We call this Holy Week. And what a week it was. From a triumphant entrance into the city, to a farewell dinner with dear friends, to the gruesome walk down the Via Della Rosa, to death and finally, to an empty tomb and a promise kept.
I have always been simply amazed by the turn of events in such a short week. One week. A lot can happen in one week.
For me, I think about the emotions of those around Jesus. On Sunday, they enter the city and are treated like royalty. They must have felt proud. Almost a rags to riches kind of story. A ragtag group of fisherman and tax-collectors, guys who were not exactly at the peak of the social scene, have finally “made it”. The man they have been following and learning from is now being treated like the king he said he was.
And then it simply all falls apart. Or at least it appears that way until the following Sunday.
I do not know that I can fathom the confusion, frustration and sadness they must have felt as they took the body of Jesus off the cross. From the heights of acceptance to now the lowest of defeats.
There is something about those emotions that we need to recognize. As Christians, sometimes when we look at the cross we fail to see the complete picture – simply because we know what happens 3 days after. We skip past the scene of betrayal, denial and death and go straight to resurrection and power.
It is only through the cross that we get there.
It is only through the cross that we find freedom.
It is only through the cross that we find salvation.
It is only through the cross that we understand love.
Love walked that dusty road with a cross on His back while people mocked and ridiculed Him. Love took the lashing on His back. Love felt the nails in the hands and feet. Love struggled to breath while hanging on the tree. Love felt all alone and abandoned as He took His last breath.
The craziest part of the whole story…He did it for you. If it was JUST you, He would do it again. That is what Love is.
When I think about the emotions that those around him must have gone through that week, I can certainly relate in my life – especially before I understood who Jesus really was. There were times when things were going great and I was just excited about life. But if I am going to be transparent, there were also those days where things looked dark. But once I understood the simple truth that the cross brings…life looked different.
Love has become a buzz word in our culture. Yet, I would contest, unless you look to the cross, you cannot define what Love actually is.
Love did it for you. Remember that this week as millions around the world celebrate the most powerful week in human history.
