Holy Week

   I'm getting ready for Holy Week. It is full of events that are so dramatic spiritually, it's hard to appreciate all the components. It reminds me of the opening episode of Friday Night Lights. Julie Taylor, the coach's daughter goes off to college and the family struggles with the departure. How did she get to be this old already....

   Holy Week has the arrival of Jesus to Jerusalem for Passover. He is welcomed with a parade. The King has come, but he rides on a donkey, so he can fulfill a prophecy about peaceful King not warrior King. But many don't get it. He cleanses the Temple because buyers and sellers have taken up a prayer and visitors welcome section, preventing others from witnessing the power of God at work. That starts his downward spiral with the Sanhedrin, they are now definitely out to get him, at any cost.

   Days later he is washing feet and telling his disciples about the true meaning of the new Passover. We will be saved from the slavery to sin, slavery to missing the target. We will get a whole new life, a chance to come back from the dead spiritually, emotionally, relationally, etc. They argued about who would be in charge after he is gone. The bread of escape from Egypt becomes the bread of escape from total separation from God for ever. The cup remembering the blood on the door sills of their houses in Egypt, a sign to be Passed-over, is now a cup of a covenant with God to passover our sins and set us free for all eternity. Wow!

   He goes to pray in the garden, one final chance to decide not to go through with this horrific death. But he chooses and models full cooperation with God's plans. A point we should not miss, but it get's swept away with all the other events of that weekend and we might miss it.

   He is ganged up on and arrested, Peter jumps in for the moment and slices off the ear of the servant of the high priest, Malchus. Jesus does what comes naturally for him, comforting the hurt, healing the sick, and puts the ear back on and heals him. We miss that in the commotion too.

   I'll share more later, but that should give us a chance to pause and reflect on the incredible love God has for us to work at fixing the gap between us and our Creator. Stop and think and give thanks for all those steps Jesus takes to heal and strengthen you for life's journey and pilgrimage

   Blessings on your Holy Week

Pastor Jeff  (PJ)