On our daily walks this last week, I found myself reminiscing about the various observances of Holy Week that I participated in during my childhood years. Looking back today, I can see that my understanding and focus of this special week, that leads up to Easter, has changed from my Catholic upbringing to my adult life as an evangelical, Pentecostal Protestant.
One Catholic
tradition that stood out in my memory was The Stations of the Cross
devotion that commemorates what we Protestants refer to as The Passion of
Christ. It is the period of time
that highlights the events surrounding the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus
Christ, from The Last Supper to His death on the cross and burial.
What I remember
most as a kid attending Parochial school is that it was a solemn, dramatic (depending
on the priest leading the procession around the 14 Stations), sad and
to be honest… a little boring event that we attended during school
hours throughout the week, as well when our parents went back at night to meet
their personal obligation.
As I recounted
my experiences with this tradition on our walks this week, I suddenly stopped
and turned to the dog who was indignantly looking at me and wondering why I halted
his sniffing adventures, and declared, “Boy, I wish I knew back then what
I know today!”
One of the main
aspects that I realized as I came into the life-changing experience of having a
personal relationship with Jesus during my high school and college years, was
that while the remembrances of the events leading up to Resurrection Sunday are
very important… as a Christian, I don’t want to stay there! For my wellbeing and maturity in Christ that
undergirds everything I do in my life today… all happens on the other
side of the cross!
Everything that
Jesus did for us through His suffering, death on the cross, burial,
resurrection and assumption to the right hand of God, He accomplished so that
we can legally have our sins forgiven… once and for all… and
then… receive and walk in all the promises that are outlined for us (as
we bring the gospel message to the nations) throughout the Pauline
revelation as written in the epistles from the book of Romans through
Revelation!
And speaking
about the promises of God, 1 Corinthians 1:20 informs us that’
“For all the promises of
God, whatever their number, have their confirmation in Him; and for this reason
through Him also our "Amen" acknowledges their truth and promotes the
glory of God through our faith.” (Weymouth)
So YES!
When I think about all that Jesus suffered for YOU and ME
during Holy Week, I am almost speechless on Easter morning at the sight of the empty
tomb and the vacant cross… and I can’t help but to praise
and worship Jesus for His unconditional LOVE for YOU
and ME and… look forward with JOYFUL
expectation to what now lies on THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
CROSS!
Everything that
Jesus provided for us at the cross of Calvery is NOW AVAILABLE
for us and makes me want to shout aloud,
“Now thanks be unto
God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the
savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14 – KJV)
ISN’T GOD GOOD!
Have a blessed
celebration of Easter tomorrow and keep moving forward with all that HE
has for you… on THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CROSS!
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