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A Holy Week Devotion
Saddened by our Separation, yet Strengthened by the Savior!
On this Holy Week, I find myself struggling with the idea of being separated from the rest of the body of Christ when normally we would be together for some pretty significant moments in worship. In fact, yesterday, I found myself downright sorrowful. And then I remembered the words of prophesy from Isaiah 53.
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:3-5, ESV)
That healing and peace the Savior brings is what we need now, perhaps more than ever! The separation we are experiencing reminds us of the separation Jesus experienced for us on the Good Friday; there on the cross He was forsaken by His Father so that we never need be separated from God and His love for us in Christ.
We know how this story ends! We are confident in Jesus’ victory, and nothing in all creation can steal the sweetness of that victory from our celebration of Easter, not now, not ever! As those who have that victory in Christ, we have peace and forgiveness and healing in every regard. Because of Him, we live—and in Him, we have been joined together with the whole people of God of every time and place. We look forward to being able to say that Easter cheer, “Christ Is Risen! He Is Risen, indeed. Alleluia!”
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