We're entering the biggest week of the year for the worldwide Christian church--Easter week. In liturgical tradition, it's called Holy Week, with each day leading up to Easter representing an important part of Jesus' redeeming story.
Music can tell such amazing stories and paint such dramatic landscapes. Check out our Easter Week Spotify playlist for the following songs, all new within the last year, and of which speak to different aspects of this reflective week. Put these songs on and immerse yourself in this story--a story that still lives on today.
Palm Sunday: "Deliver Us" by Daniel Bashta
When Jesus had his triumphal entry into Jerusalem the week of His death, people laid their cloaks and palm branches in His path, saying, "Hosanna... blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"
Translated, "hosanna" means, "help" or "save, we pray." The exclamation was one that cried out for salvation. In the song "Deliver Us" from Daniel Bashta's The Invisible, Daniel has a similar refrain: "For every heart that's scarred / And every heart that's torn / Still we will rise again / For every dark disease / For every broken dream / Still we will rise again / Deliver us."
The cry that has risen from broken humanity throughout time calls for a savior. That savior is Jesus.
Monday: "Scandal of Grace" by Hillsong United
In the Orthodox Church, Monday of Holy Week was a day to remember the parable of the fruitless fig tree (in Luke 13:6-9), which was said to signify the judgment facing those who don't seek repentance. It also has been a day to recognize that Jesus was innocent and yet accused.
In both cases, "Scandal of Grace" serves as the soundtrack: "Grace, what have You done? / Murdered for me on that cross / Accused in absence of wrong / My sin washed away in Your blood … Oh to be like You / Give all I have just to know You / Jesus, there's no one besides You / Forever the hope in my heart."
Focusing on Jesus as the only One who can give us fruit in our lives--because of His taking our guilt and shame upon Himself--leads us to an inevitable place of awe-inspired worship. This Hillsong United track from Zion fits the bill.
Tuesday: "The Bridegroom" by The Neverclaim
In older Christian liturgy, the day known as "Holy Tuesday" includes teachings and reflections on Jesus Christ, the bridegroom of the church. As the week gets ever closer to Good Friday and Easter, we reflect on the overpowering, all-encompassing love of Jesus for His church.
"You've won Your Bride!" declares The Neverclaim in the triumphant song "The Bridegroom" from the album Revival. The song, as frontman Jeremiah Carlson said in an NRT interview, came from a vision he had of the great wedding that'll take place in Heaven between Christ and His Church. As 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, "You were bought with a price." We reflect on the fact that even in our brokenness and sin, Jesus saw us as beautiful, and went to the Cross for us.
The anchor of the song is a powerful, awe-inspiring chorus: "Behold the Bridegroom / He's dressed up in pure white / And His body bears the marks of an eternal love / on His hands, feet and His side / And we're the bride."
Wednesday: "I Am Living in a Land of Death" by Citizens
"The kingdoms of man have all decayed / The ruins of progress turn to waste / The gods of greed lay in their graves / Darkness is everywhere," wails Citizens frontman Zach Bolen on "I Am Living in a Land of Death" from their self-titled debut.
This Psalm-like passage fits perfectly with the traditional reflections of "Spy Wednesday." It has been called "Spy Wednesday" because the Church has historically remembered Judas' betrayal of Jesus. Despite the hopeless few lines, the song carries with it hope in the darkness: "But there's a path in the dark that has emerged / I can see a great light beyond this curse."
One could almost hear Jesus singing these words as He struggles with the enormity of what He's facing heading into His death and resurrection. Judas betrayed Jesus for 40 pieces of silver, yet this song proclaims, "So much more than precious gold are your promises my Lord."
Maundy Thursday: "I Will Trust in You" by Elevation Worship
This is the day the Church has traditionally remembered Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, a place where He agonized over what was to come the next day. He was overcome with grief and anguish "to the point of death," as Jesus said in Mark 14:34.
"Lord I come / Draw me closer / Hear my prayer / I surrender to You," begins the new Elevation Worship song "I Will Trust in You" from Nothing is Wasted. These words could be Jesus' own, mirroring His yielding to the Father's will in Mark 14:36: "'Father,' he said, 'Everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.'"
This passionate worship ballad lingers on the phrase, "I will trust in You," finishing with the phrase, "You are all I need." Just as we need to say it over and over as a reminder and an anthem, so too did Jesus in His time of anguish and despair. Ultimately God is all we need, and He proves it time and time again.
Good Friday: "You Bled" by Rend Collective Experiment
A simple acoustic treatment of Rend Collective Experiment's "You Bled" allows the beauty and simplicity of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross to shine. There's no Easter Sunday without Good Friday, and as we seek to embrace the beauty and pain of Calvary, consider these truths from the Campfire album:
"You bled your heart out / Now I feel love beat in my chest / How wonderful / You gave Your beauty / In exchange for my ugliness / How wonderful / You left Your perfection / And embraced our rejection / How marvellous / How boundless / Is Your love, is Your love / How wonderful, sacrificial / Is Your love for me."
Holy Saturday: "Is It Ever" by JJ Weeks Band
The Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is always one of the most intriguing days of the Jesus story for me. Nothing is said of this day. All was quiet. And from all appearances, all was lost. Jesus had died. The disciples were scattered. A movement that was rocking a nation appeared to be snuffed out overnight.
But what about the promise? Didn't Jesus say something about rising again? How could something good happen now? All is lost. Have you ever found yourself in that place? I call it "Doubt Saturday." It's that place between the tragedy and the victory.
The song "Is It Ever" by newcomers JJ Weeks Band provides a hopeful soundtrack for such tension on their album, All Over the World: "Isn't it strange how life can pick you up and tear you down? / Before the light of a day you waited for can be found / There's no other way / But to believe there's more than just wondering / Is it ever gonna work itself out? / It's not up to us to figure it out / Cause He said He's gonna work it all out.
Easter Sunday: "Victor's Crown" by Darlene Zschech
Jesus is risen! This is the largest victory, the biggest comeback, the most jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring, shocking event in the history of eternity. The Son of God willingly gave up His life, only to snatch back the keys of death and the grave and become the firstborn of many to be resurrected. Death has no sting, fear has no teeth; Jesus reigns.
On this day of unparalleled celebration, Darlene Zschech's song from Revealing Jesus, "Victor's Crown," tells the story and carries the requisite wonder and joy: "At the cross the work was finished / You were buried in the ground / But the grave could not contain You / For You wear the Victor's crown / Hallelujah / You have overcome, You have overcome / Hallelujah / Jesus You have overcome the world."
So what does this mean for all of us, today? The powerful bridge of the song declares the ripple effect that's being felt today, and will continue to be felt for eternity: "Every high thing must come down / Every stronghold shall be broken / You wear the Victor's crown / You will overcome, You will overcome!"
His victory is ours, and we can celebrate in the completed work of the cross and the empty tomb!
Play the Soundtrack Here!
