Remembering Holy Week

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Do you remember where you were when . . .

·         Jet planes flew into the World Trade Towers, September 11, 2001?

·         The Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart on re-entry, January 28, 1986?

·         President John Kennedy was shot and killed, November 22, 1963?

·         Pearl Harbor was attacked, December 7, 1941?

Some events seem to change our lives so we remember them vividly. 

How do you remember the events of Holy Week, the last week of Jesus’ life?  We may not have been there personally, but the events in Jerusalem that Passover week about 2000 years ago have changed our lives and the world so much that they are actually the center of history.  It is not without reason that the Old Testament points forward to Jesus’ life, and the New Testament points back to Jesus.  Even the creators of our current calendar marked history as centering on Jesus’ life.  The time before Jesus’ life is referred to as B.C. (before Christ).  The time after Jesus’ birth is referred to as A.D. (anno domini – the year of our Lord).

The reason I ask these questions is that it has become my custom to think during the days of this week, “What was Jesus doing now?” 

·         On Monday Jesus taught in the temple. 

·         On Tuesday His teaching led to disputes with the religious leaders. 

·         Wednesday of Holy Week seems to be a day of silence for Jesus.  One friend has pointed out, perhaps Wednesday was a day of quiet and prayer in preparation for what is coming.

·         Thursday was the Passover meal in the upper room, instituting the Lord’s Supper, betrayal in Gethsemane and a trial before the Jewish Council.

·         Friday was the day Jesus was crucified and died.  He took on Himself the sin and punishment of the whole world to offer us forgiveness.

·         Saturday Jesus spent in the tomb.

·         Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead, overcoming the source of all our woes.  Jesus overcame sin and death and Satan.

There is one other very appropriate way to remember the events of Jesus’ life that changed and blessed our lives.  In 1 Corinthians 11 we are told that when Jesus first gave His disciples the Lord’s Supper, he not only said, “This is my body which is for you,” Jesus also said, “Do this in remembrance of me."  Intentional worship, including receiving the Lord’s Supper, is one of the best ways to remember the events of Jesus’ life during that week 2000 years ago that have changed our lives for the good forever and receive the blessings God intends.

What are your plans for this week?

A Child of God, Remembering the most important week in my life,

Pastor Jonathan

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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ -   I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have.  (I am always adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.)  However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message. . . Or, if you know someone who would like to receive one of these e-mails, please send me their e-mail address.

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