Holy Week is a Happy Week

When I was growing up, Holy Week was a most solemn and sad occasion. The focus seemed to me to be more on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

I can understand this to be the case for those living in the time of the early Roman Empire when Jesus was crucified. In that time, around the 1st century AD, between 30-33 AD, 

the end of the Second Temple period in Jewish history.

Why? Because they did not know how the story would end. 

So indeed, for those followers of Jesus Christ, they couldn’t understand why a man who went around doing only good, was being slaughtered. I can imagine how much they felt His pain.

The Bible tells us in Matthew 26:36-39 NLT version: ”Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”“

Mark 16:10 said Jesus’ followers  mourned and wept.

They were devastated and confused. In John 20:19 we read that they met behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders.

Now don’t get me wrong, it is important for us to understand what Jesus went through and the significance of it. He was in agony and He felt abandoned.

Matthew 27:46 tells us - ”At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”“

And here’s an example for us. Jesus came out of the pity party and prayed even more. He did not give up hope and trust in His Father. Luke 22:44 says He was in such agony of spirit that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood, but He prayed more fervently.

We are now into Holy Week, also known as Passion Week, which commemorates the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. 

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, marking Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. 

This week, Christians around the world would engage in various religious observances, including special church services, prayers, fasting, and reflections on the events of Jesus’ final days on Earth. The events in the Bible included significant events such as the Last Supper, Jesus’ betrayal and arrest, his trial and crucifixion.

What a sad time this must have been back then. Holy Week was not a happy week.

In John 16:19-22 ”Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.“

Thanks be to God, Holy Week is not a sad time anymore. Holy Week can be a happy week for us who know how the story ended. And we can boldly embrace the sorrow of the crucifixion with joy. Hallelujah.

Amidst the somber reflections, Family, we are called on to remember the profound joy that comes as a result of this sacred time. So, for us as Christians today, Holy Week is not merely a time for sorrow. It is a time of immense hope, love, and ultimate victory.

We are called on to remember during this week that there’s a glimmer of hope, a promise of joy waiting to burst forth. We are called on to remember the ultimate triumph of Easter morning. We now know that our Savior's sacrifice was not in vain.

During this Holy Week, I want to encourage us to focus on the meaning of the sacrifice. So even though we may be sad when we think about the cruel cross of Calvary on Golgotha’s Hill, we can have joy because of that same cross, because that’s where Jesus expressed His immeasurable love for you and for me, by enduring the suffering. 

During this Holy Week, let us use the time to do some soul searching. What does it mean for me? What does it mean for you? Let’s get personal with it.

Let us reflect on where God has brought us from. Consider how many times we sinned and God forgave us, because of His grace and mercy.

During this Holy Week, Family, we don’t have to be sad. We can be happy. We can be glad. In fact, we must rejoice. We know the end of that story and our story can have a happy ending too.

The Roman authorities, at the urging of some Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, killed Jesus. Matthew 27:22-26, John 19:15 and Luke 23:13-23. 

But thanks be to God that He always wins. God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day.

Acts of the Apostles 2:23-24 ”But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.“

Glory hallelujah thank You Jesus. See why Holy Week must not be a sad time? See why we should be happy?

We know the end of the story. 

Jesus, who is part of the Triune God, fully divine. was sent into the world fully human, to be an example for us. He was perfect, showed us how to live, and even though some didn’t honour Him, He still went ahead and died so that all of us might live, should we accept Him as our Lord and Saviour. 

How should that make us live? Of course, we should want to walk holy because we have been given the promise of restoration, the promise of new life, and the promise of eternal joy. 

I love this hymn by 19th century American Baptist Minister Robert Lowry, and you can recite it with me:

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes;

He arose a victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever with His saints to reign;

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Vainly they watch His bed,

Jesus, my Savior;

Vainly they seal the dead,

Jesus, my Lord!

Death cannot keep its prey,

Jesus, my Savior;

He tore the bars away,

Jesus, my Lord!

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes;

He arose a victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever with His saints to reign;

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Family, the empty tomb is a testament to the victory over sin and death, and is a cause for celebration and rejoicing. There are those among us who saw the empty tomb and I can imagine how that positively impacted your spiritual life.

So, as we observe Holy Week, may we not dwell solely on the sadness of the crucifixion, but let us also embrace the joy of redemption, the hope of resurrection, and the promise of eternal life in Christ. 

Let our hearts be filled with gratitude and praise as we reflect on the wondrous love of our Jesus. Were it not for Holy Week, we wouldn’t have had the resurrection. And aren’t we glad Jesus lives!

So let’s be happy death could not hold Him down. Let Holy Week be a Happy Week.