Most churches get excited for Palm Sunday. I can remember being a member of worship teams that helped get everyone ready to process into the sanctuary, waving palms while singing hymns. The smile, joy, and energy in the room were something that I would never forget.
Palm Sunday is the start of our Holy Week. It is a beautiful story that should be something that we smile about. Who wouldn't smile hearing shouts of praise as a beloved "prophet" rode into the Holy City on a donkey, a symbol of peace? This long-awaited Messiah, foretold by prophets 700 years before his arrival, had come and ministered to all people in love. The One the crowd waited for was to be a warrior, one who would rescue the people of Israel and save them. This warrior, Jesus of Nazareth, was not a typical warrior. He didn't come into the city on a colt waging war. He went on a donkey, a symbol of peace, fulfilling the prophecy, "He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Perhaps I enjoy looking at the not-so-pleasant side of things, and my writing can often be a blunt reality check on how people react to the Christ-following tradition. If ever there was a time to be the straightforward way God made me, I believe it is now, the beginning of a week of Horror.
Palm Sunday Overview
Jesus sent his disciples to retrieve a donkey after dining at the home of a Pharisee. When they asked where to find one, he told them they would find one tied and ready for them. When the owner, who will be present, asks them why they are taking it, they are to say, "Jesus needs it" (of course, that is my way of saying it). Jesus sent them to get a donkey, not a horse, not a camel, but a donkey. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The presence of the donkey demonstrated that Jesus was the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, fulfilling scripture foretold before the arrival by the prophets.
While Jesus rode into the city, he heard shouts from the followers of Hosana, Hosana! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! They waved palm branches and placed the branches and clothing articles in the path as he rode through the city. Palm branches were considered symbols of victory and triumph at the time. The presence of the followers and palm branches demonstrated the victory to come with his death on the cross. The dark prince thought he was about to win his fight with Jesus. Little did he know Jesus had already won.
Palm Sunday From the Perspective of Jesus
When thinking about Palm Sunday, it is necessary to think about the importance of the presence of Jesus. To do that, we must remember that Jesus was present before he entered the world in human form. Jesus was in God's heavenly realm before God told him it was time for his journey to earth in the form of humanity to be the ultimate sacrifice. The Passover festival was underway, and Jesus was riding into the city. His presence to the Pharisees was that of a parasite needing to be exterminated. He knew that although at this moment when people were shouting praises to Him with his entry being one of peace, his week was about to end in Horror. Hebrews 10:12 and Hebrews 13:5 says, "But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God…Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Jesus knew what was coming. He knew this entry into the city would end in his death. This started his week of Horror. How did he know his time had come?
By this time, the Pharisees and Sadducees had been stalking and trying to find ways to capture and try Jesus for what they deemed Heinous Crimes against the Torah. To them, Jesus was just a carpenter, a nobody, who had come to destroy everything they worked to uphold. The Pharisees were in the crowds and witnessed some of Jesus' ministry. It was not of God to them; it was the work of a dark force. That is right; the Pharisees and Sadducees equated Jesus' ministry to Satan's. To put the cherry on top of the sundae, Jesus also gained followers in large numbers, putting into question the authority and power of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Now they had to find a way to arrest and eliminate him from the earth. The High Jewish Court did not have the authority to kill anyone because it would go against their laws. So, how would they do it? How would this week unfold?
Holy Monday: Jesus Got Mad Too, Ya'll
Mark 11:15-18
On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out those buying and selling there. He overturned the money changers' tables and the benches of those selling doves and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers.'"
The chief priests and the law teachers heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him because the crowd was amazed at his teaching.
This needed to happen. Jesus saw those known as profiteers who were in cahoots with the priests. They were allowed to not only sell in the out courts of the temple; they were robbing individuals in a way by selling "approved" sacrificial animals at an overly inflated rate. The outer courts were also the only areas where Gentiles were allowed to worship and pray. God had intended for every space of the Temple to be a house of prayer for all nations. The priests and profiteers had turned the outer courts into a place for thieves and robbers to hide. Jesus was not going to stand by and allowed the House of God to be a place where those who are unrepentant and actively sin with no remorse could hide. He decided to free the sacrificial animals and cleanse the temple of those evildoers.
Holy Tuesday: Why Not Teach? He Was About to Be Killed Anyway, Right?
Jesus is in the temple, and he begins to teach in the way that was common for him and many others before him. A parable was used called the Parable of the Tenants. Tenant farming was common practice during this time. Using this imagery would have captivated his audience. In the Old Testament, vineyards were often used to associate with Israel. The vinedressers represented the rulers of Israel, and the vineyard described the people of God as a whole.
In this parable, the vinedressers didn't own the land, and the Landowner allowed them to work in his vineyard. They turn against the owner and will one day regret that decision. The owner would send messenger after messenger, and the vinedressers continued to beat and mistreat his messengers, mocking the Landowner's authority. The owner decided to send his son. The vinedressers thought the Landowner would give up the land if they killed his son.
This parable teaches that Jesus knew, understood, and told the crowd: "I am the Son of God, and I am about to die."
Holy Wednesday: The Pharisees and Sadducees Find a Way In!
On this day, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples and the keeper of the funds (a.k.a. the treasurer), is offered 30 pieces of silver if he agrees to betray Jesus and turn him over. It is written that Satan entered Judas. One would think as a follower of Jesus: listening to his sermons, watching how he loved anyone unconditionally (including Judas), never wavered in his ministry, that Judas would show some reluctance in handing him over. There was no motive for handing Jesus over other than one: greed. Judas was a thief, and he often stole from the treasury of his family among the disciples.
C.H. Spurgeon wrote: "Yet many have sold Jesus for a less price than Judas received; a smile or a sneer has been sufficient to induce them to betray their Lord."didn't
Maundy Thursday
Jesus is in the Upper Room with his disciples. He knows he is in his final hours. He is having the Passover meal when he kneels at his disciples' feet and begins to wash his feet. The disciple is confused and tells him not to wash his feet.
Jesus washed the disciples' feet to continue to teach and demonstrate that to be a follower of Christ, "indeed, one must be willing to serve others. In ancient times, washing guests' feet was given to the lowest servant on the totem pole, and nothing was beneath Jesus when it came to serving others. Why do we allow our ego to get in the way of serving like Christ?
Luke 22:15-20
Jesus said, "I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 16 For I tell you now that I won't eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God." Then he took a cup of wine and thanked God for it. Then he said, "Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come." He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." After supper, he took another cup of wine and said, "This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.
It was after supper that Jesus announced one among them would betray him. When asked who it was, Jesus revealed it was the one who dipped his hand into the bread bowl at the same time as Jesus did. The disciples saw it was Judas, and Jesus told him to go and do what he must do.
Jesus announces that all of the disciples would deny him. Peter pushed back at Jesus and declared he would never. Jesus looks at his beloved disciple and tells him, "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times."
Now to the Garden of Gethsemane. Here Jesus instructs his disciples to wait while he goes and prays. In his time of prayer, we get a glimpse of the humanity of Jesus. He knows his mission, yet he asks God if there is any other way to save all of humanity to let it be so. He concludes with his understanding that it is God's will, not his will; he will follow.
Judas arrives, and Jesus is arrested. Before Jesus is taken away, Peter tries to fight off a guard and cuts off his ear. This is the last miracle Jesus will provide. He grabs the ear and attaches it to the guard. He reminds Peter that those who live by the sword will die by the sword. Jesus is carried away. As the Sanhedrin is trying him, Peter is noticed by crowds and is pointed out that he is "one of those who followed Jesus." Indeed, as Jesus predicted, Peter denied him three times before the cock crowed,
Good Friday
The Sanhedrin (the Jewish high court) knew they could not kill him without the help of the Romans. They take Jesus to Pontius Pilate. Pontius Pilate finds no fault with him. Even his wife tells him not to have anything to do with this man as she had a horrible dream of what would happen if he did. Pontius tells the Sanhedrin he finds no fault. This displeases the Sanhedrin, who, by this time, had manipulated the crowds into betraying their thoughts about Jesus and choosing now to condemn him. They shouted for crucifixion, the most torturous death. Per tradition, Pontius Pilate would release a prisoner during this Passover festival. He asked the crowd who they wanted: Barabas, a known murderer, or Jesus. The crowds shouted for Barabas, who was then released.
Jesus was beaten to an inch of his life with a flog. After a crown of thorns was placed on his head, he was forced to carry his cross to Calvary. He was nailed to the cross with one nail in each hand (because the Greeks do not have a word for wrist, it is believed the word hand was used. Jesus was more than likely nailed to the cross with a nail in each wrist) and a nail in his feet. The cross was lifted and slammed into the hole in the ground.
While on the Cross, we witness the presence of the human side of Jesus as he cries out, My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me? This is the only time he refers to God as God, not the Father. God had turned his back on Jesus to fulfill this, and he had to. Jesus also yells from the cross, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. In the ministry, he taught on earth about forgiveness and continued hammering while on the cross. He yelled for the forgiveness of the people. He told a thief he would be with him in paradise, hammering the message he taught that it is never too late for a new beginning.
As Sabbath drew near, the body of Jesus had to be quickly prepared and placed in the tomb. One of the Pharisees had a change of heart and stepped up to assist with Jesus' body.
I challenge you to think about what this week symbolizes. I want each one of you to reflect on how each day was something trying for Jesus as he watched the proverbial clock count down to his final hours. He knew his time was coming to an end. Jesus didn't stop doing what he was called to do. He didn't decide to kick back and have some fun. He fulfilled the prophecy until his last breath.
Holy Week is not joyous. Holy Week is not pretty. Holy Week is a week of horror as we realize the excruciating pain Jesus went through on our behalf. He paid a price we can never repay. He took the world's weight: every sin, shame, agony, and despair to the cross for us.
But wait...Easter Sunday is coming...
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