We’ve just walked through Holy Week. The last week before Jesus was crucified. It got me thinking. What did my week consist of? I bought groceries. I went to the meat shop. I did laundry. I had two chiropractor appointments. I volunteered with my Awana group at church. I went to a senior dinner at church. I attended the Good Friday service. What exactly was holy about my week?

And then I think about the week that Jesus had. It was a busy week for him. Jesus was well aware that his life was on the line. Oh. I’m not talking about his sacrificial death to redeem us from our sins. I’m talking about the threats he received from those who led the political and religious happenings of Jerusalem. His teachings had stirred up the leaders who secretly met to plot his death.

Jesus and his disciples had spent much time traveling and teaching in what could be called modern day Jordan. It was an area outside the reach of the powers of Jerusalem. There he could continue the final days of his ministry at a safe distance from where the events of the final week would occur. I guess this week could be considered the calm before the storm. I wonder if the disciples sensed a shift in his mood. Were they aware how close they were coming to the end of his earthly ministry? Or, were they all caught up in teaching and performing miracles that they didn’t realize what was ahead? It wasn’t as if he hadn’t warned them. But since his words were cloaked in mystery, they didn’t quite understand or believe him when he told them of what he would face.

As Jesus and his disciples began their trek into Jerusalem in preparation for Passover, he kept his ministry low-key. He avoided crowds, because he didn’t want to be spotted. So, when he returned to Bethany, he stayed with Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. Yes, this was the Lazarus who Jesus had earlier raised from the dead. They were close friends, and Jesus knew he needed to prepare for the path that was ahead for him. He was close enough to the epicenter of Jerusalem, yet far enough to rest in peace and quiet.

The thing is. He didn’t have to head into Jerusalem. He knew that’s where the events to end his life would take place. But he walked head on into the next week with his head held high. He walked into that week knowing that he was the Son of God, and he would fulfill his Father’s plan for his life. Even when it cost him his earthly life. He didn’t back down from what lay ahead. He didn’t try to take the easy way out. He surrendered to his Father’s will.

Palm Sunday. Jesus had instructed his disciples to have a donkey prepared for him to ride into Jerusalem. As he rode down the streets that first day of the week, the crowds waved palm branches and threw down their coats for the colt to walk on. They did this in submission to him. They recognized him for who he truly was. The long-awaited Messiah.

And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:9

House Cleaning Monday. Have you ever walked into a room and saw something you never expected? That’s exactly what happened to Jesus the day after the people recognized him as the Promised Messiah. Vendors were desecrating the Holy Temple. They had set up stalls and were selling their goods in the place where the Scriptures were read and discussed on the Sabbath. In the place where people came to offer sacrifices, the religious leaders had allowed commerce to replace the sacred call to worship.

Jesus knew that faith wasn’t a commodity to be bought on a Monday. He knew there was a better place to set up a farmer’s market than the Temple. It was with a righteous anger that he overturned the tables of those exchanging money. And with holy authority, he spoke words that dug deep into the hearts of those who heard. They knew exactly what he meant, and they knew their greed had been exposed.

He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!” Matthew 21:13

Teaching Tuesday. Jesus had once again spent the night in Bethany, but then returned to the city the following morning. He again went to the Temple, where he had serious debates with the Pharisees and Sadducees about many issues. He talked about taxes, and he challenged them as they questioned his authority. He shared parable after parable with the crowds, and he prophesied about how the Temple would one day be destroyed. The Sadducees questioned him about the resurrection, and Jesus silenced them with his wise response. When the Pharisees learned the Sadducees couldn’t trip up Jesus, they came and questioned him about which of the commandments was the greatest. At the end of the day, the religious leaders were quieted by his wisdom.

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet. Matthew 21:45-46

And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. Matthew 22:46

Betrayal Wednesday. It was Wednesday when the scene began to shift. Things took a serious turn when Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples specifically chosen by Jesus, arranged a meeting with the chief priests. I wonder if they had any suspicions about his intent when we came to them. But he opened with the door they were looking for to take down the one who always bested them with his exact teachings. They finally had an opportunity to remove the threat to the control they wielded. Oh. It wasn’t about their faith. That wasn’t even a thought. It was revenge.

They had found a traitor from within the inner circle of the man they hunted. I’m sure they rubbed their hands together with glee as they plotted his takedown. The mark was now in sight. They no longer had to hunt him down or try to trick him into blaspheming himself. One of his own had just handed him over. But what this traitor didn’t know at the time was that he had just sold his own soul to the one who could never offer redemption.

Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. Matthew 26:14-16

Maundy Thursday. Jesus wanted to celebrate the Passover dinner with the Twelve, so he instructed some of them to make the arrangements for the meal. And in that upper room, as they sat and feasted, he took bread and broke it. Telling them the bread was broken in place of his body. And the wine they drank represented his blood that would be spilled. He then washed their feet in reverence and humility, showing a true servant’s heart. Oh. He told them that one who sat at the table with them would betray him. In disbelief, eleven had the fright of their lives. The twelfth one knew he had been outed. He left quietly to fulfill his plan of betrayal.

After the dinner, Jesus took three of his disciples with him to the Mount of Olives. He was greatly burdened because he knew what was ahead for him that very night. He asked his disciples to pray with him. They fell asleep instead.

And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39

But the night wasn’t over just yet. As he was speaking to the disciples who were with him, Judas appeared with temple guards. Judas leaned over and kissed Jesus on the cheek to show that he was the man who should be arrested.

Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Or Friend, why are you here? Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. Matthew 26:48-50

After seizing Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, the guards brought him before Caiaphas and the entire council. They were looking for false witnesses who would testify against Jesus. Of course, they found a couple of men who were willing to say anything. But Jesus didn’t respond. He kept quiet when they pressed him. And then when Jesus did speak, they accused him of blasphemy. Now. They could finally sentence him to death. This was what they had been waiting for for so long. In the middle of the night, without any rest, Jesus was forced to stand trial for crimes he didn’t commit.

But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are; the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Matthew 26:63-66

Good Friday. As soon as it was morning, Jesus was bound and turned over to Pontius Pilate, who was the governor. It was the custom to release a prisoner at this time during the Passover celebration, so Pilate thought he might be able to maneuver his way into releasing Jesus. Because. The thing is. After questioning Jesus, he realized the man was not guilty. He hadn’t committed any crime. And when he asked the crowds of people which prisoner should be released, he gave them an option. Jesus or Barabbas, a violent murderer. But the crowds had been manipulated by the religious leaders. And they wanted Jesus to pay. With his life. So they yelled for Barabbas to be released and Jesus to be killed. Those who just days earlier bowed in awe at the Promised Messiah now wanted him dead. Oh. How the tide had turned.

Pontius Pilate’s wife had warned her husband to have nothing to do with Jesus. So, in an act of resignation, Pilate got a bowl of water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. As if that act alone could release him from the guilt of sending an innocent man to his death. And he submitted Jesus to the crowd’s demand for death.

The soldiers stripped Jesus of his clothes, beat him and shoved a crown of thorns on his head. Then they handed him a cross and demanded he drag it up the hill to Golgotha where they would hang him on it. Weak from the beating and loss of blood, Jesus could barely walk, let alone carry a heavy wooden cross. In a last minute effort to relieve him, someone was selected to carry his cross. But no one was hammered on the cross in his place. He hung on the cross and died in front of a small crowd of witnesses.

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30

As his body was taken down before the Sabbath began, a follower of Christ stepped up and offered his tomb where Jesus’ body was placed.

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Matthew 27:57-60

Holy Saturday. It was a quiet day. It was a holy day. The Sabbath. No work was done. No celebrations. On that day, Jesus descended into Hell to proclaim victory over death. And he proclaimed freedom for righteous souls.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which the Spirit, in whom he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they did not formerly obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 1 Peter 3:18-20

Easter Sunday. Then came the morning. Day dawned and the stone rolled. Not by the strength of man, but by the power of God. And as two disciples ran to the tomb in the early morning hours, they stood in disbelief at what they saw. An angel stood by the stone that was no longer blocking the entrance. And when they looked in the tomb, it was empty. They ran to tell others. And later, Jesus appeared to a dazed Mary Magdalene who, in her confusion, didn’t recognize him. Until he spoke her name. Then she knew exactly who was standing there in front of her, alive as could be.

Jesus had risen from the dead and had walked right out of that tomb. That tomb that had held his lifeless and torn body overnight was suddenly empty. Jesus is alive!

But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” Matthew 28:5-7

Oh. There is much more to this story than what I’ve shared here. You can read the details in Matthew 21-28.

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Some may wonder why I’m writing about this scene of events when Holy Week is ending. Honestly, it never crossed my mind last week to consider the events of this week in such detail. But it did this week. And I bet I’m not the only one who didn’t think of it. It’s easy to overlook the happenings of someone else’s bad week unless we see it in print or photos or read about it. But this bad week in the life of Jesus of Nazareth proved to be the best thing that has ever happened for those of us who come behind.

We are now offered redemption for our sins, because Jesus paid the price by dying on the cross. In order to receive the free gift of eternal life, we must die to ourselves and receive his forgiveness.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Romans 3:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10