3 [Jesus] presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.”

– Acts 1:3 (ESV)

It’s here! This is it. It’s Passion Week.

Have you ever wondered why it’s called Passion Week? Well, the word passion comes from the Greek word Pascho which appears in Acts 1:3. Here, Luke records an interaction Jesus had with His disciples after His death, burial, and resurrection. As you read, Luke writes, “[Jesus] presented himself alive to them after his suffering [Pascho] by many proofs…” Here we can see the word means suffering. Thus, Passion Week, also known as Holy Week, is a time when we observe the events that led up to Jesus’ sacrificial work of redemption. From His triumphal entry to His glorious resurrection, and everything in between, this is Passion Week.

As followers of Jesus, this is a deeply significant time full of highs and lows as well as sorrow and praise. Ultimately as the week unfolds, Old Testament allusion and redemptive foreshadowing moves us to reflect and revere the work of Jesus Christ our King. My experience has been the greater our understanding of Christ’s work, the greater our appreciation and expression of praise.

And so, our goal beginning this Sunday is to immerse ourselves in these events asking the question, “What kind of King?” What kind of King endured Passion Week for us? This Sunday we’ll embark on the journey beginning with Palm Sunday where we’ll celebrate Jesus as Meek & Majestic in the Triumphal Entry. Then, through a daily devotional we will look at the events that transpired leading up to Good Friday where He’s proclaimed as Righteous yet Rejected. And then next Sunday, we’ll once again allow our hearts to explode in praise as we celebrate Jesus Christ as Risen & Reigning!

Church, I’m telling you, I can hardly wait! You are not going to want to miss a thing. Each devotional and every service has been prayerfully planned to lead us in fuller appreciation and worship of Jesus. You can get a head start and prepare yourself for this Sunday by reading our text, John 12:12-19 and listening to the worship set.

 

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor