Easter (year B)- John 20:1-8

Easter, the Feast of the Resurrection is the greatest Christian celebration,. Indeed, in some ways, we celebrate it every week. The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is the overwhelming expression of divine power and grace in all human history. Sermons, hymns, and liturgies are important and appropriate responses, and yet they only scratch the surface. So for me, the reading of a resurrection Gospel and basic prayers of thanksgiving make the point as well as the largest and most elaborate theatrical liturgies. 

We see the significance of Easter in today's Gospel from John 20. Reactions to the empty tomb include fear and amazement, but the most important reaction is belief or faith. The Resurrection of Jesus transforms the cross and the tomb of Christ. It gives new meaning to Jesus' whole life and to our lives. God's grace has overcome sin and death, and we are offered new life through Jesus Christ!

The Lord is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

Good Friday (year B)- John 19:16-19

"Then delivered he [Pilate] him [Jesus] therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was "Jesus Of Nazareth the King of The Jews. " (John 19:16-19 KJV)

I

Maundy Thursday- I Corinthians 10 & 11

Maundy Thursday has several associations in the New Testament as well as other associations in church history. For most Christians, the central point is the institution of the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion. The Epistle from I Corinthians 11: 23-26 highlights the basic acts and meaning of this event. By sharing in this Holy Sacrament, we show forth the Lord's death till He comes again, and we share in His body and His blood given to save us. We commune with Christ and with fellow believers. 

The Lord's Supper is the central act of Christian worship established by Christ, and it is more than a dead memory of a night long ago. It is a living participation in the Body and Blood of Christ (I Corinthians 10:16-17), and it is a foretaste of eternal life in His heavenly kingdom. We should be thoughtful and seek to appreciate the Sacrament with our best human understanding. Nevertheless, we should always be aware that these "holy mysteries" transcend particular human thoughts and theologies. Whatever our theories, it is the Lord Jesus who still comes to be with us and to offer us Himself and His grace. He does so when we follow His Word with the elements that He established. He is the Savior who gave Himself for us long ago, who comes to be with us and forgive us, and who will come again in glory  Thanks be to God!

Two Aspects of Palm Sunday (year B)- Mark 11:1-11; Mark 14:32―15:47

Often Palm Sunday is a beautiful observance. There may be palm branches ( or some local substitute). A Gospel about Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem may be read (this year from Mark 11:1-11), and there are probably some rousing hymns or songs of praise. Christians of all sorts like to praise Jesus, and even many "nice" unbelievers don't mind joining in if it is a pretty spring morning.

Yet, in truth, sometimes we don't stop to consider the deeper meanings of the commemoration. Jesus comes as a peaceful and humble King to claim His throne, and the crowd seems to acknowledge His kingship. They use Messianic titles and shout "Hosanna" which means "save now." However, there is another aspect of Palm Sunday. People had some contradictory views about what it meant to be saved and about what Christ was doing.  Many in the crowd were looking for political salvation from Roman oppression, and they hoped that Palm Sunday signaled the start of the great Jewish Revolt under the leadership of Jesus the Messiah.

Those people including some of the disciples, misunderstood. They had not grasped the spiritual and moral implications of the salvation that Jesus proclaimed. They did not see that His entry into Jerusalem was a moment for repentance and conversion, a time to choose a higher way. Palm Sunday was also Passion Sunday, and it was a time of humility, suffering, and sacrifice. It was not a time for a great military or political victory, but a time for victory over sin and death through the cross and resurrection. And because of their misunderstanding and impatience, many members of that crowd were likely among another crowd that would soon shout "crucify him" (Mark 15:13-14).

For us then, Palm Sunday is both an exhortation and a warning.  Even though we may have heard the message of Jesus many times, we still have incomplete understandings of His work. We tend to focus on great displays and worldly blessings just as the Jerusalem crowds did. And we prefer deliverance without the cross. So we need a renewed focus on the spiritual dimensions of Palm Sunday and Holy Week. We need to understand the spiritual character of salvation that Jesus offers. We need to be patient and see how Jesus chooses to bring our salvation. Jesus is the deliverer who comes in the name of His heavenly Father rather than in the name of worldly power.