The range of emotions during Holy Week is something I’ve grown to embrace…the solemn reflection of Good Friday combined with the celebration of Easter Sunday.  I hope that as you experience these coming days, you also take time to ponder the immense importance of what Christ did for us on the cross, and then did from the tomb.

You may be like me, increasingly aware that we live in a world that tries every day to diminish sin…and sometimes glorify sin through making it comical, entertaining, or just commonplace.

Let me clear about this.  I truly believe that each and every time we diminish the impact of sin in our lives, try to justify it, or participate in the acceptance of it, we demean what Christ did for us on the cross.  I’m not saying we do it intentionally…sometimes we just don’t think about it.  But we still can fall into the trap of making the cross and the resurrection meaningless.  Let’s challenge ourselves to think deeper about the implications of trying to feel better about the sin in our lives by dismissing it as “no big deal.”

A devotional sidebar in my bible calls Jesus’ statement, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34, NIV) the true picture of His work on this cross for all of us- asking the Father to forgive those who did not deserve it.

Jesus’ death was the greatest act of love in human history.  Thank Jesus for paying the ultimate price, and honor that payment by confessing your sin and working to remove it from your life.  Then celebrate the fact that Jesus overcame sin and death by leaving the tomb.

And if you need anymore inspiration, then just listen to Matt Maher’s song, “Christ is Risen”.  Believe me, it will get you into the celebration spirit.  There’s a cool lyrics video on YouTube if you click here.

-Joe