Reflecting on the Passion Week
Dear Calvary Family,
I want to encourage you to spend some time reflecting on the Passion Week over the next few days. It's called Passion from the Latin "passus" and means to suffer. This is the week of Christ’s suffering and it’s also the week of Christ’s victory. This is the week that has been celebrated as Good News for almost 2,000 years.
Today is Maundy Thursday.
“Maundy” comes from another Latin word - "mandatum" - it's where we get our word for mandate or commandment. It’s based off of John 13:34-35 where Jesus says, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
This command takes place at the beginning of the Last Supper just after Jesus has washed his disciples’ feet. He is about to eat the Passover meal with them and then go out to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives where he will pray before he is betrayed and arrested.
Take some time to reflect on Jesus’ desire to teach us to love one another just before his death. The mandate of Maundy Thursday is to love like Jesus. As we prepare to take communion on Good Friday, examine yourself for a heart of love. And if your heart is hard or angry or even cruel, then confess your sin and Jesus will forgive you. Ask him to soften your heart to one that loves first.
Tomorrow is Good Friday.
Why is it good? Why would the execution of an innocent person be good news? Take some time to reflect on this. How would you answer these questions?
Our Good Friday service at 7:00 pm will be all about the good that came from the death of Jesus. You will be able to have a time of reverent worship and reflection as you take communion and remember the cost of the great benefits that come from Jesus’ suffering.
Then comes Silent Saturday.
We don’t hear much about what is happening on the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. We know the disciples are afraid and confused. Jesus is dead. It feels like nothing is happening. It feels like the enemy has won. It feels like God the Father doesn’t care. But none of that is true! Jesus is working. Jesus is about to claim the greatest victory of all time.
Take the time to reflect on those moments where you can’t hear God or it seems that God isn’t working. Talk to God about how difficult it is to trust Him sometimes. Confess that God is in charge and sees our circumstances from a different perspective, an eternal perspective. Ask for the power to trust.
And finally, we have Resurrection Sunday.
While it was still early, at sunrise, the women went to the tomb. They didn’t go because they thought He was alive, they went because they thought He was dead. Reflect on how all hope seemed lost in this moment. Reflect on your hopes.
Then a massive earthquake occurs and an angel appears shining like lightning! Everything has changed! He is not here! HE IS RISEN! Jesus is alive.
We will worship our risen Savior on Sunday morning. Come to one of our services this Sunday to celebrate the victor, the champion, the redeemer, God Himself - Jesus Christ. See details below or find out more about what to expect at CalvaryLife.org/Easter.
Services in English
- 6:30am Sunrise on the Patio
- 9:00am in the Worship Center, plus viewing on the Patio and live online. (ASL available)
- Be baptized this Easter! - Learn More Here
- KIDS - On Easter Sunday, during the 9:00am service there are fun programs available for kids Nursery - Kindergarten with puppet shows. Kids 1st Grade and up are invited to join with their families in the Worship Center
Services in Spanish
- 6:30am Sunrise at Cabrillo Park
- 11:00am in the Chapel and live online
- Family-style service with all kids together with their families for worship
I'm looking forward to celebrating together! And I am praying many will come experience the Good News of Jesus this Easter at Calvary. It's not too late to help spread the word - you can share the video invitation below or pick up an Easter Newspaper at the Good Friday service to share with your friends, family and neighbors.
May the Lord bless you and keep you,
Eric Wakeling