A Week That Changed the World

"A Week That Changed the World" is how Dr. Paul Maier, in his video series by that same name, described the remarkable week we know as Holy Week.  Mankind was forever changed with the events that occurred in and around Jerusalem that week so many centuries ago.  What had been foretold by sages and prophets in the centuries before now found completion through the life of Jesus. 


In many ways we forget the many ironies of that week.  For example: The cries of the throng on that Sunday of "Hosanna!" were answered with the cries of perhaps that same throng on Friday of "Crucify Him!"  On that first Palm Sunday, the people cried out "save us!" as Jesus rode down that winding pathway.  They were full of expectations that this amazing man from Galilee who could feed multitudes with a few crackers and some fish and who could heal the sick and drive out demons and even bring people back to life would begin a revolution of liberation from Rome and bring in a new kingdom era for them.  "Save us from Rome" was what they implied. 


And yet, as the week proceeded, the people could see that the revolution was not going to happen.  And so, in their disappointment, they turned against the very one whom they had asked for salvation and demanded that he be crucified.  Here is the irony: It was through the crucifixion of Jesus that a greater salvation would be provided for the people; a salvation that would be greater than one from Rome.  This would be a salvation from the chains of sin that had kept them in spiritual bondage. 


And so the Savior died.  It was a death that was filled with all of the grossest indignities that any human could heap upon another human.  One reads the Gospel accounts so matter-of-factly.  It is almost as if the writers themselves could not bear to fully describe that awful scene at the cross.  Perhaps it was intentional on their part forcing us to use our minds to recreate that horrible scene.  There were the cruel accusations from the religious leaders - words filled with the poison of hate, words meant to pierce the heart and mind of Jesus.  There were the demanding shouts from the Roman soldiers as they kept the crowd at bay, a crowd that was ever encroaching upon the cross.  Their eyes were glazed over to what was happening.  They had crucified so many; this was the only way they could keep a measure of psychological sanity within themselves.  There were the shrieks of pain as a threshold was neared that stretched the limitations of physical endurance.  And there were the sobs of loved ones gathered around the cross in vigil until that last breath was taken.  And death did come for Jesus as he commended his soul into the hands of the Father. 


But, if that is where the story ended...well, we would be in pretty sad shape.  A lot of good men and women have died as a martyr for a cause.  They set an example, but their deaths certainly did not change the world!  What makes this story so unique is that death did not end it!  In fact, death was merely a prelude to something even greater - a resurrection!  Three days later the tomb was empty.  Jesus was gone.  The absence of a body invoked a myriad of questions: who had taken the body? where had he been taken? why would the body be stolen away?  Finally, two angels provided an answer: Jesus has been raised from the dead; he is alive!  Easter had arrived!


This "week that changed the world" has also divided the world.  Just this past Sunday, two Coptic Christian churches in Egypt became the scenes of suicide bombings resulting in the deaths of over 40 believers.  The hatred shown at the cross continues today.  Just as Satan tried to destroy Jesus at the cross, so men and their philosophies are seeking to destroy Jesus today through attacking the Church and the followers of Jesus.  Yet the Church moves forward because its anchor is in the risen, living Jesus Christ.  Satan was defeated at the cross and the resurrection of Jesus was the exclamation point of that defeat. 


Friends, take time these next few days to reread at least one of the Gospel accounts of that first Holy Week.  Take time to meditate upon what Christ's death and resurrection mean to you personally.  And, then join with hundreds of thousands of believers around the world on Sunday to proclaim with triumph "He is risen; He is risen indeed!"