As we enter into Easter!

 Dear friends!

As we now enter into Easter I want so send you some thoughts. Just a week ago I walked the streets where these events played out.

This last week of Jesus before the crucifixion contains the biggest drama in human history.  This week displays the deepest darkness and the brightest light, at times side by side, at times in full confrontation. Here we see the true condition of fallen man and his absolute need of salvation, he is fallen beyond repair, but also God’s unconditional love and mercy.

It starts with the entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, cheered by the people of Jerusalem He rides in on a donkey to the shouts, “Hosanna, Son of David”! The crowd’s messianic expectations were misguided, though. He didn’t come to reign, he came to die! For Him was not waiting a crown of gold, but a crown of thorns. Little did they know, although He knew, these shouts would soon be exchanged to the mob’s shouts “Crucify, crucify!”.

Today is Maundy Thursday, the night when Jesus establishes the New covenant at the Last supper. He trembles on the inside, but the disciples are still oblivious to what is about to happen. Judas hurries to sell his master for a few coins. A few hours later Jesus struggles alone in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Here is the pivotal point - the clash between man’s worst and God’s best. Hatred (Pharisees), betrayal (Judas), indifference (disciples sleeping while Jesus struggles), cowardice (disciples fleeing as Jesus is arrested) versus unselfish, unconditional and decisive love. Jesus decides to go all the way even if He now is totally alone and is to go through unimaginable suffering.

He knew what was waiting. A lonely night in a dungeon, interrogations, mockery and scorn, beatings and whippings and a gruelling last walk carrying His cross to Calvary and ultimately crucifixion. All this hatred and darkness directed toward one man, and still His response is forgiveness and mercy. Here He fully takes on humanity’s sin and iniquity, our incapacity to abstain from evil. We were hostage to our own sin and He becomes the ransom that frees us from the forces that kept us captive! “Behold, the Lamb of God that carries away the sin of the world”! The scores were to be settled, the price was to be paid and we were to be made free!

A Blessed Easter, my friend!

Christian