Holy Week

Dear Foothills Family,

Holy Week stands at the center of the Christian faith. Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, and all the events of the week leading up to the Crucifixion, and ultimately Christ's glorious Resurrection, focus us on the central realities of our faith.

This week we will join in the people's celebration as they waved palm branches to welcome Jesus – riding on the back of a donkey – into Jerusalem! We will sing with them, "Hosanna!" And we will, along with them, identify the Messiah: "Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the LORD!"

Of all the events of Holy Week, the Triumphal Entry can be most overlooked and least understood. Consider with me these words written by Danish theologian & philosopher Soren Kierkegaard: "The truth must essentially be regarded as in conflict with this world; the world has never been so good, and will never become so good that the majority will ever desire the truth."

On that day, Truth rode into Jerusalem on a donkey's back. Although the crowds cheered the Truth, beneath the surface a conflict was raging. The majority did not want the Truth that day, nor have they wanted the Truth on any day since.

The story of the Triumphal Entry is repeated in detail by all four gospel writers. Matthew tells us that by riding a donkey into Jerusalem Jesus was fulfilling an ancient prophecy from Zechariah 9:9. Those words, written 575 years years earlier, predicted that when Messiah came to Israel, he would come riding on a donkey. "Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey."

These words tell us two specific facts about the Messiah:

1. He will come as a gentle king riding on a donkey.

2. He will come as a righteous king bringing salvation to his people.

He didn't look much like a king that day. But that was the whole point. He's a king, but he's not like any earthly king. Jesus is sending a clear message: "This is what I am! I am your King, but I am not the King you were expecting!" Jesus' message is that the time for decision had come.

I'm excited for us to enter together into the beautiful meanings of Christ's Triumphal Entry. This is no time for "spiritual neutrality." It takes courage to embrace the Truth. It takes courage to believe in Jesus, the Messiah. As Kierkegaard said in another place: "One either believes in Him or is offended by Him."

In spiritual matters, not to decide is to decide. The people at that time were interested. People today are interested. The whole city was stirred to the point of conversation and discussion and even celebration...but not to the point of action – as we will see evidenced later in Holy Week.

May our interest in Jesus bring us to the point of action!

Your Pastor

Duff