John 6:24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. (NIV)
Holy Week is a good time to seek and find Jesus. Many churches present special services throughout the next seven days to tell the story of Christ’s last week before He died on the cross. Some TV channels broadcast programs about the life and times of Jesus, enlisting the wisdom and knowledge of renowned Christian scholars and theologians. Then there are the movie channels which show classic Bible movies like ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told,’ ‘Ben Hur’, or even ‘Jesus Christ, Superstar,’ to cater to many viewers who like to watch and see them during this special season. It’s hard to ignore Jesus or to go through the week without having seen or heard something about Him. This makes Holy Week, much more than the sentimental season of Christmas, a good time for folks to draw closer to Christ and accept Him as their Lord.
But as well as going to worship services or watching special TV programs, folks need to see that Christians display Christ in their daily dealings. They want to see that Christ actually makes a difference in the lives of His followers, so they expect us to speak, behave, and act differently, compassionately, and faithfully. The last thing that our communities need to see is Christians acting smug, being elitist, demeaning others, or falsely claiming to be persecuted because they don’t get their own way. If we honestly call ourselves ‘Christians,’ then we need to recognize that this Holy Week places solemn responsibilities on us to witness effectively, truly, and lovingly for Jesus.
So, by all means, let us invite others to join us at some of the sacred services this week, but let’s not just rely on our words; let our works encourage and attract others to seek Christ for themselves.
Point to ponder
Who would I like to invite to church this week? How do they honestly regard me?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we say we love You but sometimes our selfish deeds undo our faithful beliefs. Grant us opportunities to invite others to worship You this week and keep us from disabling our witness by a lack of sensitivity, care, or compassion. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Please come and join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊
Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings called ‘Highland Dawn.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Highland.
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