A lot can happen in a week
We are in the middle of Holy Week. For hundreds of thousands of Christians around the world this is a very important time, looking at the life of Jesus.
A lot happened in Holy Week and it’s significant that all four of the Gospels in the Bible record what happened.
It began on what is known as ‘Palm Sunday’, the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem, some 2000 years ago, on a donkey as a large crowd proclaimed, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’
The scene must have been something like when a football team, who has won the FA cup, returns to their hometown in an open top double decker bus and greeted by their fans.
After Jesus’ victorious procession, things went downhill. On Maundy Thursday he shared ‘the Last Supper’ with his closest friends (the Disciples), before being captured, tortured, falsely accused, tried and condemned to death.
He was crucified on Good Friday, a brutal, painful public execution, and was buried in a borrowed tomb.
On the Saturday (Jewish Sabbath), nothing happened. His followers were heartbroken and hid from the Jewish leaders and Roman authorities afraid for their lives.
But then on the Sunday, some of the women who were close to Jesus went to the tomb, to anoint the body, as was the Jewish custom. When they arrived, they discovered that the large stone that had been used to cover the entrance to the tomb had been rolled away.
They went inside, and to their shock, they could not find Jesus’ body. Then two men in gleaming light appeared and said…
“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!”
Later those same women, along with the other Disciples, met the risen Jesus and were overjoyed! Their lives were changed, and so was the history of the world.
Ever since then, Jesus has continued to gain more and more followers. Today Christianity is the world’s largest religion, which is practiced by almost 2.4 billion people (about a third of the global population).
Today, the risen Jesus is still changing lives for the better. Jesus brings new life, full of hope, joy, peace, both for now and eternity.
Don’t just take my word for it, why not visit a local Church this Easter and find out for yourself. A warm welcome awaits you!
Happy Easter – Jesus is Alive!
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader