by H. Frederick Hoops, deceased former Pastor, Willow Avenue Baptist Church
(Hoboken, New Jersey) 1935 — (Grandfather of the late Rev. Christopher Rory
Hoops, founding theology editor NPI)
Very properly, the week which is ushered in by Palm Sunday is so designated. A particular sanctity attaches to these days. They recall the events that constitute the climax not only of our Lord’s earthly ministry, but also the Triune God’s eternal plan of salvation.
The week opens with our Lord’s royal entry into Jerusalem. It is a march of triumph. The days that follow are marked by a series of vehement verbal assaults made upon Jesus by His enemies. He parries every thrust. In graphic parables, He exposes their evil plans and the doom that their evil course will bring upon them.
On Thursday evening, He gathers with His disciples in the upper room. He institutes the Holy Communion. He speaks so tenderly to these men who wilt soon experience one shock after another. He crosses the Kidron and enters Gethsemane. His Passion begins.
He is arrested. He is dragged from one tribunal to another. The night is made ghastly by the physical, mental and spiritual tortures to which He is subjected The scene shifts with kaleidoscope rapidity. At last, the insistent demand is satisfied. The sentence of death is confirmed, Jesus is led away to be crucified.
On Calvary the last act of the Passion occurs. The Son of God dies after hours of agony on the cross. As Good Friday, the anniversary of that day is remembered. So the ransom was paid for humanity dead in sin and lost to God. So God and man were reconciled. We are verily bought with a price.
Before Good Friday’s sun sets His body is laid to rest in Joseph’s tomb. Saturday is one quiet day in this momentous week.
Then on Sunday morning the glad tidings are heard: “He is risen; He is not here.” No power on earth or hell could hold that mighty Lord His prison ban; He bursts. The resurrection is the crowning miracle of His redemptive work.
Surely, this precious and blessed week deserves to be observed, Christians will gladly do that.
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