Why is Wednesday of Holy Week called Tenebrae? Tenebrae - is literally translated from Latin to mean 'darkness' or sometimes we'll see the word 'shadow'.
Both are true. In the evening of today, many church will observe a solemn, quiet service - where the lights are turned down slowly and the candles or lamps are extinguished to symbolize the shadow of the darkness of the suffering that Jesus endure in the next few days.
This evening turns our focus off of the miracles that Jesus performed; the parables He spoke; the triumphal entry into Jerusalem where people, including children were shouting out 'Hosanna in the Highest - Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord'; the driving out of thieves from His temple.
It's interesting to note that Hoshana (Hebrew) literally means 'Save us'. The people were looking to Jesus to be their great deliverer from the hand of Rome. To us now it's a term of adoration, because He has become the Great Deliverer in our lives in many, many way.
Tonight takes our focus off ourselves and our own suffering and places our focus on the suffering that Jesus went through to 'Save us'.
It's a time to reflect; a time to remember; a time to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to the Lord - Romans 12:1 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." Tonight - many of us have church services to go to or times of reflection.
Let us all remember what the next few days represent and really put some thought into what it means personally to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God, the Father - just as Jesus was no doubt beginning to think the same thing.
We know how the story ends (or was that just the beginning?) - but let's go back with Jesus to where He was during this time - let's share in His sufferings and really make this Resurrection season meaningful for not just today, but throughout our lives.
May this be a day of quiet reflection. May you be changed by sacrifice.
No Sacrifice - Jason Upton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGV_LEnx79I
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