kings as He rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. "From Olivet they followed 'mid and exultant crowd, the victor palm branch waving, and the chanting clear and loud, the Lord of earth and heaven rode on in lowly state, nor scorned that little children should on his bidding wait" (From "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna").

They adored this man, who had brought such hope to the hearts of people, but then things began to change.

After this triumphal entry, things began to grow darker for our Lord. "Go to dark Gethsemane, you that fel the tempter's power, your Redeemer's conflict see; watch with him one bitter hour; turn not from his griefs away; learn of Jesus Christ to pray" (From "Go to Dark Gethsemane").

I wonder what it would have been like to have been in the Garden with Jesus? What was it like for the disciples at the Last Supper in the Upper Room? "An upper room with evening lamps a shine, the twelve disciples, and the table spread; now in our turn Christ bids us pour the wine, and in remembrance bless and break the bread" (From "An Upper Room With Evening Lamps").

Jesus could find no one to pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. He ate His last supper with His followers, but He knew one of them would betray Him into the hands of those who wanted to kill Him.

After taking Him away, they dressed Him in a purple robe and a crown of thorns. They placed a reed in His right hand. He was mocked, scourged, spit upon, derided, and defamed. He bore all our sins and woes. Beneath a darkened sky, He hung upon a tree, and, as the African-American spiritual tells us, "He never said a mumbalin' word."

They nailed Him to a tree, and the Lamb of God was slain for the sins of the world. Behold the Lamb of God!

Jesus died that we might live--abundant and eternal life to give. It is ours if we will but believe. Only receive and only believe--all things are possible; only believe.

"Low in the grave He lay--Jesus my Savior, waiting the coming day--Jesus my Lord!" Death could not hold Him down. Up from the grave He arose with a mighty triumph over His foes! His battle ended there, as death was overcome.

"Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood,
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

"Lifted up was He to die,
'It is finished,' was His cry;
Now in Heaven exalted high,
Hallelujah! What a Savior!"

"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is in the law. but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

On Sunday we will celebrate these glorious truths. It is known as Easter, but perhaps a better name would be Resurrection Sunday. Happy Resurrection Sunday, everyone!