picture by Geoff Wood
Holy Week begins this Sunday, and I’ve never been more excited to reflect, respond and celebrate with our @V21Church family. The depth of the week leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion is astounding, and every year I learn more and more about His character and how deep his love is. This is why the Maundy Thursday service is my favorite – the grandeur of His love and our sin is revealed on the night Jesus was betrayed.
This year the theme of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Easter is that of Jesus as king. Although the crowd and the circumstances surrounding Jesus change drastically during this week period, he’s no less king on Palm Sunday than on Easter Sunday. What changes is our view of him, mainly because we’re marred by sin and pride
On Palm Sunday he’s the “distorted king”, meaning he is king, but the people are seeing him as they want to see him – the revolutionary rock star who will overthrow the Romans and give them what they want. Although Christ is riding in on a donkey, they fill in the blanks and treat him as if he’s David charging into the city on a war horse. The disciples particularly are riding high during this week as he’s displaying power and authority, and the crowds are buzzing with the possibility that He actually is the Messiah.
On Maundy Thursday he’s the rejected king. Again, he’s still king, and while his actions seem contrary – betrayed, beaten, abandoned, arrested, and crucified – in reality he’s ascending to the throne. The disciples reject this humble, broken man; if that’s Jesus as king he’s not worth following after all. Finally, on Easter Jesus is the Risen king. He’s overcome death and will be seated at the right hand of God. He’s defeated sin and death, and reigns over all things. The disciples bow down, realizing Jesus was king all along.
Our actions are no less self-centered than those of the disciples 2,000 years ago. We distort the reign of Jesus, only bowing down to him as king when we experience personal gain. We reject the humble, broken servant king who calls us to carry our cross, love our neighbors as ourselves and care for those in need. I pray we would see and worship the true Jesus of scripture, and not our own distorted, watered-down view.
Join us this year for the following services. Each one will be beautiful in presenting the great love of Jesus and our need for a savior.
Palm Sunday
Raleigh: 9:30 and 11:30 am, 5:00 and 7:00 pm
Durham: 11:00 am
Maundy Thursday
Raleigh: 6:00 and 8:00 pm
Easter Sunday
Raleigh: 9:30 and 11:30 am, 5:00 and 7:00 pm
Durham: 11:00 am
Matt Stevens is the Worship Pastor for Vintage21 Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. Contact him via Twitter: @MattStevensNC