Holy Week

Then [Pilate] handed [Jesus] over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. – John 19:16-18

When I was young, the story of Jesus’ betrayal and death ripped me apart every year. It didn’t matter how much an adult might remind me that we know how the story ends. I couldn’t handle what it took to get there. Sitting and listening to the entire story of what Jesus suffered, and knowing that he did it out of love for me, was almost more than I could bear.

Knowing that I would likely sob openly in church, my parents had to second-guess whether they should bring me to services where I’d hear pieces of this story. Whether Palm Sunday as hosanna turns to crucify him, Maundy Thursday as his disciples betray and abandon him, or Good Friday as he suffers and dies, the story communicates pain and loss. How could my parents make me go through that every year?

They never questioned it, at least not in front of me. I went every time. I cried every time. I still do. And I still wouldn’t miss any piece of the story no matter how many tears it might spare. I need to hear it all. I need to be reminded of what Jesus has done for me. I need to face the human tendency to fear and self-preservation over justice and mercy. I need to know that Easter Sunday does not come without all the days before it, no matter how much it hurts.

The world has so much pain in it. On Holy Week, it might feel like you don’t need to hear more difficult stories. Trust me: I understand. I also hope you won’t look away. Not just from the pain of the world, but from the challenge of this week and its place in our faith. When we only look at the happy, cheerful, easy things, we feel unmoored when we can’t avoid the painful, difficult, challenging things. It’s true for world events and its true for faith. God works powerfully in both good and difficult, happy and sad, simple and complex. If we intentionally skip pieces of the story, we miss out on the full story of what God is up to.

I hope you’ll join us for worship this week. Remember that you can see the schedule at easter.org/worship. Whether you join us in person or online, this is your story of faith and life. Don’t miss it.

Let us pray:

God, I confess that sometimes the story of Holy Week weighs so heavily on me that I don’t even want to hear it. Call me to be present anyway. Let the story of your Son’s last days speak powerfully to my heart. As I show up to worship, show me how you continue to show up throughout my life to bring healing, hope, and love. Amen.