There is a lot going on this week at most churches. There is Maundy Thursday when many churches put on a ‘Live Last Supper’ production. Then Good Friday commemorates the Passion, crucifixion and death of Jesus the Christ. All goes dark on Friday. On Sunday, all is bright in celebration of the resurrection of our Savior and Lord!
The historical week actually started with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem riding on a colt. Then the disciples joined Jesus for the last supper where Judas was identified as the betrayer. The scene then moves to the Garden of Gethsemane.
Now when He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that you do not come into temptation.” And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. – Luke 22:41-44. The second garden experience in Scripture, the first being Eden, provides quite a contrast – obedience vs. disobedience and self-less love vs. love of self. Oswald Chambers refers to Gethsemane as ‘His Agony and Our Fellowship’ – “It was not the death on the cross that Jesus feared in Gethsemane; He stated most emphatically that He came on purpose to die. In Gethsemane He feared lest He might not get through as Son of Man. He would get through as Son of God – Satan could not touch Him there; but Satan’s onslaught was that He would get through as an isolated Figure only; and that would mean that He could be no Saviour. Read the record of the agony in the light of the temptation: Then the devil ‘departed from Him for a season.’(Matt.4:1-11). In Gethsemane Satan came back and was again overthrown. Satan’s final onslaught against our Lord as Son of Man is in Gethsemane. The agony in Gethsemane is the agony of the Son of God in fulfilling His destiny as the Saviour of the world.” Jesus’ burden of taking on the sin of man, being in agony, His body was under such stress that His sweat became like drops of blood. Paul says it is with fear and trembling that we are to work out our own salvation. One must have respect for Satan’s schemes to tempt. He cannot take our salvation but he can wreak havoc on our witness. As we celebrate Jesus’ standing firm against Satan for the sake of mankind, the charge to dads today is to stand firm against temptation for the sake of the next generation.
Tips to Experience Holy Week:
- Lead the way to a Maundy Thursday service;
- Attend a Good Friday service;
- Read the account in the Garden of Gethsemane, Luke 22:39-53, as a family;
- Attend an Easter morning service; and,
- Discuss the historical facts of Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection.
Prayer guide: Father, thank You for Your word and Your plan for our salvation. I confess I viewed salvation as a ‘get out of hell free’ card into my adult years. There is nothing free about it! A tremendous price was paid through Jesus’ suffering and death on my behalf. Forgive me. Help me experience Holy Week to a new level and lead my family in a better understanding the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the last supper, Gethsemane, crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. That is the dad You call me to be and that’s the dad my kids need to see. Amen.
A faithful father helps his family experience Holy Week to the full.
