This is the week of Passover: Holy Week. The Jews have been celebrating Passover ever since they left Egypt so many years ago and made their way to the Promised Land. The idea of Passover was for them to remember where it was they once came from and to celebrate the founding of their new nation, Israel, where they were now: no longer in bondage.

The lack of bondage didn’t seem to last long among the Jews, though. They slowly broke away from the “heart of David” and separated into two groups. The northern kingdom, led by David’s grandson Jeroboam,  became addicted to idol worship, was very self-sufficient, and was never the same after this point of turning away from the one true God. Then, you had the southern kingdom led by David’s other grandson, Rehoboam. There were also evil kings who led the people away from God by idol worship, but you had good kings throughout who tried to turn the people around.

Years past before both the northern and southern kingdoms fell, the people were oppressed, sold into slavery, and a small remnant came back to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. These were the people who continued to believe that God would keep His promises to them to have their own nation. Jesus was born among these believers and He made His way to Jerusalem to observe the Passover.

It was during this week of Passover that Jesus died on the cross. Darkness fell upon the land from noon until 3 pm. And, early Sunday morning, Jesus rose from the dead! But, what if we didn’t know the end of the story? How would we feel only knowing Jesus had died and we had yet to witness His returning?

Each year I’ve struggled somewhat with the idea of a Good Friday service. Why would I focus upon the bleak, ugly reality that Jesus died on the cross when I know the outstanding fact that He rose from the dead and He lives? I know the sacrifice was necessary, but do I have to focus on that just like I do the empty grave?

I’ve been trying to imagine what it would have been like to be there with Jesus during that last week of Passover. I wonder if I would have failed as badly as His disciples did when they fell asleep instead of staying awake praying with Jesus. Would I have been prayed up enough to not deny Jesus? I know I would have been scared that I would die, too, if they realized I was His follower. What guilt I would have felt seeing Him hanging on the cross and my doubting if He was truly Lord or not. Then, what a crushing blow while I hid and the realization that Jesus was in a tomb came to my mind. All the last three years of ministry was for nothing? Did I believe in a false prophet? Jesus seemed so different and yet He’s dead like all the others before Him.  Sadness. Disappointment. Guilt. Anger. Confusion. In the dark…

In the dark…isn’t that how we all are without Jesus; Holy week or not? I’ve known about Jesus all my life and yet there are many times I try to handle life on my own. I think I’m good, so I fall asleep (or binge watch TV) instead of praying. Then, the test comes the next day and I put myself first and end up denying that God is Lord of my life. Life gets busy so I put off devotions with God and when hard times come there is such a separation from Jesus that I feel. Yet, I’m the one dying and in the dark and in a tomb I’ve created on my own.

We all need Jesus. No matter how long we’ve known about Jesus, we all need Jesus in our daily lives. If you don’t know Jesus personally, I beg you to get to know Him. Ask Him to come into your life, ask Him to forgive your sins (the wrong things you’ve done, the times you put yourself first…thinking you can be self-sufficient), and ask Him to give you a love for Him.

Tomorrow is Easter. Tomorrow is when Jesus walked out of His grave. It’s time we all walk out of our personal graves and walk with Jesus. Is today your Easter? Come out of the dark and into God’s light!

Need a place to go to church tomorrow? I’d love to see you at Trevecca Community Church if you’re in the Nashville, TN area. We’ll have a sunrise service at 7:30 am, breakfast at 8 am, and our main service will be at 9 am. Not in the Nashville area? Go to church! Be with others who dare to walk with the risen Savior! Let’s all be the living “Bibles” walking on this earth so others may know Jesus.

© 2017 Susan M. Sims

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