Holy Week reminds us that whenever our Lord Jesus is revealed as King, whenever He is proclaimed as Messiah, there are only two responses available to men.
On Palm Sunday, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem as Zechariah’s prophesied king, the crowd cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Zech. 9:9, Mt. 21:9). And yet, as they watched Jesus heal the blind and the lame while the children sang, the chief priests and scribes were indignant, and in a few short days, they convinced another crowd to cry, “Crucify Him!” (Mt. 21:15, Mk. 15:13–14).
On Good Friday, when Jesus hung on the cross with thieves as companions, one blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us,” while the other humbly defended Him, asking to be remembered by Jesus when He came into His kingdom (Lk. 23).
Likewise, at the foot of the cross, while the other soldiers mocked Him, one recognized who He truly was at His death and glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man! Truly this was the Son of God!” (Lk. 23:47).
When Christ is presented to the world, He is either worshiped and adored, or hated and reviled. To some, He is the aroma of death leading to death, and to others, He is the aroma of life leading to life (2 Cor. 2:16). There is no neutrality when it comes to Christ Jesus. In this life, He is the great fork in the road, and your response to Him and His claims determine your eternal destination. You are either with Him or against Him (Mt. 12:30). You are either united to Him in His death and resurrection, or you are left condemned in your sins (Jn. 3:18–21).
In one sense, your response to Christ is a single decision. Have you decided to follow Jesus? Have you laid your life down? Have you repented and received baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38)? Then you have been brought into His fold.
But in another sense, this is a decision you must make again each and every day. Are you going to glorify God today? Are you going to reckon yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ (Rom. 6:11)? Are you going to put off the old man and the deeds of the flesh and put on the new man and walk in righteousness (Col. 3:9–10, Eph. 4:22–24)? These questions must be answered every morning and in each moment.
And so as you meditate upon your Lord’s death and resurrection this Holy Week, remember His goodness toward you. Recall those times in your life when, by His grace, you made a decision to follow Him. And endeavor to make that same decision each day for the rest of your lives.