I don't
think we spend much thought on what took place in Jesus’ life during Holy Week,
but I thought it was worth our visit.
As many of
you know, this past Sunday was Palm Sunday, the day that represents Jesus’
triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem.
Mark 11:8-10 (ESV)
8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”
8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”
But, let’s
step back a moment and look at something Jesus knew and foretold to His
disciples before that triumphant entry that day.
Mark 10:32-34 (ESV)
32 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. 34 And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”
32 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. 34 And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”
Jesus was not deceived by the cheers of
the people. He knew that the same crowd that was cheering Him now would be
yelling, “Crucify Him!” several days from then. Amazing the power of influence
of a crowd, isn't it. Hmmm . . . I
wonder if we have ever been part of such a crowd.
Monday has Jesus in the temple chasing
off the moneychangers from His Father's house. Are we so faithful to make sure
our temple, the Father's house, is void of the things of evil?
Tuesday and Wednesday, Jesus continued
to go to the temple and teach His Father's truths.
Thursday, Jesus washed His disciples’
feet and celebrated the Passover meal with them. It was at this time that He
implemented the sacraments. After the Passover meal, Jesus and His disciples
went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. It was there that He was arrested by
the temple guards and taken to the Jewish court of the Sanhedrin.
Friday morning, Jesus was taken to the
Roman courts before Pontius Pilate and Herod Antipas who sent Him back to the
Jewish courts. Roman soldiers took Him to Golgotha where He was crucified.
Saturday, Jesus rested in the tomb
while His disciples observed the Sabbath.
Sunday . . . He has Risen!!!!
I love to
look at Jesus’ journey in the home stretch of His physical life on this earth. He
was never moved to stop doing what the Father told Him to do when He sent Him here
on earth. He continued to obey up to the very end of His physical life to exalt
the Name of His Father and to bring Him glory! May we be reminded to not be
moved by our circumstances away from the purposes that God has given us to bring
Him glory in our daily journey!
His,
Vickie