If there is a potential danger following the celebration of the events surrounding the Lord’s Passion it has to be the let down. Or more accurately, the ‘potential’ for a let down.
It is somewhat of a Christian reflex to emphasize the life, death, and burial of Jesus during the days leading up to and on Resurrection Sunday. However, what do we do with the other 51 weeks? What sermon text does the preacher load into his homiletical satchel? What is the soundtrack he is to hear as he jumps on the pastoral saddle?
The reality is that the tone and topic of our Holy Week services should not be much different than the services during the rest of the year. After all, we are Christians! Our chief (and only!) boast is in the work of Christ (Gal. 6.14). This is the foundation of who we are. It is the basis of our identity as Christians (1 Cor. 1.29-30). Therefore, to flip the page onto other topics or themes is to leg-swipe our own identity.
One of the reasons we as Christians gather together on Sundays is to trumpet the resurrection. We enjoy the sacrament of communion together to emphasize the completed work of Christ (1 Cor. 11.26). We are to sing songs and hymns that exalt Christ (Col. 3.16). Preachers are to preach the word (2 Tim. 4.2) which always showcases Christ. You of course can see why turning the page from Christ crucified and risen is a turning away from the heart of Christianity.
As a pastor it was greatly encouraging this weekend after our Good Friday and Sunday am service to hear several folks remark that they appreciated that this is not a once a year thing. In other words, they see the importance of the gospel being heralded not only every year, or week, but every day.
This is of critical importance for us as Christians, in particular, as pastors. There is never a day when you turn the page and move on. We are to be the congregation’s drummer: always keeping the gospel rhythm. We are never to leave that song. If pastors do their jobs right then heaven will be less of an adjustment (Rev. 5!).