Passion Week Reflection from Pastor Rhea

Passion Week, from Palm Sunday to Maundy Thursday to Good Friday to Easter

Sunday is a strange time to be a follower of Jesus. We can forget that sometimes, because we’re just used to it. But it’s a time of contrasts, even more than usual. In the brightness of early spring, we’re told to stare straight into the darkness of Jesus’ horrible death. With an eye toward resurrection, we’re asked to grieve our God’s death. We get reminded, in detail, of the experience of a man brutally tortured to death, and then we hide bright eggs for our children to find.

I say it’s a strange time to follow Jesus, but I also believe every Christian should be on a quest to embrace that very tension. Let us not so focus on the darkness and suffering that we can’t find the bright joy and hopefulness beneath it. But let us not pretend the darkness and pain can forever be ignored or downplayed either.

We are Jesus people. Let that never change. Let him be the one who teaches us rightness and righteousness. Let him be the one we trust, even as we lack understanding. Let him be the one we listen to over all the voices in the world. Jesus is not a code of ethics, nor a list of commandments. Jesus is a person, worthy of trust. In darkness and light, let us trust him.

See you tonight (Good Friday!) and see you Sunday!

Rhea