Passion Week

This is surely the most important week to remember, celebrate and prioritize for a christian? 2000+ years ago a man named Jesus told his followers he would die, and 3 days later he would rise from the dead. If anyone told you that today, you would laugh it off. But this man was not only a man, He was fully God as well. He Himself said, “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.” (John 10:18). And 3 days after His death, He did exactly what He said He would. He raised Himself from the dead.

These events unfolded and catapulted a movement unlike the world has ever seen before. Many died horrible deaths for their testimony and belief in these events. And rightly so, for as Paul writes, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:17-19). Christians today live their lives filled with the hope built on the fact that Jesus in fact is not dead, He is risen.

So you would think that professing christians, who claim the bible as the word of God and authority for their life would prioritise passion week or at least Friday and Sunday to remember what Jesus did for them. A horrible death, for our sins. Then celebrate on Sunday with gratefulness that we get to receive the free gift of salvation because of the pain and anguish Jesus suffered on the cross. Sadly many professing christians don’t. They prioritise social events, lunches, brunches, easter long weekend partying instead. Why? Because they have said a prayer some time ago, once saved, always saved. “Jesus knows my heart.” they will say. “The heart is more deceitful than all else. And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” says Jeremiah 17:9. Prioritise fellowship with the saints instead. Be in the house of God on Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday to remember and worship the One who died and rose for you.

Rather than those priorities they are selfish and self seeking. There is no reverence and awe for the one true God of the universe. The Alpha and Omega. These “professing christians” live their lives only to entertain and serve their flesh, they are hypocrites. They treat God as a tick box on the odd Sunday morning. They do not live lives that have evidence of true saving faith, fruit that shows daily striving to win the crown that is everlasting. Jesus Himself warned, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21-23).

This long weekend, if you have not already, turn to Christ in repentance and surrender your life to Him for the forgiveness of your sins that put Him on the cross. “Repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19). I pray God will call you near.