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Holy Week 2021 Primer

 



Another holy week is upon is. Churches around the world that are permitted to be open will have visitors who only frequent at this time of year and Christmas, those whom my pastor affectionally called CEOs, Christmas Easter Only. For others it will be another locked down holiday time, where devotions will have to consist of favorite films like “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” and “The Robe.” During this hallowed time we shall reflect on the essentials of our faith, that Jesus Christ Our Lord came and died for our sins on the cross and on the third day (Easter) rose again. It is a time to reconnect and rediscover our First Love (Revelation 2:4-5). 


In many ways Easter is an anniversary of our marriage to Christ, as His Bride we seek to pull out the images of our wedding day and rekindle the spark. For some this is hard in the wake of church scandals, pandemic, and an uncertain future. The trials and doledrums of the day to day seem to lull us into a stupor. The only way to break it is to gaze, to look on artwork by Titian, films like Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, and other instruments to remind us of what a unconditional love God has for us. That He became mortal and bled for us, and that He is not s cold and distant god without flesh, but One who has skin, scars, and memories of suffering. God was not content to be in Heaven, He lowered himself, to be with us: “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he came in a human body, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11). We were like a whore, full of disease, despair, and damaged flesh, and Christ said “I do,” to us, He wed us, cleansed us with His own blood,  and defends us as the King of Kings. 


At this time, let us know Jesus, personally and intimately through remembering. Let us play our Wedding Video, in the form of Bible Verses, Movies, and Art. Lets make Easter a time to be eager for our Savior, to cure the numbness life and the devil may try to cloud us with. Amen. 




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