PASSION WEEK

In my last post, I said that the seemingly insignificant birth of a baby in a small dusty down was in reality the beginning of a thirty-three year period that would be the "key-stone" in the structure of Redemptive History. Actually, I should probably cite the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-38) as the event that inaugurated that momentious span of time which continued through Pentecost. Why do I say "through Pentecost" rather than Jesus' resurrection or ascension? Primarily, because the sending of the Holy Spirit was so important to our Lord when he spoke to the disciples in the upper room, shortly before he went to the cross.

So, this most crucial time period was enclosed by two divine heralds. The first was the announcement that the "seed of the woman" who was to crush the head of the serpent, was about to appear on earth. The second was the Holy Spirit's empowering the church to announce Christ's victory over sin, death and the devil, and to proclaim forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

I also mentioned in my last post that there are two passages of scripture that illuminate the astounding significance of that baby's birth in Bethlehem. The first one is Genesis chapter three, key verse: 15. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. The other is Revelation, chapter twelve. Verse five is the key: And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

This week, Palm Sunday through Resurrection Sunday, we are remembering the time that our Lord Jesus Christ made atonement for the sins of his people by his suffering and death on the cross. We know that his sacrifice satisfied the debt for our offences and that we are justified before God, because he raised Christ from the dead. For this, we are eternally grateful.