Easter Week

Parades clogging the streets, music filling the air, candles dripping wax onto the streets, everyone bustling to see the people robed in color carrying depictions of Jesus. 

Do you have any idea what I am describing?

Probably not. While this doesn't sound like our typical Easter week in the states, the Spanish people would identify with it. I was able to witness part of Easter week in Sevilla while I was studying abroad. During “Semana Santa” or Holy Week in Sevilla, there are many processions that occur throughout the week. The processions feature the carrying of “pasos” which are painted wooden sculptures that represent different scenes of what happened between Palm Sunday and Good Friday. The pasos are carried by men who may be barefoot or shackled, in their desire to identify with Jesus’ pain and suffering. The men and children that walk along these pasos in the procession are dressed in robes that were used in medieval times for penitents which demonstrates their repentance while covering up their identity. While dressed in robes, the people also carry candles or wooden crosses as they make their voyage from their local church into the largest cathedral in the city. 

It is a very incredible tradition and procession to witness, something totally different from anything we know here. While I’m sure there are people who identify with Christ and come closer to His love through this process, there is also a large majority for which this is just tradition and festivity. The children that I nannied while I was in Spain did not know why they even celebrated Easter, and their family actually went to church every week. Unfortunately, they are not the minority.

Last week when I shared Easter candy with the kids at school, I asked them if they knew why they celebrated Easter. All but one high school student said no. One of the 5th grade students said no and then attempted, "Isn't it where the chocolate Easter bunny goes searching for all the other chocolates?" One of the high school girls said, "Easter isn't the same here because in Mexico we don't have the rabbits and chocolate." Unfortunately, the United States has turned Easter into the celebration of bunnies and chocolate. There are people all over the world and in our midsts who are lost and don't know the real meaning of Easter.

As we take time to celebrate what Christ has done for each of us and all people of the world, would you take time to pray for those in Spain who do not know Jesus personally? Would you take time to pray for those in your own life who don’t know Jesus personally? Would you take time to share with someone in your own life who may not know the real meaning of Easter?

Let’s join together in prayer for more and more to come to know Jesus and His great love for us that God displayed so clearly through the cross.

To see this video larger click here

On a personal note, I'm looking forward to celebrating Easter with family. It's a blessing to celebrate with my church family and enjoy Easter meals with both sides of my family. 3 years ago when I was in Spain for Easter, it was the hardest and loneliest day of the entire 6 months I spent there. I was so sad that more Spanish people weren't celebrating Easter like they had celebrated all week, and I was maybe more selfishly sad to be missing my family. I thank God for this Easter that I can enjoy with my family. I'm also thankful that though next Easter will be hard without them, Jesus will still be the same. What He did for us remains the same. And He will be celebrated : )