2025 Week 15
Hello, Springers!
We’re approaching the fifth and final Sunday of Lent, and we’ll conclude our second five-part series on the book of Acts, which focuses on Speaking Witnesses. The Acts of the Apostles, written by Luke, revolves around proclaiming the kingdom of God. This theme is evident at both the beginning and end of the book (see again Acts 1:3 and 28:31).
So far in our study, we have spent two weeks on an introduction that includes Jesus’ ascension. Next, we focused on how God gathered witnesses together, especially in chapter 2. Now, we have seen those witnesses begin to speak boldly in chapters 3 and 4. Signs and wonders have accompanied their speaking, and the beginnings of persecution have also arisen for those who speak in Jesus’ name.
The good news is that Jesus ascended and poured the Holy Spirit upon the church. Beyond persecution, we see His power that unites the church, inspires their speech, and grants them boldness in the face of opposition.
Since Luke is the powerful writer of Acts, we will follow Luke’s gospel account during worship to mark our celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus this year. You might begin reading it yourself in Luke 19:28. That is the triumphal entry of Palm Sunday. Our celebration picks up in Luke 22:39 on Maundy Thursday.
Between those two passages are two chapters worth of Jesus teaching in Jerusalem. We ought to pay attention to this because Jesus knows he is going to the cross. He knows his time is short. What does the Son of God address through his teaching in that situation? You can be sure these are important things. Make time to read them.
Lastly, it’s important to me to remind everyone that when we celebrate Easter, we are not re-creating the events of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus died once and now he is risen. When we celebrate Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunrise, and Easter where will Jesus be? He will be where he has been since his ascension, at the right hand of God the Father. From there he continually intercedes for us.
I remind people of that fact to alleviate the pressure some Christians feel at Easter to become more emotional to “make it real to yourself.” Worship during Holy Week is not aimed at evoking tears of guilt for our sins on Good Friday, nor is it intended to provoke expressions of surprise because Christ rose on Easter Sunday. The gospel is not real because of your emotional expression. It’s real because these are historical events.
We retell the gospel story knowing that Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ will come again. You need not wait until Good Friday to repent of the sins you committed today or those from last year. Christ reigns on his throne now. He rose then so you could be forgiven today. Let the historical truth of the gospel move you to outward expressions of both grief for sin and joy in Christ’s grace.
in Christ,
Pastor Tag