Christians around the world are about to enter into the most holy week of the year. We will celebrate Palm Sunday, then remember Maundy Thursday, observe Good Friday, mourn on Black Saturday and culminate with a great victory shout on Easter Sunday! Although coronavirus has colored our perspectives and altered our plans, there is no denying this greatest week in human history.
In order to properly understand this week’s events, we have to start with Easter Sunday and work backward. Until that day, no human being had ever walked out of his or her own tomb with victory over what had been, up to that point, permanent death. Unless Jesus had risen, the other events of His last week would have dissolved into the pages of earth’s history.
But because Jesus did undeniably rise from the dead, it should force us to examine His entire life and recognize the significance of His teachings as well as His final days. Did He share anything that could shed light on what we are now going through with COVID-19 or with our lives in general?
Indeed there is much! Three times in Jesus’ brief Sermon on the Mount, He told us not to worry but to trust in Him. Throughout His ministry, He also promised those who received His offer would likewise rise from the dead and enjoy everlasting life with Him.
Most importantly, He pointed us toward the significance of what would happen on the day we now know as Good Friday. On that incredible day, the only begotten Son of God offered up His sin-free life as the perfect sacrifice for all humanity. In a few hours’ time, He paid for all of our sins and satisfied God’s demand for perfect justice.
When Jesus died on Calvary’s cross that day, something akin to a nuclear bomb went off in the universe, only much stronger. Shockwaves rippled throughout creation as Jesus destroyed the power of sin, rearranged the cosmic order of all things, and reshaped every aspect of existence.
Waves of forgiveness, mercy, and grace reverberated out to every corner of the cosmos forever breaking the ancient chains of bondage to sin and decay. All human beings imprisoned by sin and death suddenly received a free key to deliverance and eternal freedom! Every hopeless situation was suddenly infused of new possibilities and opportunities!
When atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, the damage at ground zero was immense but shockwaves also went out that impacted several surrounding miles. The shockwave from Christ’s cross has extended so far out that every nook and cranny of this universe has been affected. It has reverberated backward to Eden’s Garden and forward through all future ages including our own.
What then does this mean for us in the midst of our battle with COVID 19? It means that even this has been enveloped by Calvary’s Shockwave. Because of Adam’s sin, we are all destined to die at some point from something. But because of Jesus, the Last Adam, we can enjoy resurrection no matter if our death is caused by heart disease, accident, old age, or coronavirus. This infuses hope and purpose even into a devastating worldwide pandemic. While Christians are not oblivious or negligent regarding the seriousness of this crisis, neither are we hopeless nor despairing. We are faith-full and confident.
We must, however, avail ourselves of the mercy, grace and forgiveness that radiate from the cross by admitting our sin and asking God to forgive us through Jesus’ sacrifice. God will not force Himself nor His views on anyone who doesn’t want Him. We use the key Christ provides by voluntarily submitting that we might have eternal joy and victory. If you never have, allow Calvary’s shockwave to blow away your sin and replace it with God’s perfect love and salvation.
As we prepare to recognize the greatest events in human history this coming week, may we do so allowing their truth and meaning to impact every aspect of our lives and provide the peace Jesus died to give us.
Blessings, George