To me, Easter has
always been a time of mixed feelings.
Unlike Christmas, with nothing but joy and expectation, Holy week also
contains angst, pain and betrayal. After
21 centuries of telling, I wonder if some of the danger and doubt has worn
smooth on Christians, because we know how the story ends. Would I have had the same faith in my Savior
if I had been with Him during that terrible time?
If one is looking for
bad guys, it’s easy to pick out the usual suspects like the Jewish leaders,
Pilate, the mob at the trial. Even His
own disciples’ behavior ranged from appalling (Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s 3
denials), to lost (Thomas asking the way in John 14:5) to petty (James and John
arguing over who will sit next to Jesus).
As I read the story of Holy week, it’s uncomfortably easy to find myself
in the crowd, at the trial, even at the table.
It’s just as easy to
find my way out of guilt, by making a Lenten promise, by paying extra attention
to the Bible or making/changing a habit for 40 days. These are excellent ways to deepen my faith
and living, but are they enough? Will
they prevent me from betraying my Master?
Will they keep me awake in the garden?
Only if they lead to true change of heart and action that doesn’t stop
on Easter morning. My prayer is that my
temporary focus on Jesus’ journey will be the basis of renewed deeper living
for Him.
Colossians 2: 6-7 (“…continue your lives in Him…”)
John 15:1-2 (“…cuts
off every branch that doesn’t bear fruit…”)
(“…prunes others that they may be even
more fruitful…”)
