Passion Week

​Historically, Christians take time to solemnly observe the week proceeding Easter Sunday, calling it Holy or Passion Week. Indeed, these seven days were the most intense days of Jesus’ life and notably the most significant week in all of history. All four Gospels (Matthew 21; Mark 11; Luke 19; John 12) record the details of the dramatic events occurring during Christ’s final days on earth. In fact, the Passion Narratives of the four Gospels receive the greatest attention from the authors. The Gospel writers slow down during the last week of Jesus’ life, providing greater detail than earlier events of the Gospels. The slow down indicates the importance of what is happening.
Let’s not miss the importance of this week. If God, through the Gospel writers deemed it necessary to devote so much time to one week in the life of Christ, then we ought to give it our attention too.
In summary, Passion Week began with Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the “Hosannas” from the crowd that changed to cries of “Crucify Him” before the week was over as Ken Martin taught us this past Sunday. Reading the Gospel accounts, it looks like Jesus spent most of the week teaching in the temple area during the day. In the evenings, He spent time with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in Bethany. During Passion Week the Sanhedrin plotted to kill Jesus, Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, handing Him over for arrest, different leaders tried Jesus in their mock courtrooms, He journeyed to Golgotha where the soldiers ultimately crucified Him, and gloriously God raised Christ from the grave on the first Easter Sunday.
I want to encourage you to take a step back and reflect on the events of this week. If you have children, take time each day to read the events that happened on that day of the week. Ask and answer questions together as a family; passing on the amazing story to the next generation. Most importantly, see your place in the account. Christ died as an atonement for sins—your sins, and by satisfying the wrath of God, He makes it possible for you to have a relationship with the Father. Our part? “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Ro 10:9, NLT).
Plan to join us this Sunday as we celebrate the most important events in history: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Be sure to bring your family and friends as we reflect on the price God paid to save us from our sins, remember Christ’s great love poured out for us on the cross, and celebrate the victory we have in Jesus Christ!

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