Holy Week Day 5 - Dying

“Darkness covers the earth, creation is silent, creation is waiting” 

Golgotha - Crucified alongside criminals  

Nails hammered through hands and feet 

Flesh is torn, blood pouring down 

A man’s frame lowered into pain.  Immense pain.

Abba…… Thy…. will…be… done 

They come to stare – they come to spit  

They hurl insults, laying the gauntlet down: 

“Let him come down off that cross if he truly is the Messiah” 

Abba…… Thy…. will…be… done

Suffering, bleeding,  gasping, dying 

“He Trusts in God Let God rescue him now if he wants him” 

Torturing body, mind, soul, spirit

Abba…… Thy…. will…be… done

Darkness covers the earth, creation is silent, creation is waiting 

The powers are waiting, the people are waiting, the angels are waiting 

The Lord of heaven and earth is giving himself up unto death

Willingly, knowingly, completely 

Abba …… where are you? Why have you forsaken me? 

Abandonment 

‘For he was cut off from the land of the living 

For the transgressions of my people he was stricken.  

And the Lord has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all’ 

Into your hands I commit my spirit 

He breathes his last 

It is finished.

Holy Week Day 4 - Rememberance

“After super Jesus removed his outer garment, poured water into a basin and washed the disciples feet, when Jesus had finished he asked “do you understand what I have done to you?” 

This Maundy Thursday as we look back in remembrance of Jesus’ final day with his disciples and recount the bible stories of the last super, the gospel of John tells us that after super Jesus removed his outer garment, poured water into a basin and washed the disciples feet, when Jesus had finished he asked “do you understand what I have done to you?” This question strikes a deep note for me as I try to contemplate how those first disciples may have felt at this act of servitude but also what it means for me today as a Christian. I came to faith three years ago and new instantly on giving my life to Christ that although I looked the same, the me that I once new had been changed in some way. I had received something untouchable within my soul that would be the building blocks from which I would begin a new life. I had been forgiven, my sins washed away. My prayer today is that my heart would be a prism through which the light of Jesus would shine and my life would be lived in remembrance of all that he has done for me.

Holy Week Day 3 - Betrayl

“ One of the darkest moments in history; the betrayal of Christ with a kiss of death”.

Judas had spent 3 years with Jesus as one of his 12 disciples. He had heard his teaching, experienced his love and witnessed countless miracles yet knowing the chief priests wanted rid of Jesus he sought them out to see what was in it for him. Greed opened his heart to Satan’s influence leading to one of the darkest moments in history; the betrayal of Christ with a kiss of death. The price: 30 pieces of silver, reminiscent of Joseph’s betrayal by his brothers as he was sold into slavery for 20 pieces of silver. Once more God in his great plan would take what was intended for harm and use it for good.

Holy Week Day 2 - Confrontation

In the face of confrontation, Jesus doesn’t back away, but rather stands confident in God.

Confrontation is a word that that can ring alarm bells for many people. How often have you heard people talk about how they try to avoid confrontation, as if they then gain a moral high-ground that conveniently allows them to get out of challenging situations? And yet, confrontation for Jesus brought about opportunities to glorify God. In confronting Jesus about His identity and His authority, those that opposed Jesus the most gave Him the chance to demonstrate these two aspects of Himself through wisdom, love and an invitation into relationship with Him. In the face of confrontation, Jesus doesn’t back away, but rather stands confident in God.

Holy Week Day 1 - Zeal

At the start of Holy Week, reflect that you are now God’s Temple, His dwelling place (1Cor 6:19). Through his work on the cross, his father’s house is you.

“We must retain a conception of his anger if we are not to maim our conception of His love” Alexander MacLaren

God’s love is sweet, but not sentimental. Rather, it is the hard won, self-sacrificial love of a rescuer. At the start of Holy Week we see Jesus acting a heady mix of anger and love against the traders in the Temple courts.

The flip side of love is anger. Not a flying off the handle, pointless rage. Rather, a methodical yet fervent desire to rid something precious of something that’s corrupting it. Love hates that which corrupts connection and intimacy. In short, God hates sin and loves sinners. 

When the disciples see Jesus acting in such a manner they are drawn back to their knowledge of the Bible - to Psalm 69.”  The authors of the NT viewed this “cry of a godly sufferer as foreshadowing the sufferings of Christ”. And they recall that ‘zeal’ - not incandescent rage - for the presence of God with man will consume Him.

The Temple was the meeting place of God and man, and its purpose had been corrupted.

At the start of Holy Week, reflect that you are now God’s Temple, His dwelling place (1Cor 6:19). Through his work on the cross, his father’s house is you.  He is zealous for his father’s house even today; He has a passionate desire to complete His work in you, to dwell in ever increasing intimacy with you. He will come against all that hinders this desire. This Holy Week, are you ready for the zealous God to come and cleanse your inner life?