Why Easter? What is this all
about? What is “Holy Week” anyway? What’s
the big deal? Is there more to this than plastic eggs
with little surprises in them and new clothes? Although
I’ve been a church-goer most of my life, the much
of the reasoning for this spring celebration with the
changeable date escaped me most of that time.
The week starts off with such
joy--
We’ve seen it—Jesus
entering the holy city with victory and adulation! What
excitement we feel in this triumph! We sing together with
joy over the hope set before us. Surely with this adulation
and victory, all enemies will be vanquished, and peace
and victory soon arrive. People praise the name of God
with great hope. Hearts beat with anticipation with the
expectation that God’s glory will soon be revealed.
Surely this is the time when
all oppression lifted forever.
And yet, there is a chill in
the air. There is a menace in the shouts of triumph and
victory. What is this undercurrent that casts a shadow
over the joy? God’s Beloved Son is about to be crowned
King, Lord, ruler over all. But . . . what do these voices
say? What are these irate shouts that silence the songs
of joy?
The words pour from outraged
throats—we hear them, first in whisper, then growing
louder and louder. The words “crucify Him, crucify
Him” penetrate the laughing crowd. The sounds of
angry whips and pounding nails beat as drums underneath
the songs of hope.
Surely something is wrong.
What is the will of God here? Isn’t it for victory?
Isn’t it to crush all enemies under God’s
feet? How do we stop the blackness coming our way? Why
doesn’t God stop this? The words, “Crucify
Him:” grow in power. More voices join in—even
some of the ones who had sung praises just a few days
before. Where is God? Doesn’t God see this happening
to the Son?
Things spin out of control.
How can we understand? Will this ever make sense?
Yes, this week is the time
when Christians all over the world seek to remember the
events of that first week as events unfolded and tragedy
and blackness overtook the world. “Crucify Him!”
they cried. And on the blackest of Fridays, all hope appears
to die. Yet even then so see the tiniest glimmer of hope
when these words flow forth, “Father, forgive them,
for they know not what they do.”
Yes, why Easter? Because God
loves too much to leave us in death. Why Easter? Because
God gives life. But at such a cost. Let us go into this
week of remembrance with grateful and expectant hearts.
The Resurrection is just around the corner. At Krum United
Methodist Church, we will have services
at 7:00 p.m. Monday-Friday evening, April 2-6, to encourage
that remembrance and prepare us for unimaginable joy.
All are welcome to join us.
