… And Then Came Easter!

 

“No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him—the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—that he should live on forever and not see decay…But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself.”*

Beginning on Palm Sunday, Al and I attended several services that helped us experience what Jesus and His disciples might have gone through the last week of His life on earth. That morning, we caught a glimpse of the mood in Jerusalem as Jesus entered the city riding on the colt of a donkey.

 In the pastor’s message, “Who is This?” from Matthew’s gospel (Mat. 21:1-11) we caught the excitement and anticipation of the people in the crowd that gathered to welcome Jesus as he rode into the city. Perhaps the Messiah had finally arrived. Would he bring in a new order, a new freedom from Roman rule?

Was Jesus the long-awaited Savior of Israel? Yes? No? Some considered Jesus a fraud and a false prophet; others felt him a threat to the established order. “Who was Jesus anyway?” people wondered.

 His disciples, followers and others, many of whom were children, lined the road waving palm fronds and crying out, “Hosanna,” which means, “Save!”  We too were given palm fronds on entering the sanctuary. Many of the hymns were accompanied by the waving of the fronds. As the pastor exited down the center aisle after the last anthem, he shouted, “Hosanna, Hosanna!” I was reminded of the need to accept Christ as Lord and Savior, no matter whether we are church members or not.

Thursday night we joined our daughter, her husband and two youngest children for a service that commemorated the Last Supper. Several long tables covered with white tablecloths were set up in the center aisle of the church, necessitating the congregation to enter by the side aisles. Three or four more tables were lined up across the front, in front of the altar, making a T with the other tables. All of the tables were adorned with candles and set with plates holding pieces of bread and cups of juice.

During the service, members of the clergy read the story of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples before sharing the Passover meal with them. Giving thanks, he broke the bread, offering it to the men and then did the same thing with a cup of wine. The bread, his body which would soon be pierced; the wine, his blood shed for them and for all mankind. (Matthew 26:26-28)

Interspersed between the passages of scripture were songs from the middle school choir of which our two grandsons were a part and from the adult choir, all situated in the balcony. It was very beautiful and moving, a solemn evening indeed.

The communion elements were taken from the tables and passed along each row, with the pastors sitting together at the head tables. At the end of the evening, we were instructed to leave quietly without speaking to one another, remembering the solemnity of that night long ago.

On Good Friday, Al and I attended a funeral service, one similar to those we have attended in the past, but also very different.  After people were seated, pallbearers came in bearing a casket and the service commenced with prayer, special music and scripture reading.

That is where the similarity to other funerals ended, because this time it was for Jesus!

 Knowing that the casket in front of the church was empty gave great comfort. However, the message was powerfully conveyed that Jesus really died, his body removed from the cross and laid in a tomb carved out of the side of a hill.  

After the pastor read the eulogy, four of the Lord’s “followers,” including Jesus’ “mother,” “Peter,” another woman named “Mary,” and the “mother” of James and John, shared their remembrances of him. They expressed anguish and shock, just as his disciples must have felt after losing their beloved Teacher so quickly and in such a cruel manner.

By the end of the funeral, I was ready to celebrate Easter on Sunday! In fact, I couldn’t wait!  For a brief moment during the last prayer, I caught a glimpse of heaven, of standing with multitudes of people, faces radiant, singing to Jesus with gratitude.

No more sorrow, only joy. Death defeated forever! Thank you, Lord Jesus!

* Psalm 49:7-8, 15 NIV

(Photo: Our Grandson, Elliot with his winning smile!)