The story of the crucifixion is powerful. It starts as we leave church on Palm Sunday with the image in our minds of Jesus entering Jerusalem knowing he will not leave the city in the same form. It then continues through scripture passages assigned to each day of the week. The gospel passage for Monday is John 12:1-11 which opens with Mary anointing Jesus with costly perfume and ends as the chief priests are planning to kill Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. In Tuesday’s gospel (John 12:20-36), Jesus teaches the crowds about the nature of his coming death, saying “now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” On Wednesday (John 13:21-32), Judas is sent out by Jesus to “do quickly what you are going to do.” Thursday (John 13:1-17, 31b-35), Jesus performs an act of humility and love by washing his disciples feet. He commands them to do the same for each other. On Friday (John 18:1-19:42), Jesus is arrested in the garden, tried, and crucified. As he hangs from the cross, the soldiers divide his clothes. Finally, on Saturday (John 19:38-42), two of Jesus’ secret disciples, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus receive Jesus’ body from the Romans and prepare it for burial and place it in the tomb. The story ends in silence from Saturday sunset to Sunday sunrise.
Holy Week tells the story of Love crucified. It should leave us speechless and bereft, except for a small glimmer of hope for what is to come. It is easy to close our eyes to this part of the story—to shrug off this week and skip ahead to the celebration. But Easter makes no sense without Holy Week. When we turn away from Love crucified we cannot grasp the powerful promise of Love resurrected. I hope that you will find time to meditate on the story in its fullness this week, either by attending the Maundy Thursday service or the Good Friday prayers here (both at 7 pm), or just by reading through the gospel lessons in preparation for Easter Sunday. For those who remember the whole story, the shouts of “Hallelujah!” will emerge from the depths of their hearts.
Blessings,
Pastor Jen