Yesterday we celebrated Palm Sunday as the start of the Holy Week. As I was listening to the message at my church, I reflected on the speaker, Chad Glazener’s, comment to not move too quickly through the different events of Holy Week. Often times, we want to rush into the celebration of Easter, that we don’t give the space to reflect on the events leading up to it, such as Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, his anguish in preparing for the cross, the reality of the suffering of Jesus on the cross, silent Saturday, and then the celebration of the resurrection on Sunday.
As I think about the different stages of Holy Week and how it reflects the mixed bag of joy and sorrow in life, yet hopeful at the end, it helps me be present to whatever circumstance I’m currently in – whether that be a joy or a pain, or maybe a mixture of both. It gives me the freedom to fully celebrate the good things that happen in life, yet also lament and grieve the losses and enter into the sadness. Sometimes, it’s hard for me to celebrate the good things, when my cynicism sets in and I start wondering when the crap will hit the fan and I’ll have to experience pain again. Or, sometimes I don’t want to enter in the reality of the sadness or suffering that I’m dealing with, because I tell myself that there’s so much good that’ll come out of it. And while that may be a true thing, it doesn’t negate the actual pain that I may feel. It’s a difficult thing to hold both, and to allow myself to just be fully present to the present.
Yet, Jesus was fully present to each event during Holy Week. He rode the colt like a king as the people shouted, “Hosanna!” as he entered Jerusalem, even though he knew that these same people would shout, “Crucify him!” a week later. However, in that moment, he rode triumphantly, and accepted the worship and praise of the people. He showed his servanthood by washing the disciples’ feet and broke bread with them at the Last Supper. He fully enjoyed the company of those who were closest to Him, even if he knew he would be betrayed, abandoned, and denied in a few hours. Jesus fully entered into the anguish of the pain as he prepared for the cross, as he asked God to take the cup away from him, but fully surrendered telling the Lord, “Not my will, but thine be done.” As Jesus was beaten and humiliated, stripped of clothing, and mocked, he fully endured the severe pain, shame, and suffering. On the cross, he felt the weight of humanity’s sin, bearing the suffering of the world, appeasing the wrath of God for our sake. He felt the weight of the darkness, and understands suffering like no one else.
Then, there was the great victory in His resurrection! Jesus conquered death, and the celebration of life is made greater when we understand the depth of the pain and how much had to be overcome to get there. We can truly celebrate in the life and freedom that Christ offers through His resurrection, and can fully enter into the goodness of the Lord. While I revel at the divinity of Christ, I also am amazed at looking at his humanity at the same time, in understanding both the joys and sorrows of life, and being a living example to us as we seek to follow Him.
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