When it comes to Christian celebrations, Christmas likely gets the most attention. An entire month is devoted to preparing for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We decorate our homes, put lights on our houses, go to Christmas concerts and plays, view live nativity scenes. All this is truly wonderful and good.
Yet, when we look at the relative emphasis that the four Gospels put on the last days of Jesus’ life, we may consider how out of balance is our single day of celebrating the resurrection compared to a month of Christmas.
Think about this… Luke dedicates two chapters to the events surrounding the birth of Christ, while devoting five to “Holy Week”— the week extending from the triumphal entry to the resurrection. Matthew also gives two chapters to the birth narratives, but eight to Holy Week. Mark has no birth narrative at all, but out of his sixteen chapters, he devotes six to Holy Week. John doesn’t have a birth narrative either, but spends ten chapters—almost half of the twenty-one chapter whole—relating the events of Holy Week.
This emphasis carries outside of the Gospels as well. References in the epistles to the birth of Christ are relatively infrequent. References to His suffering, death, and resurrection abound. Of course, we’re thrilled Jesus was born! However, had He been born, but not suffered, died, and been raised, we would still be dead in our sins!
I’m not advocating for a downsizing of Christmas, but rather for an upsizing of our thoughts and consideration of the last days of the Lord’s life and what they mean. The events of the last week of Jesus’ life represent the pivotal events of all human history. They deserve our extended attention.
This is not to say that we don’t already give attention to these things. We do—certainly at Providence Bible Fellowship. Every time we rehearse the gospel in song, prayer, ordinance, conversation, and sermon, we recognize the significance of what was done for us in and by Christ Jesus through those events of Holy Week. But there is no time where it makes more sense to devote extended attention to these things than during Holy Week itself.
Admittedly, an extended observance of Holy Week has not been our custom at PBF in the past, but that is now a thing of the past. This year at PBF, we are going to more broadly reflect on the events of that Holy Week by holding not one, but three services, for which we ask you to mark your calendars.
Maundy Thursday Service, April 1, 7pm
We will consider the Lord in the garden, observe the Lord’s Supper, and enjoy an extended time of prayer.
Good Friday Service, April 2, 7pm
We will worship in song, then hear the message of the cross from the Word.
Resurrection Sunday Services, April 4, 9am/10:45am
We will worship a risen King in song, Scripture reading, prayer, fellowship, giving, and proclamation!
May the Lord bless our minds and hearts as we consider His life, death, and resurrection in the coming weeks!
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