This is a very special time for all Christians. It is probably the holiest time of the year. Easter week and Sunday is well recognized. We all know what this week is about.
We see Christ entering Jerusalem, His entering the temple, removing the money changers, having the last supper, His trial, and His crucifixion. All culminating to His resurrection and visitation to His disciples.
This whole story is most amazing. But what do we really know about the whole story? We call His entry into Jerusalem on a donkey His triumphal entry, it is fitting since He was triumphant over this world. His work here was almost complete. He was coming as the King He was and is. The people came and lined the streets to welcome Him. This is a display of who He is. He is the Son of God, the King of Kings and our Lord. He fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah. People celebrated Him as the King, as the Messiah.
He entered the temple and began to rebuke those who had no respect for the house of the Lord. He turned over the tables of the money changers and healed the blind and lame. This showed His position, He is the Son of God and has the authority from God to take charge. This further established who He is. He wasn’t concerned about what anyone thought, especially the priests.
We learn much for each day He was in Jerusalem. Consider the fig tree, when Jesus came to it, He found no figs and He cursed the tree and it withered. This is a reference to Jerusalem in that it was pleasant to see but was fruitless in it’s following the law. It refers to His judgement to come. Jesus goes away with His disciples and gives them parables to explain what it’s like in the land. Consider His parable about the wedding feast. In Matthew 22:9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.
This was done after those who were invited would not attend. Jesus came to the Jews first, to offer salvation, to come to Him and believe, but they refused. So, Jesus invited all who would believe and accept Him. The fig tree represents those who hold only to their ways, and will not produce the fruit that God had always intended.
The last supper had very revealing information. This opened up the door for all who would follow Him. He demonstrated that as He served, we are to serve. As He is our Lord, and we are to obey our Lord, then we are to follow His example. He allowed all to become more than servants of the Lord, we are to be His friends as well. This friendship is different in that He can always be counted on in any circumstance or situation. He invited those with Him to partake of Him. We are to always remember this and to share this with others. The symbolic bread of His body, blessed and shared. The symbolic wine to represent His blood. Blood shed for our salvation. God requires blood to cleanse the sins as it was in those times and before, the goat was our sacrifice. Jesus had replaced all that with Himself. He let them know that He was soon to be sacrificed and that they should wait on His return in three days.
We go now to the garden where He prayed, and the human part was asking that if there was any other way. But instead of refusing, He said in Luke 22:42 He spoke” Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”
This show of obedience was another lesson for us all.
After this He was taken, He was put on trial. Even Pilot could find no fault with Him and desired to release Him. But the crowd would not let Him go. They shouted crucify Him. Pilot relented and gave Him over for death.
Jesus fulfilled the prophecies about Him being mocked, beaten and finally crucified. With two thieves He was placed on the cross. Even while He was there, He forgave and saved the thief who asked Him. This demonstrated that even at the deaths door, we can be saved.
Jesus demonstrated the way we are to forgive, as He asked God to forgive those who did this to Him. When He died, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom, this demonstrated that man has direct access to God now through Him.
On the first day of the week, Jesus demonstrated His power over death as He was resurrected. Those who came to His tomb found it empty. Jesus appeared in person to many and showed that there truly is life after death. This is recorded by the Disciples as well as those who were not believers. Imagine that even those who scoffed at Him, had to admit that He was alive. Those people ordered that another story be put out to explain His appearance.
Jesus gave a commission to all believers.
Matthew 28:19-20, which reads: "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen". This passage is often called the "Great Commission”.
AMEN