This time, I will write something unusual. Somehow, we have to come up with topics that goes with the seasons, holidays and even current events. Almost all of us will be taking a break from our regular routine this week anyway as part of the Christian tradition. If possible, I don’t want to touch on this subject matter but I have been doing some research on it as a matter of personal interest. So here is something that is appropriate for the Holy Days.
For Christians around the world, they have observed the Holy Week which started last Sunday and ends this Sunday which I prefer to call it Resurrection day rather than Easter Sunday because I don’t see a connection with “Easter” with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s supposed to be a one-week activity. But for some, they only start observing the Holy Week in Thursday and Friday because these are the only days that were officially declared as holidays. For others, they don’t observe these Holy days at all. They go on vacation to resorts or go on tour. For the commercially minded, it would still be business as usual, Holy Week or not.
The Holy Week is supposed to be a reminder to all that Jesus Christ died to save the whole world. Unfortunately, not all Christians have grasped and understood the enormity of His sufferings. He went through all those beatings, hardships and ultimately, death to suffer in our behalf. We are the ones who should go through all those agonizing episodes but He took our place.
Let us retrace what happened. They just had their last supper and went to the garden of Gethsemane for prayer. Even right there, He struggled to accept His fate. He knew He is going to be arrested and be punished with the penalty of death for some made up crime. He could have run away or used His power to slip through the arresting soldiers but He did not do that. He came here on earth to die. Only His blood can wipe the sins of man. His death means our salvation and redemption. Otherwise, we will be forever damned.
Imagine what He endured that time. He almost never slept for the entire night. He was arrested at around midnight. He was tried until the early morning of Saturday. When He was found guilty, He was going to receive the Jewish customary punishment of 39 lashes. The Romans, however, were not bound by Jewish customs and could inflict more than that. Worse, the Roman whip is actually a deadly weapon because of some metal attached to it that can cut through the flesh and take out bits of flesh and cause blood squirting all around. It was a brutal punishment for someone who is going to be crucified anyway. He endured all this just for you and me. Let us value what He did. Not only for the Holy Week but every day of our lives.
Then He was made to carry the very cross He is going to be crucified with. His body was already weakened by flogging and lack of sleep. I don’t know if he even had breakfast that morning. It was just too much. And all along, He was thinking of you and me. He endured the cross because of His love for us. Let us take this opportunity of a long weekend to reflect on that love.
Love is the message of Holy Week. Christians should be known by their love for others. So let us spread that love to our brethren for the rest of our lives.