Bible Studies

A Holy Week Invitation

by Doug Laird 
04/12/22
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Holy Week, is the classic example of how herd mentality in the religious and political realm can quickly shift from ultimate praise, to ultimate betrayal, false accusations, false convictions, and political-religious collaboration to suppress the truth.

To this day, promoting the unadulterated Gospel Message will result in opposition and personal attacks coming from within and from outside of the Christian Community at large.

To this day, opponents within the Christian Community, promote their false doctrines and practices as being the means to obtain, retain, or to regain salvation. Such opposition is based on the teachings of men (Mark 7: 7).
To this day, opponents from outside of the Christian Community, reject His claim of deity (Luke 22: 70), and the atoning Work (John 1: 29) that He accomplished on the cross.

Like Pontius Pilate, politicians of our day are willing to turn a blind eye to the truth, if it will please the erroneous (Matt.7: 14) majority, promote civil order, or gain them support.

Religious leadership of our day is willing to do the same.

Ironically, it was the opposition from His adversaries that facilitated the means for Jesus to fulfill prophecy (e.g., Psalms 22) while accomplishing the atoning work that He came to do.

Promoting the TRUTH found in the Word of God has never been, and is not now, without its earthly challenges (2Tim. 3: 12), but is not without it’s heavenly rewards (Matt. 5: 11, 12).

“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus WILL (not might) be persecuted (2Tim. 3: 12 NASB).”

"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of (speaking up for) Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets (spokesmen for God) who were before you (Matt. 5: 11, 12 NASB parentheses mine).

During your personal times of devotion during Holy Week 2022, I invite you to conduct 2Cor. 13: 5 self-examinations, and consider the degree of (or the absence of) the opposition and attacks that you personally encounter on a regular basis.

I am not talking about the self-induced misery that we bring upon ourselves as a result of our own negative decisions. I am not talking about the challenges that is common to everyone else. I am talking about the adversity that can be contributed to the stand you take (or should be taking) for Jesus in your private, familial, professional, and social environment.

Facing and dealing with ongoing adversity is a fundamental part of the life associated with following Christ down the road towards spiritual maturity. The more one advances in Biblical discipleship, the more frequent and the more intense the opposition and attacks will be.

One’s religious opponents will do so, believing that they are doing the work of the Lord (John 16: 2).

One’s political adversaries will consider you to be an enemy of the state, or a threat to their own political career. Either one would call for your silence, by whatever means available.

The absence of such adversity, persecution, opposition, and personal attacks, is a clear indication that such a “Christian” poses no threat (and may even unwittingly be promoting) the devil’s agenda.

As was the mixed bag of experiences that Jesus encountered during Holy Week, so will it be for those who pick up the cross and follow Him. Some will listen; some will not. Some will praise you; some will curse you and say all kinds of negative words to and about you. Some will oppose you with all available means to silence the truth.
Unlike the physical cross on which Jesus was crucified, the intangible cross that His followers are to pick up and bear, is not for the purpose of atoning for sin. The intangible cross that His followers are to bear is symbolic language referring to the inevitable suffering associated with promoting the truth that His opponents tried so hard to suppress.

You can rest assured knowing that you have picked up THIS cross and are indeed a follower of Christ, not by the prosperity, but by the amount of opposition and adversity that comes your way.