Events of Holy Week Verses Reflections

1. Events of Holy Week Verses Reflections

2. WHATHAPPENED? Jesus is the Son of God; the Son of the Creator of the world, yet he takes our sins upon himself in order that the world might be renewed. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible … all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17

3. REFLECTION Take time to reflect on the wonderful gift of God’s world. All things have come into being through Christ. Creation is amazing. Pope Francis speaks of the earth as ‘our common home’. Think of one aspect of the naturalworld that you love; the stars, the mountains, the ocean... All of these things tell us something of the greatness and majesty ofGod.

4. WHATHAPPENED? After his trial, Jesus took the cross he was given to begin his journey toGolgotha. … though he was in the form of God, (Christ Jesus) did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross. Philippians2:6-8

5. REFLECTION Jesus took upon himself our failures and sins.Whenhas our selfishness injured others? Damaged our world? Think of a time when your actions caused harm to the created world; when you mistreated theearthby littering, wasting food or demanding more games and more devices even when you already hadenough.

6. WHATHAPPENED? The cross Jesus carries is heavy and he falls down under its weight. Is there anyone there to help him or is he all alone? So disfigured was he, the people turnedaway. Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted himstricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. Isaiah53:4-5

7. REFLECTION Who are the people in our world who areeasier to ignore? Why do we want to get involved in theirtroubles?

8. WHATHAPPENED? In the middle of his painful walk Jesus meets his mother. Imagine what it must have felt like for him to see her lovingface. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’sfriends. John15:12-13

9. REFLECTION When we are going through a hard time think of how comforting it can be to see the face of someone who lovesus.

10. WHATHAPPENED? This time when Jesus falls there is someone there to help him up and to carry hiscross. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another tohelp. Ecclesiastes4:9-10

11. REFLECTION God wants us to bear one another’s burdens. Pope Francissays, Disregard for the duty to cultivate and maintain a proper relationship with my neighbour... ruins my relationship with myself, with others, with God and with theearth.

12. WHATHAPPENED? Jesus takes his last breath and then gives up his spirit to God. His mother and some of his followers stand at the foot of the crossweeping. A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are nomore. Matthew2:18

13. REFLECTION Who are the people who are mourningtoday? Those who have lost loved ones? Experienced casualties inwar? Those who have lost family members and friends in naturaldisasters?

14. WHATHAPPENED? Jesus’ body is taken down from the cross and laid in an empty tomb. The women cannot stay there. They have to return home to prepare for their holy day, theSabbath. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears muchfruit. John12:24

15. REFLECTION For us, death and loss seem like a disaster. We want our lives to always runsmoothly. Jesus death and resurrection teaches us to have hope even when all seems hopeless. After the earthquake in Christchurch people were very sad and overwhelmed. There was a lot of mess tobe cleaned up and work to be done so that people could begin to rebuild their lives. People were surprised at how their neighbours offered them support and help. The student volunteer army provided 75,000 hours of free labour to help people clear up their properties after the earthquake in February2011.

16. WHATHAPPENED? The women return to the tomb early on Sunday morning to find that the stone has been rolled away and that Jesus is not there. The angels tell them, ‘Jesus is not here. He hasrisen.’ ...for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive inChrist. 1 Corinthians15:22

17. REFLECTION Our belief in the resurrection of Jesus means that death is not the end. It is simply a change from one life to another. In the ‘new life’ there will be no more struggles. Sometimes people get so used to fighting for what they need that they almost don’t know how to act when the struggle isover.

18. CONCLUDINGPRAYER E teAtuaakeake, EternalGod, Out of your great generosity you brought the world into being and gave it life. Then you offered yourself, on the cross of human suffering. Such priceless, painful giving! Did you invite us here to show us that? Then show it to us once more O God! Remind us of your way of living where we live for others and valuelife. E teAtuaakeake, EternalGod, Out of your great generosity, make us generous; bring us intobeing. Amen. (The Micah Challenge New Zealand)