Holy Week
A Week of Extremes
It’s holy week as I sit here in my office thinking about what to write in my first ever blog. Easter is and has always been an important holiday for our family. I remember getting dressed up in our new Easter outfits, going to church, and then enjoying a big lunch with family. The Easter bunny, hunting for eggs, and finding our Easter baskets always played a role, but the emphasis was always Jesus’ resurrection. As I think back to the week leading up to the original Easter Sunday, I can’t imagine the ups and downs Jesus and his disciples went through. They started out with the triumphal entry, where the whole city was celebrating and wanting to crown him King. They were expecting him to overthrow the Roman empire, but instead he cleansed the temple by overturning the merchant’s tables. He fires up the Pharisees and religious leaders with his teachings and bold claims. As Passover approached and Jesus and his disciples were gathered together, he instituted the Lord’s Supper. Shortly after this he was betrayed, denied, scourged, and eventually crucified. He was abandoned by those closest to him. Fortunately, just as all hope was lost, he was raised from the dead 3 days later. Talk about a week of extremes!
The Cross and The Empty Tomb
As I reflect on the upcoming Easter celebration it all comes down to 2 things, the cross and the empty tomb. They are what set Christianity apart from other religions or worldviews. God himself took on flesh, lived a sinless life, sacrificed himself on our behalf and then overcame death and sin. He was the spotless lamb who bore our sin and the sin of the world. The cross is the great equalizer. It doesn’t matter if you’re rich, poor, black, white, male, or female; the cross is the only way to God. Maybe you feel like Peter and have failed Jesus over and over. Or maybe you’re like a Pharisee and trying to live the “perfect life” so you can earn God’s favor. Or maybe you’re like Thomas and you have doubts about the gospel message and your faith. The good news is that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re coming from, there’s room at the cross for you. All we have to do is acknowledge Jesus’ sacrifice, repent of our sin, and commit to following him. Its simple, but not easy! The empty tomb is what our hope is based on.
“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain” (ESV).
As Paul states in 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, if not for the resurrection our faith is meaningless. It is the foundational cornerstone that our Christian faith relies on for its message of hope and eternal life.
As For Me and My House…
Unfortunately, the world is at constant odds with the Christian worldview. It won’t be long before the good news of the gospel will be labeled as intolerant or hate speech. As Christian men we need to embrace our God-given role as spiritual leaders to impact our families and communities for Christ. God doesn’t want “luke-warm” followers. He wants us to be passionate, courageous, and loving as we live our lives. The world needs a few good men to rise up and answer the call God has laid on our hearts. Will you be that man?
“…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”(ESV).
In his farewell speech to the nation of Israel Joshua asked the people to choose who they were going to serve. He concluded in Joshua 24:15 that no matter what Israel chose to do, for him and his house they would serve the Lord! I pray you have the same conviction Joshua had: No matter what Satan throws your way, you and your house will serve the Lord!