Dearest e-votees-
My hope and prayer is that your Holy Week is full of worship, family, God and the glorious news of the empty tomb (and all the preceding events that make that news so glorious).
I have been pondering death quite a bit this year during Lent and Holy Week. It is, after all, the precursor to resurrection.
Peace,
Karl
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Ash Wednesday is how we start Lent with a focus on our broken lives, our sinful ways and our own mortality. We draw near to the garden realizing that the rebellion of Adam and Eve isn’t so far away but rather stares back at us whenever we look in a mirror. We are reminded of the curse of the garden: “You are dust and to dust you shall return.” In our own ways in this world we will end up nowhere but the grave.
Palm Sunday is when the people have hope that Jesus will put to death (literally or metaphorically) the oppressive Romans. They welcome Jesus in a makeshift conqueror’s parade. Jesus has come to be a king but one unlike those of the world. Ever since Saul God thought the idea of God’s people having a king was misguided. Now Jesus comes to put to death the expectation of a mighy military conquering king. The crowd has little tolerance for having their vision shifted and turns to cries of “Crucify, crucify!” all too quickly.
Maundy Thursday is when Jesus calls his disciples to love others by humbling themselves and washing feet. Pride and jockeying are to be drowned in the waters of the servant’s wash basin. Whoever wants to be great must be the servant of all. Jesus gives of his body and his blood to all present (betrayers, deniers, scatterers all). Jesus calls his followers to die to themselves and to take up the mantle of service as well.
Good Friday is when Jesus shows the full extent of his love by facing a grisly and unjust death for those who put him there. He prays for forgiveness and makes arrangements for his mother to stay with the disciple whom Jesus loved. He promises paradise to a condemned criminal. Jesus’ life is poured out for those who loved him and those who hated him. He enters fully into death that we might enter fully into life.
Easter is when the final deathblow is dealt – the death of death. With Jesus’ resurrection (not rescuscitation like Lazarus or Jairus’ daughter) death no longer has its grips on Jesus. And we are brought into that glorious good news as well. Jesus is alive. We too shall live. Alleluia! May your Easter celebration with worship, family, God and the glorious news of the empty tomb be blessed.
God, draw us through whatever deaths you must so that we may fully experience resurrection life. Amen and Alleluia!
My hope and prayer is that your Holy Week is full of worship, family, God and the glorious news of the empty tomb (and all the preceding events that make that news so glorious).
I have been pondering death quite a bit this year during Lent and Holy Week. It is, after all, the precursor to resurrection.
Peace,
Karl
------------
Ash Wednesday is how we start Lent with a focus on our broken lives, our sinful ways and our own mortality. We draw near to the garden realizing that the rebellion of Adam and Eve isn’t so far away but rather stares back at us whenever we look in a mirror. We are reminded of the curse of the garden: “You are dust and to dust you shall return.” In our own ways in this world we will end up nowhere but the grave.
Palm Sunday is when the people have hope that Jesus will put to death (literally or metaphorically) the oppressive Romans. They welcome Jesus in a makeshift conqueror’s parade. Jesus has come to be a king but one unlike those of the world. Ever since Saul God thought the idea of God’s people having a king was misguided. Now Jesus comes to put to death the expectation of a mighy military conquering king. The crowd has little tolerance for having their vision shifted and turns to cries of “Crucify, crucify!” all too quickly.
Maundy Thursday is when Jesus calls his disciples to love others by humbling themselves and washing feet. Pride and jockeying are to be drowned in the waters of the servant’s wash basin. Whoever wants to be great must be the servant of all. Jesus gives of his body and his blood to all present (betrayers, deniers, scatterers all). Jesus calls his followers to die to themselves and to take up the mantle of service as well.
Good Friday is when Jesus shows the full extent of his love by facing a grisly and unjust death for those who put him there. He prays for forgiveness and makes arrangements for his mother to stay with the disciple whom Jesus loved. He promises paradise to a condemned criminal. Jesus’ life is poured out for those who loved him and those who hated him. He enters fully into death that we might enter fully into life.
Easter is when the final deathblow is dealt – the death of death. With Jesus’ resurrection (not rescuscitation like Lazarus or Jairus’ daughter) death no longer has its grips on Jesus. And we are brought into that glorious good news as well. Jesus is alive. We too shall live. Alleluia! May your Easter celebration with worship, family, God and the glorious news of the empty tomb be blessed.
God, draw us through whatever deaths you must so that we may fully experience resurrection life. Amen and Alleluia!
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