season 1//episode 10: a holy week reflection
Hello friends, this week’s episode is going to be a little different than our previous episodes. As I considered what to share with you all during this Holy Week leading up to Easter, I was going to do something simple and just read a passage of Scripture, allowing it to encourage our hearts and leaving room for reflection. But I just feel this little nudge to share a little more of what has been on my heart for the last week.
Last Monday, a woman killed three children and three adults at a private Christian school in Nashville. Just saying those words out loud makes me sick to my stomach. As I think about the depth of the loss, the pain, and the grief that families are dealing with, I cannot imagine the heartache that must be plaguing them constantly. I have been heartsick for the last week as I consider the plague of evil in our world and the pain these poor families are experiencing as a result of what looks like a victory for the enemy of our souls.
All last week, I kept saying to my husband, “I can’t stop thinking about Nashville. This just hits different. This was a sweet Christian school. It just goes to show that you’re not safe anywhere. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow.” I’ve held my children tighter and prayed a little more desperately, thanking God for the gifts of their lives.
When I consider the evil that led to the awful slaughter of these innocent lives, my heart drops within me and I am deeply grieved. How long, O Lord? How long will we see the enemy continue to win battles for the minds of our children and young adults?
I cannot claim to know the motives of the shooter, but I can tell you that whatever they were, they were dark, evil, and directly inspired by the pit of hell. When we look at the state of our world, most of us are just plain overwhelmed. The facts of this situation are grim: a woman who identified as a male had a sick vendetta to take lives because of her hurt, pain, and a deep and dark web of deceit that completely overtook her mind and heart. She very specifically targeted Christians—the people who are supposed to be a welcoming beacon of hope for those who are hurting. Blinded and consumed by her hurt and pain, her only way out was to seek to destroy that which could have brought her healing and life.
Knowing that she went to the school that day as a former student, ready to kill and destroy whoever came into her path, is bone chilling to think about. Jesus told us in John 10 that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. This is exactly what we saw last week. Innocence stolen. People killed. Happiness destroyed.
I want to consider these sweet children and the incredible adults who came to work that day to care for them. These children most likely went to school that day with an unassuming attitude, ready for whatever the day would bring. As a former third grade teacher, I have a lot of experience with nine year olds. Most of them are silly and fun and just want to enjoy themselves. They interact with each other in the sweetest ways if you catch them at the right moment. They can be infuriating as they attempt to gain independence as big kids, but they also want your help and sometimes relish being treated like little kids.
And the adults who were killed—a custodian, substitute teacher, and a head of school. It is said that the custodian loved his job and the kids all loved him. The substitute teacher was a woman who loved others well. The head of school had a supernatural gift for working with children and families. All gave their lives in service of children.
As I continue to think about this awful tragedy and the horrific roots of demonic evil that led to the deaths of these innocent lives, I cannot help but wonder, “God where are you?” I wonder, “How can things like this keep happening?”
I have been studying Isaiah over the last few weeks. It has long been a favorite book of mine and I am enjoying slowly reading through it and really poring over the text. It seemed an unorthodox choice for a Lent reading plan to prepare for Easter, but it has been such an encouragement to my heart. Did you know that Isaiah is considered “the 5th gospel?” This is due to the beautiful theme of Messianic prophecy that points us to the coming Christ.
Easter is a time of celebrating our risen Savior. But before we can get to Sunday, we have to consider the darkness of Friday. Three days before He rose from the dead triumphantly, Jesus was crucified and died a sinner’s death on a cross. He bore the shame and guilt of all mankind. He was forsaken by His Heavenly Father, whipped, beaten, mocked, and rejected. Yet He went to the cross with a heart of humble obedience because His entire life’s purpose was to show others the love of His Father.
Isaiah 53 says:
“Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”
Isaiah 53:1-12 ESV
Consider what this text tells us about Jesus and about us:
He was not a super handsome guy that everyone would be impressed with.
He was despised and rejected.
He understands grief because He bore our grief.
The cross brought Him great shame and He took our sins upon us without one complaint.
He was buried in a borrowed grave.
He was crushed by His Father.
In the midst of His sacrifice for us, verse 6 says that we still want to go our own way, so blinded we are by our selfish desires and pain.
Yet verse 12 says, “He makes intercession for the transgressors.”
This is the heart of God. To send His Son to earth for us to show us who He truly is and then to allow Him to intercede for us, pleading that the Father give us mercy.
We cannot make sense of the tragedy in Nashville with our human minds. We know that God works all things together for good and that He is near to the broken-hearted. But we also don’t understand why He allows bad things to happen to those who love Him and serve Him and walk with Him.
Romans 5:8 says that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Christ died for me. Christ died for you. Christ died for murderers. Christ died for victims. Christ died for all, but not all will receive Him.
When we look at the model of Christ, we see a life poured out—literally to the point of death. But we also see victory. Three days later, He rose from the grave. When He rose from the grave, He defeated death. Death is not the end. Those of us who are in Christ are already living an eternal life with Him, and death will just transfer us from this world to His in heaven.
Friend, as you prepare for Easter this weekend, don’t rush to the celebration and victory. Remember the grief and sorrow of our suffering Savior. And after you’ve considered His priceless and matchless gift to us, thank Him for the life He has given through His precious Son.
Scripture from this episode:
Isaiah 53
John 10:10
Romans 5:8
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