Holy Week: Wednesday the Silent Day
It occurred to me yesterday that the significance of the Easter holiday is FAR more important that Christmas. Yet we give it roughly 1/10th the thought that we give Christmas.
In retrospect, I wish I would have paid a little more attention this week. Meditating on this part of the gospel for an extended period of time can be helpful in appreciating the significance of Easter. Let’s catch up on the week:
Last Friday: Six days before the Passover, Mary (sister of Lazarus and Martha) anoints Jesus’ feet with ‘costly perfume’ (John 12:2-11)
Last Saturday: The Sabbath, Jesus hangs out with the disciples.
Last Sunday: Palm Sunday – The Triumphal Entry. Christ enters Jerusalem on a donkey fulfilling an ancient prophecy by Zechariah (Zech 9:9). Thus, Christ officially presents himself to Israel as the Messiah.
Monday: Jesus Curses the fig tree (Mark 11, one of my current favorite passages). Christ clears out the temple.
Tuesday: Christ claims to be the Messiah to the authorities (Mark 11:27-13:37). Christ gives the sermon on the Mount of Olives (Matthew 24 and 25).
Today (Wednesday): The Silent Day. Couldn’t find much about what went on today. “Jesus more than likely spends the day resting after an exhausting last several days.” says one source.
Still to come: Maundy Thursday (Passover meal, upper room discourse), Good Friday (Crucifixion, Death, Burial), Saturday (Jesus’ body lays in tomb, and he kicks some major butt in Hell…), Easter Sunday (CHRIST IS RISEN, HE IS RISEN INDEED!).
I think the reason society puts more emphasis on X-mas than easter is that we all need one really big holiday a year (in just about every culture/religion)… in Christian American culture X-mas won out because a lot more people have extra vacation just then… which is largely a function of schools being on break then and new-year’s.
And I’m not entirely sure that Chrit’s “re-birth” should be considered significantly more importand than his actual birth. It’s not like he was a prodigal… nor is it like that was the first miracle he did… it wasn’t even the first resurection miracle… I’m not suggesting that easter isn’t a very important time in the easter calander, I’m just asking (in true 5th floor discussion group style) to justify that opinion a little better.
If Christ was not resurrected, there would be no Christianity.
Christ’s birth is very significant, his death and resurrection, however, is the reason there is any hope in the world, whatsoever. Without it, what is there?
Without Christ’s death, there is no forgiving of sins, no eternal life. And then what do you have? 75 short, insignificant, meaningless years.
Just a side thought…….
Instead of: X-mas
Try: C-mas
Read an article somewhere about atheism and this was one thing they promote as it Xs out Christ.
Actually, X stands for XRISTOS (Christos, X is the Ch in Greek). So it is not, in fact, crossing out Christ (which is sort of an ironic statement if you think about it).
Thusly, Christian could be rendered Xian. (you might see that around the Web occasionaly.)
Once again, I am impressed with Matt’s knowlege. That actually is quite-interesting.
Also, if I were to be totoally honest with you all… there are 2 reasons I type “X-Mas” instead of “Christmas” on-line…
1)I’m a lazy typist and it’s fewer keystrokes
2)X-mas is what they say in Futurama when the evil robot santa comes to town… and that always amuses me :-D
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