It’s the single most important week in all of history. We call it Holy Week or Passion Week. It’s the last week of the life of Jesus. Approximately thirty percent of the gospel accounts are focused on this one week. The gospel of John dedicates over forty percent to this final week, including give chapters on just one night. It is obviously a very important week. Assuming the earth is about 6,000 years old, there have been approximately 312,000 weeks throughout history. This one week stands above them all. No other week in human history holds more weight.
This blog can be read in it’s entirety, or it could be broken up daily over the Holy Week. It’s a day-by-day guide of Jesus’s final week. It’s the Road to Resurrection!
Sunday
Palm Sunday was the point of no return. The palm branches line the pathway as the King enters. The palms are symbolic of victory. The victorious king is coming through. But, can you imagine the crowd when Jesus enters on a donkey? The mighty king, the victorious one is riding through town on the lowliest of animals. Jesus is coming in peace and humility. The intentional entering of Jerusalem on the donkey was a fulfillment of prophecy from Zechariah 9:9. The large crowds in town for the annual Passover were now openly proclaiming Jesus as their king (and not Caesar). The Pharisee leaders instruct Jesus to deny his claims as the messiah … but Jesus refuses. The Holy week begins with a resolute and determined Savior!
Monday
It’s Monday the day after Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and he wasted no time. Matthew 21:12-13 says: Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, ” ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’ ” Make no mistake Jesus was on a mission. First, he triumphs into Jerusalem proclaiming to be the Messiah. Now he is further sealing his own fate … actually, his destiny. He knew what he was doing as he continues boldly to the cross!
Tuesday
It’s Tuesday and the crowds have gathered at the temple to hear what Jesus had to say. Could he continue to match the fireworks of the past two days? On Sunday he boldly rides into Jerusalem proclaiming to be the King of Israel, the long awaited Messiah. On Monday he confronts the money-changers in the temple. On Tuesday he continues his boldness and resolve. He begins with three parables. All three are scathing rebukes of the religious leaders. He even goes so far as telling them, “…the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.” The religious leaders are furious, the Roman officials are nervous, but the people are listening. Still trying to trick him, they ask Jesus about giving to Caesar. They believe there is no way he can answer the question without upsetting his followers, but Jesus cannot be tricked. Forget all preconceptions you may have of a meek, mild mannered Jesus. It’s Holy Week and our Savior is boldly walking to the cross and confronting the establishment on the way. It’s Tuesday and the final scene is being set!
Wednesday
It’s Wednesday and it’s the calm before the storm. Wednesday of the Holy Week is sometimes referred to as silent Wednesday. Jesus and the disciples were likely resting before the upcoming feasts. What we do know is the religious leaders had been silenced by Jesus on Tuesday. They even made the decision to not ask him any more questions (Matthew 22:46). On Wednesday the who’s who of religious leaders called a secret meeting at the home of Caiaphas (the high priest). Many scholars believe it was on this day that Judas agreed to the terms for selling out Jesus. The religious leaders were angry and conspiring, but little did they know that they were about to carry out God’s redemptive plan. It’s silent on Wednesday, but the storm clouds are gathering. The most important event in history is a mere two days away!
Thursday
It’s Thursday and not just a normal Thursday. This day is full of activity. The day might have started calmly, but things definitely got busy as the evening hours came. The first part of the day would have been final preparations for the Passover celebration that was to happen that night. This is something they had done every year with great celebration, reverence, and remembrance. Little did they know that this Passover would be different. A great deal is written on this one night. An evening celebration meal suddenly turned when Jesus proclaimed that one of those in the room would betray him. He then continued the Seder meal with the disciples, which included the traditional breaking of the bread and sharing of the cup. However, a new and deeper significance was being instituted by Jesus. This tradition that had been practiced for centuries on Passover was now taking on a new symbolism. After the dinner the disciples and Jesus journeyed to the Mount of Olives, and then went a short distance to the Garden of Gethsemane. Alone in the garden, while the disciples fell asleep, Jesus had a passionate prayer to His Father. One last time Jesus submits to His Father, “Not my will, but Yours be done”. An interesting side note is the meaning of “Gethsemane”, which means “oil press”. Located near the Mount of Olives, it was here that the olives were pressed to create olive oil. When olives are pressed they initially ooze out a blood red color before turning into the green color we are so familiar with. the olives have to be pressed with extreme pressure until the oil is forced out of their pores. Throughout history oil has been used to anoint royalty, prophets, or priests. Biblically we see it used as a healing agent. Jesus could have had this final agonizing prayer anywhere, but the place of choosing was right here at the “oil press”. The Bible doesn’t make mistakes! Judas does return and does betray Jesus. Jesus is arrested and sent before the Sanhedrin court immediately. They wanted this trial as quickly as possible, and they weren’t concerned about a fair trial. Jesus is alone in the basement prison cell at the home of Caiaphas. All of the disciples had scattered and hid in fear of their own lives. Peter followed from a distance to try and see where Jesus was taken, but even he denied Jesus that night a total of three times. A long day is coming to an end. What started with celebration has completely turned into a catastrophe. And now, the stage is set for the next day, the day that changed everything.
Prepare. Upper room. Wash. Cleanse. Feet. Passover. Meal. Share. Laughter. Celebration. Who is greatest? Betrayer departs. Love each other. Farewell. Helper is coming. One with Father. The Cornerstone. Vine. Branches. Body. Broken. Blood. Poured out. Bread. Wine. Remember me. Glorify me. Peter prediction. Garden. Sorrow. Darkest hour. Struggle. Watch. Prayer. Cup pass from me. Not my will. Your will. Asleep. Watch. Pray. Your will. Lonely. I will. The hour has come!
Friday
It’s Friday … it’s late at night. Jesus spent the previous evening with his disciples. He then goes to the garden to pray. In the darkness of night, a great crowd armed with swords led by Judas approach Jesus. Jesus is arrested, and from here escorted to a series of “trials”. While Jesus endures false testimony, physical abuse and ridicule, Peter had followed at a safe distance. While in the courtyard of Caiaphas’ palace, Peter three times denies he knows Jesus. As the rooster crows, he is reminded of Jesus’ prediction of this denial. When daylight comes Jesus is taken before Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea. Though the Sanhedrin and Jewish leaders had already found Jesus guilty, a death penalty could not be delivered without approval by the Roman government. Pilate wanted nothing to do with Jesus. He didn’t care about the theological accusations from the Jewish leadership. He didn’t see a reason to convict Jesus. Looking for a way out, Pilate remembers the custom of releasing one prisoner during Passover. Pilate gives the people a choice between Jesus or Barabbas, a known violent criminal. Surely the people would choose Jesus. The people had a choice: release Jesus the Christ or Jesus Barabbas (yes his name was also Jesus). The name “Jesus” is from the Hebrew name Joshua, meaning “salvation”. “Barabbas” is a hellenized version of the Aramaic “bar abba”, or “son of the father”. So, the people had the choice of Jesus “son of the father” and Jesus “son of the FATHER”. They chose Barabbas, choosing this world over Jesus. The Bible doesn’t make mistakes! After the “trials” Jesus was beaten and tortured. Jesus is hung on the cross around the 3rd hour (about 9am). On the 6th hour (around noon) darkness covers the earth. This is the same time that lambs were traditionally slain for the Passover Sabbath dinner! The Bible doesn’t make mistakes! On the 9th hour (3pm) Jesus proclaims “It is Finished!”. An earthquake occurs, and the veil that separated the Most Holy Place was torn, a place that only the High Priest had entered once a year to make a sacrifice for the sins of the people. The veil is now torn, access is granted. The once-for-all sacrifice has been made. The world is dark, Jesus is dead.
Saturday
It’s Saturday … Jesus is dead. His closest followers are in hiding. The tomb is guarded. All hope is gone. They have followed him for three years now. They believed he truly was the long-awaited Messiah. They have seen him perform miracle after miracle. But now, it’s over. Hope has been crushed. Two thousand years later we ask how they could feel like that? Didn’t they listen? Where is their faith? Don’t they know what’s coming tomorrow? The truth is, we all live in “Saturdays”. This whole world, our whole life in some ways, is a “Saturday”. It’s the day that’s nestled between the miracles of the past, and the unknown of the future. It’s the silent day where nothing seems to be happening. It’s the day where hope seems like a distant memory. Not much is recorded in the Bible about this day. We know that guards were sent to the tomb. We assume Jesus’s followers were in hiding, because that is where they are Sunday morning. I guess this is much the same for us. Not much is recorded on the “Saturdays” of our lives. They are the hard days, the doubt-filled, hopeless days. “…Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5). So, it’s Saturday, what do we do? We wait … wait … wait …
Sunday
It’s Sunday … Jesus’ followers were devastated. I imagine them to be sleep deprived. Anyone that has ever lost a loved one knows the pain and challenge of grief. It has now been two sleepless nights, and their world has fallen apart. Sunday starts early. Several women, led by Mary Magdalene, desire to give Jesus’ body a proper anointing in keeping with Jewish customs. This traditionally would have been done before burial, but because of the start of the Sabbath at sundown on Friday, Jesus was buried quickly. So, the women make their way to the tomb with oil and spices in hand. Upon arriving, there are no guards, the large stone that sealed the entrance was moved, and then … the empty grave! Mary Magdalene was very upset and immediately rushed to tell Peter and John that the body of Jesus had been moved. The other women, however, remain at the tomb and are told by an angel that Jesus was alive! The women go to tell the men the good news, but their story is not first believed. The men consider the news initially to be “nonsense”. Mary Magdalene returns to the tomb, and this time encounters Jesus himself! It wasn’t until that evening that the disciples truly believed. They had dismissed the women’s testimony. Even Peter and John after going to the empty tomb simply “returned to where they were staying.” John tells us he saw the empty grave and “believed”, but then immediately confesses that neither he or Peter understood the prophecy of Jesus rising from the dead. But that night, it all changed! Ten of the disciples were hiding in a home in Jerusalem. They were scared, and they were tired. Then suddenly, Jesus enters the room! Sunday started hopeless, but now hope has entered the room … Hope, that is the message of Jesus … everything changes when hope enters. Jesus is my hope. Jesus is your hope. He is alive! He is alive! He is alive!