Celebrating Holy Week
Nicodemus, in the gospel of John, was Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. The Pharisees were a group of Jews who were known for keeping the letter of the Law of Moses and often opposed Jesus throughout his ministry for not following the law. He sat with sinners. He performed miracles on the Sabbath. Jesus often denounced the Pharisees for being more concerned with the law then with the heart of the law. Too concerned with condemning people who stepped out of line and not about the people themselves. Nicodemus was a leader of the Jews, the Sanhedrin were the ruling body. They held courts and convicted people for not following every aspect of the law. So it was at night that Nicodemus snuck away to get a moment with Jesus in private. He starts by complimenting Jesus by calling him a, “Rabbi,” and acknowledging that he believes that Jesus couldn’t be performing all of the miracles he performed without help from God. Jesus ignores his compliment and immediately turns the conversation to talk to Nicodemus about the condition of his soul. Jesus begins to tell Nicodemus what he must do. He must be born again. Nicodemus doesn’t understand and questions going back into his mother’s womb. Jesus patiently explains that he must be born of water and the Spirit, becoming a new person. Nicodemus is trying to believe, trying to understand, and wonders how these things can be. Jesus continues to explain by using a story Nicodemus would have grown up hearing. He retells the story of Moses and the brass serpent. If people looked to the serpent, they would live. Just like the serpent in the wilderness was lifted up for the healing of those who would believe, Jesus tells Nicodemus, the Son of Man has to be lifted up on the cross so that whoever might believe in Him can look to Him and be healed as well. This conversation sets up one of the most famous verses in the Bible, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God send not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved ” -John 3:16-17. Nicodemus is converted that night and fights for the cause of Jesus by standing up for Him to other Pharisees. Later, he helps with the Savior’s burial.
If you have ever wondered if God loves you, then your answer will be found during Holy Week in a garden, on a hilltop nailed to a cross, and then reconfirmed as you travel with Mary Magdalene to the empty tomb of Jesus Christ on Resurrection Sunday.
You will discover that Jesus Christ was indeed who He said He was. He was sent by a Father who loved you. I imagine that as Nicodemus wept at the foot of the cross with other followers of Christ, he finally understood. Jesus was sent here for me. Jesus was sent here to show love.
Everything God does, is so that you can return to live with Him. But Jesus was right, you must be born again. You must change into a new person, shedding the old you for a new one, letting the Savior and his atonement heal you. That is what Easter means to me. Easter is rebirth.
Easter is God’s love on a cross.
Please join me this year in celebrating Holy Week. During Holy Week, we commemorate the last week of Jesus’ life, ending with Easter, also called Resurrection Sunday. The week includes five days of special significance, but in my home we read and think about each day leading up to the day the tomb was found empty. It’s a beautiful story, with a beautiful message. Here is what happened each day during Holy Week with scripture verses for everyday for you to read and think about:
You can download and print a PDF version of this here:
On Easter Sunday, we eat the foods that Jesus ate or mentions in the Bible for our lunch. Here is a list of what I serve:
Grilled Fish
Unleavened bread (I serve Naan bread)
Figs
Olives, Olive Oil
Honeycomb
Grapes, Grape juice
Pomegranates
Beans (hummus)
Vegetables (I typically serve asparagus drizzled with olive oil)
It’s such a nice way to end our Holy Week observation where we have immersed ourselves in the last week of the Savior’s life. I feel like every year, my appreciation of what He did for us increases, and my determination to follow Him grows. Let me know how your Holy Week goes. Chocolate shaped like bunnies and coloring eggs is so much fun, but just like Nicodemus, learning about what Easter REALLY means can be life changing.
