Phase 3 Thoughts – Easter Edition

We are in the midst of Holy Week. It is an interesting designation of a week that is filled with mixed emotions and wide swinging treatments of the Lord Jesus Christ. The week begins with the Triumphal Entry. Jesus is descending into Jerusalem to the praise and worship from those lining the road. Palm Branches waving and people singing. It seems clear from the reading that the vast crowd entering the city for the Passover Celebration knew who Jesus was and celebrated the long awaited Messiah.

But it doesn’t take long for Jesus to smash the expectations of these “followers” as he enters the Temple Courts and turns over the money changers’ tables. Why would the Messiah do anything to upset the sacrificial worship described in the Law. Why would someone who was supposed to represent God and rescue God’s people from Roman oppression destroy what made them holy? How was this holy?

Moving forward in the story, many things happen in the following days but we will move to the Passover Feast. Jesus enters the upper room and wraps himself in the servants towel and proceeds to wash the disciples’ feet. We all remember the encounter with Peter who first refused and then wanted more than needed. He was so confused. His perspective was clouded with worldliness. He understood that Jesus was the one to follow and couldn’t understand how it could be appropriate for the followers to be served by the one they were following. But upon correction by Jesus, he went in the other extreme and wanted to be fully bathed rather than just have the dust of the day removed. Jesus’ actions and words imply, “You have already been saved Peter. Your sins are forgiven but not just deal with today’s sin.”

The following scenes move us from wonder to celebration and back to wonder. It is a collection that is profound. Jesus institutes communion, he calls out his betrayer, he humbles those who claim full devotion no matter what, and he enters into the most significant and amazing time of prayer ever seen in the course of the world. Much of this takes place while surrounded by his follower yet he seems so alone in his faith and understanding of what is happening.

Ultimately, we end up at Good Friday. A day that is not good in the happenings, the pain, the struggle and the failure of the disciples. But a day is made good in the death and burial of Jesus. He poured out his own blood to pay for our sins. It is the beginning of the fulness of the Gospel. We encounter the death and the burial. Are sins are covered and buried with Jesus. The week ends with Jesus in the grave.

The only real aspect of holiness we see in this week is the holiness of God. He has done the work that we can’t do. He has made a way for holiness to be imparted to an unholy people. Holiness always begins with God. And ultimately it ends with God. He is holy.

The celebration comes on the new day of the new week. It is Sunday. It is the day that Jesus overcomes death. He overcame sin on Friday and overcomes death on Sunday. Praise the Lord, He is risen! He is risen indeed. So Holy Week ends. But holiness begins in all of us. The word says, “Be holy as I am holy!” Through the work of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection we

are given the power to become holy. The Holy Spirit comes as Jesus has gone. His power is poured out on us to complete the work that Jesus started. So, we must continue “Holy Week” every week. We must continue to live as Jesus lived. We must follow Jesus’ example of seeking and saving the lost.

Here is the purpose question for the week. Are you engaged in the fullness of Easter (the Gospel) once per year or are you living as if Easter occurs every day? You are called to a great blessing of service to the Lord. How is he specifically calling you today?

Be Blessed!
Gary