Preparation for Holy Week
It is impossible to miss the arrival of Christmas since society announces it with invitations to parties, commerce, and seasonal songs. The Christian observance of Easter tolerates no hullaballoo, no commerce. Secular culture tries to tame Christmas; Easter challenges secular culture. The secular figure for Christmas is Santa Claus – based on an ancient church leader who defended essential doctrines and gave to the poor. The secular figures for Easter are symbols of fertility, eggs, and rabbits. Because Christmas focuses on the Incarnation, it allows secular people to dwell on adorable babies. Because Easter focuses on the crucifixion and the miracle of the resurrection, we fix our attention on Jesus. The secular mind may be intrigued or repulsed, but the secular mind almost has to face the claims of Christianity.
We observe Christmas for a month; Easter concentrates us on eight days. The Gospels, by generous count, describe the Incarnation and adjacent events for barely 100 verses. The Gospels, by a modest count, describe Jesus’ death and resurrection for almost 1,000 verses. The longest chapters in the New Testament describe Jesus’ death (Matthew 26–27). The longest chapter in an epistle, 1 Corinthians 15, explores the Resurrection. These contrasts suggest how we can prepare for Easter. The key actions are: Read, pray, worship, and live.
We observe Christmas for a month; Easter concentrates us on eight days. The Gospels, by generous count, describe the Incarnation and adjacent events for barely 100 verses. The Gospels, by a modest count, describe Jesus’ death and resurrection for almost 1,000 verses. The longest chapters in the New Testament describe Jesus’ death (Matthew 26–27). The longest chapter in an epistle, 1 Corinthians 15, explores the Resurrection. These contrasts suggest how we can prepare for Easter. The key actions are: Read, pray, worship, and live.
Read:
Briarwood is a Bible–reading church, so let us all read an account of Jesus’ last week in one gospel: Matthew 21–28, Mark 11–16, Luke 21–24, or John 12–21.
Let Acts 2:22–24 guide you. It says Jewish and Roman leaders freely chose to kill Jesus, even as it was God’s plan for Jesus to die for sin and rise for our salvation. As you read, see how this is true.
• What ideas and motives caused men to arrest, try, condemn, and kill Jesus?
• Where do we see that the Father in heaven and the Son on earth controlled and guided events to accomplish our redemption?
• Reflect on the power of the Father in raising Jesus, on Jesus’ majesty, following His resurrection, and on the work of the Spirit in commissioning the Gospel.
Briarwood is a Bible–reading church, so let us all read an account of Jesus’ last week in one gospel: Matthew 21–28, Mark 11–16, Luke 21–24, or John 12–21.
Let Acts 2:22–24 guide you. It says Jewish and Roman leaders freely chose to kill Jesus, even as it was God’s plan for Jesus to die for sin and rise for our salvation. As you read, see how this is true.
• What ideas and motives caused men to arrest, try, condemn, and kill Jesus?
• Where do we see that the Father in heaven and the Son on earth controlled and guided events to accomplish our redemption?
• Reflect on the power of the Father in raising Jesus, on Jesus’ majesty, following His resurrection, and on the work of the Spirit in commissioning the Gospel.
Pray:
Pray that you will see treasures old and new as you read. Pray in a spirit of worship as you see the Father’s power, in love as you behold Jesus’ gifts, and in hope as you petition the Spirit to prepare you to look for the moment to tell your friends about the Gospel. Secular people are most open at Easter.
Pray that you will see treasures old and new as you read. Pray in a spirit of worship as you see the Father’s power, in love as you behold Jesus’ gifts, and in hope as you petition the Spirit to prepare you to look for the moment to tell your friends about the Gospel. Secular people are most open at Easter.
Worship:
We can worship privately as we read and pray. It is also good to worship corporately.
On Palm Sunday, the preparation for Easter begins as we see the path to the cross and what the cross signifies. On Maundy Thursday we celebrate communion and focus on the gospel. On Good Friday, we read the Gospel narratives of the crucifixion.
On Easter, we gather to celebrate the center of our faith: the death of sin in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the beginning of life eternal through our union with Him by faith. Sing of it, and that leads to the life that we share all year.
We can worship privately as we read and pray. It is also good to worship corporately.
On Palm Sunday, the preparation for Easter begins as we see the path to the cross and what the cross signifies. On Maundy Thursday we celebrate communion and focus on the gospel. On Good Friday, we read the Gospel narratives of the crucifixion.
On Easter, we gather to celebrate the center of our faith: the death of sin in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the beginning of life eternal through our union with Him by faith. Sing of it, and that leads to the life that we share all year.
–Dr. Dan Doriani, Interim Senior Pastor