I've been thinking about the last week of Jesus' life. It's called the Passion Week or Holy Week. The Gospels begin the story by retelling Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem on Sunday. The crowd was euphoric. They proclaimed Jesus was the Messiah. Centuries of expectation reached culmination and the celebration was high.
Then religion set in. Have you noticed how religion can numb celebration? Slowly, as the week progressed, the excitement gave way to anger. Now, I know that not everyone was excited on Sunday and I suspect not everyone was angry on Friday, but the prevailing attitude of the crowd turned dramatically by the weekend.
The people loved it when Jesus swept in. But the religious leaders took over and swept him right out. They convinced the Roman government to nail him to a cross, in fact. The people had never been more alive on Sunday, but Jesus was dead on Friday.
What happened between Sunday and Friday in Jerusalem happens too often in our lives. Don't let Jesus sweep in and create joy only to later get caught up in the motions so that Jesus is swept out of your life. Religion never fully replaces relationship. Religious activity won't satisfy like a personal walk with Jesus.
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