Article by Dr. Les Hollon, Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church

Holy Week is holy because it was set apart by Christ to culminate His earthly ministry through dying on the cross and being resurrected from the grave.  Not since creation of the world has a period of time been so important.  In this week, salvation was made uniquely possible for each person.  Christ’s work to the cross, on the cross and from the cross required suffering at a level unknown to any other person.  Passio in Latin means suffer - so these days have been called Passion Week.  Christ’s passion invites us to be passionate.

Entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday meant there was no turning back.  He had been warned.  Established leaders were using their political & religious positions to scare Jesus away or kill him.  Jesus decided that forward was the only direction to go.  Knowing the decision would cost him His life, He went anyway.  Why?  Because His death would validate His life.  

Through His death, believers could know at-one-ment with God. This ultimate act of sacrifice by laying down His life meant that our sins were known, dealt with, and forgiven by God.

The day before His entrance, Jesus talked to a friend in crisis.  To Martha He explained that death, in God’s hands, becomes life - “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives & believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?”

Jesus’ promise ends with an invitation.  Either you do or do not believe (John 11:25-26).  To this question there is no middle ground.  To believe is to experience God.  To not believe is to miss out. The decision is ours to make, just as it was for those on the first Palm Sunday.  This promise becomes known by personally trusting in Christ.  This week, may we prepare ourselves to experience afresh the promise and power of Easter.

Pastor Les Hollon

“The Lord is my light, and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”
-Bible, Psalm 27: 1

This article was written by Les Hollon, Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church.  For more information about how God works in your life, or to contact Dr. Hollon, click over to Trinity Baptist Church.

If you liked this article, please share it on del.icio.us, StumbleUpon or Digg. Thanks!