What is a Holy Week?

A Holy Week

“…but, like the Holy One who called you,
become holy yourselves in all of your conduct…”
(1 Peter 1:15 NET)

Peter reminds Christians world-wide that we are to be holy in our dealings with people, just as Jesus was holy, just as God Himself instructed the Jews in the book of Deuteronomy on several occasions ( Deuteronomy 11:44-45; 19:2; and 20:7). As we ponder and meditate upon the activities of the upcoming Holy Week, we find our Savior going through, a myriad of emotions and activities.

Webster, in defining holy, speaks of the association with a divine power, living according to spiritual system, and set apart for a religious purpose.

I think we can pick through that definition and find what the Christian way of life ought to be like. We are to live by God’s standards (lived out by Jesus Himself) and set apart to represent God (as His ambassadors) for the purpose of making disciples of all nations.

So how many of us can say we live this out day by day? Thank God for His grace!

As Jesus entered Jerusalem upon the donkey (Matthew 21:14), as His HOLY WEEK began, the people shouted “Hosanna” (Hoshana: please save, save now!)

Thus was first used to call upon the Lord for help (Psalm 118:25) and had become a shout of welcome. It reflected the Jewish hope for deliverance from the oppressive Roman rule.

Jesus came as to deliver spiritually, not militarily however. As He was being praised and saluted, Jesus knew in His heart that in just a few days these same people would be shouting: “Crucify Him…Crucify Him!” How His heart must have been breaking: His heart for the people, their blindness and misguided thoughts, the pain He would soon endure, all in the midst of a jubilant entry celebration!

As he looked out over the city, Jesus wept:How many times have we wept over the things in our loves . . . our families . . . our cities . . .our world?

“Now when Jesus approached and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘If you had only known on this day, even you, the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and surround you and close in on you from every side. They will demolish you – you and your children within your walls –
and they will not leave within you one stone on top of another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.’”
(Luke 19:41-44 NET)

This was simply the beginning of Jesus’ HOLY WEEK! As we ponder our upcoming HOLY WEEK, let’s not forget it’s not easy week. Holy does not mean happy, peaceful, or comfortable.

It is living a life and making decisions that are sacrificial, unselfish, and many times unpopular! It is living a life that God has planned out for us, not pursuing our own self-interests. It is a life of expected ups and downs, expected ridicule and misunderstanding, and misguided motives.

However, blessings will come from a life that is disciplined according to God’s will! So beginning today, let’s make this a holy day. Let’s plan to make this week a HOLY WEEK. Allow the Holy Spirit to encourage us and motivate to extend that into living a holy life; a living sacrifice unto the Lord for His service.

Why...because God said to “be holy”, that’s why! That’s good enough for me!