April 05, 2020
Greetings and blessings to all of you. This has been a difficult week. We all had to learn to do things differently. At this time the Lockdown has been extended to the end of the month. But rather than focus on that let us focus on this week.. HOLY WEEK. Yeh!!!This week is a time to recall the events leading up to Jesus death and his humble entry into Jerusalem. The climate in the Middle East was in chaos. The Romans were oppressing the people of the land. The Pharisees were the political group oppressing the people with the LAWS that they interpreted as they saw fit believing they were following GOD. The people were anxious, sad and angry…feeling helpless. The climate was set. The people needed a Savior. They were in need of a Deliverer. They were in need of Hope. Enter Jesus. Jesus had come during our Christmas season to reveal the invisible God. Jesus brought God to us in human flesh. But there was a problem. The people wanted Jesus to become a victorious military leader. They wanted Jesus to take control over the Pharisees and the Roman rule. But Jesus came to win the victory over sin, Satan and death and all the enemies of righteousness and joy. “You know that He was revealed to take away our sins and in Him there is no sin.” (I John 3:5) The people wanted Jesus to establish His Kingdom now …but Jesus knew what He was to suppose to do as He sat on a donkey riding towards Jerusalem on Psalm Sunday. The people were screaming Hosanna Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The people knew just a little about the Redeemer because they knew the God of the OT. But they did not understand there had to be ‘the cross’. So, they continued screaming Blessed is the Kingdom of our Father David that is coming in the name of the Lord Hosanna is the highest! Palm branches symbolizes victory and they were laid before the feet of a conqueror. Well, the people did that for Jesus and they did it for David. Saints we are like those people. We are in a crisis in where we feel sad, angry, worried, hopeless. But there is a big difference. We know the end of the story. One day Jesus will return gloriously as a mighty warrior in battle. Rev. 19 (11-16) Rev. 7 (9-10). Amen! So let’s us reflect and celebrate Holy Week.
With the Love of Christ
First Lady Vivian C. Currie
Pastor ALC