It’s halfway through the Holy Week as of writing, the time when Christ-followers meditate on the last few moments of Jesus’ life. But why take time to recall the ancient past? What does it matter to people in the post-modern world?

Growing up, I didn’t quite grasp the full meaning of the holy week observation. I knew I had to pray, fast, and give alms to the poor, but no one really broke down its significance to me. I thought, “Christ died in the hands of the Romans. What did I have to do with it? I wasn’t there.” I chuckle about it now, but as a kid who wanted answers, the confusion was legit. What’s more, my birthday often fell on Good Friday, so I couldn’t even eat meat that day! Having lived in a place where people were too focused on traditions, sometimes at the expense of the truth of God’s word, my understanding of the passion of Christ remained superficial for a long time.

Until the day God pursued me. In my sophomore year in college, I met a married couple devoted to sharing Christ’s love with others. At the time, they introduced Christ to teenagers and young adults on campuses. To this day, I thank God for their generous hearts and their thankless “job” (it’s unpaid work, actually, at least by world standards). This couple took time to meet several college students a few hours a week for months, helping us all get to know who this Jesus really is. Without missionaries like them, who have a heart for the younger generations, I can’t say what my life would look like today. Although I wasn’t necessarily living a blatantly evil life before that encounter. I obeyed my parents, did well in school, and even volunteered for community work on my free days. I thought I was doing just fine until Jesus slowly peeled back the layers of my heart. I started to realize how lost and self-reliant I was. I didn’t know how much hate I harbored towards my dysfunctional household. I envied those who seemed to be living easier lives than I did, those who didn’t have to stress over tuition fees or give up the things they wanted to make way for the things they needed. I relied on my own strength, trying so hard to prove to myself that I was smart, mighty, and able while gloating over my academic wins. From one’s perspective, such things are harmless and are part of anybody’s growth, but truth be told, grudge, envy, and pride are sins that do not have a place in the life of someone who desires to follow Christ.

So, I confessed. One of the first few meetings with my Bible teacher took place on our school library’s third floor. A few tables and chairs sat by the left wall in the middle of the room. Facing a glass window looking through the dancing acacia trees outside, I was taught the lesson of what separates man from God: SIN. Although I didn’t know if and how my life would change at the time, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to lay out my sins to God. I then prayed what was written on the booklet for that day.

Weeks and months passed, and I lived my life as usual. So much so that, although I already belonged to the family of Christ by faith¹, I was still making decisions based on my finite knowledge. I was in a relationship that did not honor the Lord, I still questioned the days that I had to emotionally and financially suffer, and I still thought that my good and noble works were what actually defined me. So, did that prayer really work? Why couldn’t I see abrupt changes in my life after reciting it? The thing is, although God can change a sinner’s heart in a split second, He actually doesn’t exercise His power like a dictator or a control freak. If there should be a change in a person’s heart, it must be borne out of his/her love for Him. That’s actually why God gave mankind free will — for us to freely choose Him, enjoy the relationship we have with Him, and not just become His blind followers.

It wasn’t until years later that I noticed some things I wouldn’t do myself. I started forgiving my parents, although they did not acknowledge the hurt that their actions caused; I trusted God’s provision for every growing need; I sought His wisdom through His word (the Bible) in most of my decisions. I found myself actually enjoying and unknowingly reaping the benefits of what His followers call a “relationship with Christ.” I didn’t understand how or why I ended up that way, but I knew that it was no longer I who was taking full control of my life. I couldn’t see then Who was responsible for it, but I knew He was and is close to me. So close that I couldn’t separate myself from Him because He lives in me.²

To the unbeliever, Holy Week is just any other religious tradition, a part of history, or a myth. Yet to a heart that has given God a chance to enter it, Jesus’ death and resurrection is the most beautiful gift God has ever given mankind so that we all can gain access to Him as our Heavenly Father. On a personal note, I’ve never seen my Good Friday birthdays in a different light until I knew Christ. It’s mind-blowing to think that Jesus’ death literally gave me life here on earth and in eternity.

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THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CROSS

God’s word says that “the wages of sin is death.”³ Death in here pertains to eternal damnation, aka life in hell. God and mankind are supposed to dwell together; that’s why the Garden of Eden was created. But because of sin (mankind wanting to be god of his own life), we became separated from God. The penalty for our sin is eternal death, again aka life in hell. But GOD LOVES US so much that He still decided to be with us in eternity, aka life after physical death.

But how? Isn’t death the penalty for sin? It sure is! That’s why Someone had to die in our place — God himself in the person of Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully man.⁴ God’s wrath against sin had to be satisfied, AND His mercy towards us, His children, also had to be graciously given. Through Jesus, justice and mercy are fulfilled. He had to die so that we, the sinful ones, may be forgiven and may experience the love of the Heavenly Father again.

But it didn’t end there. Jesus had to resurrect so He could be with the Father and prepare a place for us. He is God, and He is alive. Through the Holy Spirit, God dwells in the hearts of those who believe.

What, then, can a person do to experience the love and presence of God in his/her life?

1. Believe that you have a Father in Heaven.
2. Believe that you are separated from Him because of your sins.
3. Believe that eternal life is granted to you through Jesus if you receive Him as the Savior and Lord of your life.

If you think you’re ready for a life with Christ, you may pray the same prayer I whispered that one sunny afternoon in the library:

Dear friend, I am so glad you invited Jesus into your life. It won’t be a smooth sailing ride … but it’ll be all worth it.⁵

Also, following Christ is most effective when done side by side with those already walking with Him. That said, I suggest you find a Bible-based local church where you can get to know more about who He is with the help of faithful (not perfect) Christian body.

Welcome to the family! The entire heaven rejoiced the moment you welcomed Jesus into your life.

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1. Galatians 3:23-27
   ²³ Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. ²⁴ So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
   ²⁶ So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
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2. John 14:15-19
   ¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹ Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
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3. Romans 6:23
   ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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4. Hebrews 2:17
   ¹⁷ For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
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5. John 16:33
   ³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” ↩︎

(New International Version)