…hey, better late than never, right?
I observed Holy Week this year by reading through each day’s Scriptures that corresponded to the last week of Jesus’ life on earth. I’m not sure if I had ever done that before, but I found it to be very powerful this year.
Jesus comes riding into Jerusalem, triumphantly, on… a donkey. He knows exactly what he’s entering into, and he knows that this scene begins the end of his time on Earth. Lord, let us reflect your humility. Let us not insist on our own privilege or position or power. Let us live in light of the victorious king who came in on a donkey. Let your light speak for itself through our lives. “Rescue us! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!” Let our praise be genuine, surely rooted even when our troubles appear more real than your presence. Lord, let us reflect your mercy; that of a God who loves a fickle people, who was faithful to the ones that he knew would desert him. Let us not work for the praises of people, but for the fruit which lasts forever.
Rough day for Jesus—first the curse on the fig tree, then turning over tables in the temple. What Jesus really wants to see from our lives is fruit – and not just the appearance of fruit. Here we have a tree with leaves, seemingly a sign of produce. But, it bears no figs. And then Jesus goes to the temple and sees pilgrims being exploited and priests acting authoritatively while God’s house is disrespected. Jesus can see past our appearances to our heart. He warns against being white-washed tombs and in this case against being a fruitless tree. He is the one who grows fruit in our hearts, but we must submit to his pruning and cultivation.
The other thing is the irony of our plans vs. God’s—the priests started to plot Jesus’ destruction after the table-turning but Jesus already knows it is coming. Their fear of him and his influence over the crowds, their fear of losing power and influence for their own sake, push them to want to destroy him. Do I fully allow Jesus to influence all my life or do I still try to hold on to some of my own influence and control? Lord, I want to give you free reign over my life.
Jesus reminds his disciples to trust God, and pray without doubting. I’d say most of my prayers are not doubtful, but I think I have a hard time praying for REALLY big and miraculous things, believing they will happen. My instinctive cynicism creeps in when I read “Whatever you pray for or ask from God, believe that you’ll receive it and you will.” That statement doesn’t seem confusing or difficult to understand, but my faith in this regard is unfortunately limited to what I can see. But, it’s a good thing that the One who answers prayers sees beyond my sight.
The rest of the day is filled with priests and teachers trying to stump Jesus with various questions about the law and His interpretation of them. Of course, they don’t succeed.
Holy Week Wednesday: Mark 14.1-11
Wherever the good news is told, this story of the woman anointing Jesus with her perfume will be told. I must be careful to not just take a short-sighted practical view, like the dinner guests in the story. She lavishly “wasted” her resource, all to adore Christ. Lord, help me to be so lavish, to adore you so freely and fully, without being discouraged at what others might think. Allow me to use my resources to worship you, beyond mere practicality. Help me to see the long-view and seek your Kingdom first. Transform my perspective to be more like Yours.
Maundy Thursday: Mark 14.12-72
Jesus and his disciples celebrate the Passover feast, remembering God’s historical deliverance, but Jesus also knows it is about to have new meaning. Communion is instituted at this meal while Jesus knew he was eating with his betrayer. He also knew all his disciples, his closest friends, would desert him in his time of most need and he felt the angst and distress of the task that lay before him. But he was fully surrendered to God’s will—it is for this reason He has come. Armed guards lead him to the priests—the irony of their attempts at “judgment”; no witnesses against Him because all his claims are true. He offers no self-defense. He is who He says He is! But in efforts of their own self-justification, the leaders must destroy Him since he reveals their hypocrisy. Lord, help me to be so surrendered to your will. I don’t generally know what’s coming next but even in this situation, in the worst of events when Jesus knew exactly what lay before him, he surrendered. Please help me to rely on You as my defense—not defending my rightness, but Your authority, as it brings repentance, forgiveness, mercy, justice, power, love, and Jesus’ righteousness.
Good Friday: Mark 15.1-47
The curtain was torn in the moment of Jesus’ death. To those still confused, not seeing the deeper meaning, this might seem terrible. And even in Jesus’ pain, this tearing which was accomplished was beautiful! Yes, it disturbed temple tradition but that’s because it meant a new way forward—open access to God for everyone. Jesus’ blood replaced the earthly veil. Lord help me remember it is this blood-veil which purifies me to enter your presence—not my own self. Now God is free to abide with us beyond the earthly veil! Jesus experienced great pain, feelings of neglect, even in this moment of obedience and glory. Following God often brings suffering; pain is not a sign of God’s absence. He did this for me—and everyone! Moments of great suffering can be moments of great victory.
Holy Week Saturday
A sense of stillness, silence, wondering as our Lord lay DEAD in the tomb. The immortal, eternal one, gone for a moment. I think about all those who followed and loved Jesus while he was on Earth and what they must have been going through between Friday and Sunday. “Was it all a lie? I thought he was the Messiah, but now he is dead?” Even with the Old Testament scriptures to testify that this had to happen, it must have been so painful and confusing to live through. But, he was the perfect one, dead in our place, to conquer all that could kill us.
Easter Sunday: Mark 16.1-8
Lord, you have risen! Hallelujah! Death cannot hold you. And you say that same resurrection power is at work in us (Ephesians 1.19-20)—so death cannot hold us! You are victorious over death and you carry us with you into new life!
The resurrection is the Best News! All the “deaths” in our lives, literal and figurative, have been overcome. They are not the final word. Jesus has the power to conquer all death, everything that says “no” and causes destruction. Jesus brings LIFE, more powerful than death. He works that power within us.
And what does it mean on an everyday level for the poor? For one, while it does not promise a specific moment when things will get better or needs will be met, it does guarantee that the One who has All the power to bring new life is with us, loves us, cares about our situation, and acts on our behalf. He is the authority above all authorities. He is the promise that, despite appearances, we are not forgotten. I don’t know why some situations don’t change and some continue to suffer and some needs go seemingly unmet. But I know that God is TRUE, He is alive, He is above all and He is with us. His presence strengthens us.
It is inconsequential, His compassion, if we don’t know or care who He is. But when the eyes of our heat are opened, we see that as the Richest of Riches anyone could have. We see that it means our reality now is impacted, in the hands of a Good God. If we trust our circumstances, it is no wonder we doubt. But on a Good Friday or Saturday, we must hold onto His promise. And when Easter comes, we have not only His promises but Him SELF alive and victorious over death. If God gave us His son, will he not also give us everything with Him? He doesn’t say when, but he desires our hearts, our lives, not just our wanting and needs. He is Risen! That changes everything! (1 Corinthians 15)
And that reality of the Risen Jesus is ours every day, not just during Holy Week. Amen!
