“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
This is Holy Week in the life of a Christian. It commemorates the seven days leading up to Easter. It begins with Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Luke 19:28-44), followed by Jesus’s betrayal by Peter (Luke 22:1-6), and the gathering of Jesus and the disciples for Passover, known as the Last Supper on Thursday (Luke 22:7-20). On Friday, instead of the cries of Hosanna sung on Sunday, shouts of “Crucify Him” echoed. Our Lord and Savior was crucified, died, and was buried (Luke 23:26-55). And then Sunday came, marking the most important day on the Christian calendar and the culmination of Holy Week. He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose. Luke provides a detailed account of Holy Week. Please don’t misunderstand me; the details are essential, but more importantly, they point unmistakably to the complete sovereignty of God and His plan for the redemption of His people. Sometimes, Christians become so engrossed in debating scriptural nuances that they miss the big picture.
Maybe I am mistaken in saying that Easter Sunday is the most important day on the Christian calendar, as many argue that Jesus’s birth holds that honor. While His birth is significant, His death and resurrection are foundational events for Christian salvation. His death was the ultimate act of unconditional love and redemption, making a way for us not to perish but to be reconciled to God and live with Him forever. From the beginning to the end of time, God is all about redemption. That’s the big picture. At this time of year, I reflect on the idea of the world becoming as excited and participatory during Holy Week as it is in the weeks leading up to Christmas. How different would this week look, not only in our lives and communities but also in the world? I don’t mean the decorations, busyness, and commercialization of Jesus’s birth. I’m talking about the anticipation, awe, and wonder experienced at Christmas, translating to the hope and assurance of living with Jesus in Heaven forever. Because that is what Easter is all about. Yes, He arose! It was glorious, celebratory, and unbelievable to some. But even more magnificent, humbling, and incredible is that He would choose to die for us and our sins so that we could be redeemed from the penalty of our sins.
In the book of John, Holy Week is recorded without all the details that Luke provides, because John aims to illuminate who Jesus was and what He came to do. Even if you know all the details of Holy Week through ceremonial services, childhood Bible stories, and egg hunts, if you do not know Jesus as your personal Savior, the purpose of Easter is lost, this is comparable to the millions of people who put up Christmas trees and exchange gifts but do not know the One whose birthday they are celebrating. It is not about knowing “of” but knowing “who” Jesus is. That is the reason for the seasons!
Like millions of others, I’ve walked the paths of the Garden, peered inside the empty tomb, and gazed upon the place of His death. Being in the Garden brought tears of sadness and joy. My mind envisioned the morning as the sun rose and Jesus wore His new body for the first time. In that hazy light of dawn, He was mistaken for the gardener by a woman who watched Him die (John 20:10-18). All Jesus had to do was utter her name, and she recognized Him because she knew Jesus. She knew Him, and He knew her. I pray that the One who calls us by name and redeems us from our sins is recognizable this week because we know Him. That is the essence of Easter, and that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.
The picture was taken in the Garden of Gethsemane in March 2022. It reminds me of the old hymn “In the Garden.” “He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own, and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.” Oh, the joy of knowing Him!