“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). This verse of the Bible, like many other similar verses, captures the core message, essence, and spirit of the Holy Week. About 2,000 years ago, God, in his infinite goodness, sent his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, born of Mary in the form of human flesh, to live among us and to save us from our sins. Jesus, who from the very beginning was with God, and was God (John 1:1), left the joys of heaven to embrace the sufferings of this world – sufferings that are due us for our disobedience of God’s will. Although he did not commit any sin, he carried in his body all the sins of this world, thereby receiving the full blow of God’s justice (Corinthians 5:21), that whosoever puts his faith in him will no longer perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
And indeed, he received the punishment that we ourselves should have received. He was sentenced to die after a mock trial that proved nothing other than his innocence of the fabricated charges hurled against him. He was slapped, stripped of his garments, struck with flesh-plucking lashes, crowned with thorns, made to carry a heavy cross, ridiculed and made the object of fun by onlookers, and ultimately, nailed to the cross where he breathed his last. By all indications, he suffered an excruciating death that he never deserved.
Why did God the Father allow his Son to pass through this agonizing experience, and why did Jesus obey his Father? The answer is love – pure love that only God can give. His was love that is holy – never budging an inch to compromise with evil. His was love that is just – rewarding good but punishing sin with death. And his was love that is merciful – never happy with the damnation of sinners but providing a way for forgiveness and reconciliation with the truly repentant of heart.
Jesus’ sacrifice of his own holy life was the only acceptable way to satisfy God’s justice and at the same time, demonstrate the fullness of his love. The blood of animals in the temple sacrifices of the Old Testament were but a symbol of what can truly wash away sin – the blood of Jesus – and the manna that the Israelites ate in the desert and the flesh of lambs, goats, and bulls that offerors ate out of their offerings were but a symbol of the living bread that came down from heaven – Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
How do we respond to this love that is beyond the love that anyone could ever give? By truly repenting of our sins, asking God to forgive us on account of what Jesus did on the cross, and making a firm resolve to live out our faith by avoiding sin, obeying God’s commands, doing good, and nurturing a personal relationship with The Lord.
Because of what Jesus did on that first Holy Week, he opened the gates of heaven for us. Even right now, the kingdom of God can be experienced in our midst (Luke 17:21). Let us not be afraid to approach the throne of God and humble ourselves before him. “Come now,” the Lord says. “Although your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow.; though they are red as crimson, they shall be white like wool” (Isaiah 1:18).
