Devotional 4-6-20

Is this Holy Week different?

Read Psalm 36:5-11, Isaiah 42:1-9, Hebrews 9:11-15

My answer, to the title of this devotional, is yes and no.  As Holy Week began on Palm Sunday, we would have been celebrating Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem together at Johnson Memorial, or in other congregations, with our church Family, as a body of Christ.  But we could not.  We did celebrate together, as a Body of Christ in spirit, as we received the message, virtually from our Pastor.  We still had wonderful music from members of the Music Ministry and we heard the word of God. Thanks be to God!

God would still show us his love as in Psalm 36:7, "Your faithful love is priceless, God! Humanity finds refuge in the shadow of your wings."

What about the rest of Holy Week?  Well, things are different!  Many of us will be staying in our homes.  Some that are very needed, in their calling, will be working to care for others.  We will not be able to visit or be together in person with family, but we can still keep in touch from a distant.  Just like past years we can still be contemplating what we know of the days leading to Easter Sunday.  As written by the Prophet Isaiah 42:1,4,  ”Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.”  42:4 “He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.”

As the week continues, we will celebrate Maundy Thursday, although differently, but it has the same meaning that Christ give his body and blood for our salvation.  We will cry on Good Friday as we remember Christ’s Crucifixion on the cross for us.  We will pray and contemplate all of this on Saturday leading to a Glorious Easter Sunday and the RESURRECTION of our Savior Christ the Jesus as he conquers death and leads us all to eternal LIFE.

In the message of Resurrection that there is life eternal.  There will also be life again in the world as we conquer what is happening today.  All of this through the Love of God and the Blood of our Savoir Jesus Christ.  Yes, this Holy Week will be different but the same. Halleluiah, Amen!!

Fred Herr