Holy Week Leading To Easter

[Administrator]

Jesus was the most important person who ever lived. His birth, life, work, death, and resurrection literally changed the course of history. It's the center-point of time and the most important moment in history. Each year on Easter, we remember how He died for our sins and celebrate the greatest comeback of all time. Journey with us for eight days as we follow Jesus from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday!

 

[Administrator]

Day 1

Swept Up in the Moment​

By Danny Saavedra​

“When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, ‘Hosanna!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’”—Mark 11:7–10 (NIV)

Have you ever been swept up in a communal reaction? Think about being at the big game watching your team win as the crowd goes wild and strangers are hugging and high-fiving! Or how about being in the high school cafeteria and all of sudden someone bursts in and yells, “FIGHT!” Like sheep, everyone runs out and is soon caught up in the chaos, chanting, “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

The truth is a lot of our reactions to things are influenced by the masses. We can get swept up in the relevance and hysteria of a moment. Sometimes, it’s justified—the Cinderella story of the Saints winning the Super Bowl the year Katrina devastated New Orleans, or joining a peaceful demonstration for a worthy cause—and other times, things get out of hand as agitators incite the worst—like fans rioting and looting in celebration of their team winning a championship!

One of the things I love most about the Gospel of Mark is how often he emphasizes the people’s reactions toward Jesus, whether it be amazement, shock, confusion, joy, or indignation. I imagine it was easy to get swept up in the excitement and buzz around the movement of Jesus.

Today, as we kick off Holy Week, I want to touch on two instances that occurred during Jesus’ final week in which the people got swept up in a moment. The first moment is when Jesus rode into Jerusalem. You see, as Jesus will say just a few verses later in John 12:23 (NKJV), “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.” Jesus was on a mission to tear down the veil between God and man (2 Corinthians 5:18), render sin powerless (Romans 6:6), defeat death (1 Corinthians 15:55), and set us free (Galatians 5:1). Nothing was going to stop Him from fulfilling His mission to rescue us . . . the hour had indeed come!

And so, as Jesus rode into Jerusalem to fulfill His mission, people began to stir and suddenly everyone was getting swept up in it, laying out palm branches and shouting “Hosanna in the highest!” The phrase in the highest implies to the utmost, highest degree, or in the highest heavens. Many scholars believe the people were likely calling on heaven to participate in glorifying Jesus with cries of salvation to confirm the growing suspicion that He was the promised Messiah.

For three years, the people had seen or heard stories of amazing miracles and revolutionary, authoritative teachings. In fact, just days before this Jesus taught He was “the good shepherd” (a designation reserved for David) and had raised Lazarus from the dead! And so, with excitement and expectation at a fever pitch, the masses joyfully shouted in unison.

Sadly, we humans, like sheep, are fickle and easily swayed, and days later the same people that shouted “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” would shout “Crucify Him!” This is the second instance I was referring to. Here, the Pharisees incited the crowd to demand Jesus die a gruesome death reserved for criminals.

But here’s the craziest thing about this: Jesus knew this would happen! He knew He’d be betrayed, suffer, and be subjected to a criminal’s death. But He did it anyway because He loves us so deeply, completely, and unconditionally!

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) tells us, “For the joy set before him he endured the cross.” What joy? The joy of redeeming and restoring us to a right relationship with God, to make us children of God, to give us everlasting life! He did it for the joy of you! Psalm 18:19 (ESV) says, “He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.” Let this sink in: Because Jesus delights in you and desires a relationship with you, He endured the cross.

Today, I pray we get swept up in the reality of who Jesus is and what He did for us. And I pray that every day, we would be swept up in the movement of the Spirit as He leads us to accomplish the work God has called us to . . . the work of telling the world about Jesus!

 

[Administrator]

Day 2

Cleanses and Conflicts​

By Danny Saavedra​

“On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers 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.’’”—Mark 11:15–17 (NIV)

The word zeal isn’t one you hear very often. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to hear it come up in everyday conversation. The dictionary defines zeal as “great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.” Some related words include passion, vigor, intensity, devotion, fervor, and fire.

As Jesus’ final week began, His issues with the established religious order escalated, starting when He rode into Jerusalem on what we now affectionately call Palm Sunday. Things heated up more the following day, as Jesus walked into His Father’s house and saw those He referred to as “robbers” taking advantage of God’s people.

Naturally, Jesus, being filled with zeal for God’s house and God’s children, took action. He “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” (Matthew 21:12 NIV). You see, our Lord wouldn’t stand for such abuse upon those who sought to be closer to God. These were men and women coming to the temple in order to offer a sacrifice to the Lord, and they were being taken advantage of.

At that moment, once again He showed Himself to be the voice of the voiceless and the defender of the defenseless. He caused a scene, ruffled some feathers, and no doubt stirred hearts. He disrupted the business of religion and, in doing so, drew the anger of the religious leaders who had already decided to have Jesus killed.

There’s something powerful you need to see here. Did you know this wasn’t the first time He did this? In John 2:13–25, we’re told that toward the beginning of His ministry, three years earlier, He did the very same thing! So, if you think about it, He pretty much bookended His public ministry with the same action—He began it with clearing the temple and He ended it by clearing the temple.

Why is this important? Because it’s exactly what He does in us! In our lives, when we first come to Jesus, He comes into our hearts and lives and cleanses our temples. He turns over table after table of our old lives. He drives out the thief who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy our souls (John 10:10) and takes up residence in our temples. He who made His dwelling among us (John 1:14) now makes His dwelling within us (Romans 8:10).

If you’ve never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, today can be the day He drives out the darkness and brings peace, love, and hope into the temple of your soul! All you need to do is believe in Him and cry out to Him (Romans 10:13).

But thank the Lord that’s not the end of it . . . How so? Because just as He returned to Jerusalem and turned the tables over again, every once in a while our hearts require tables to be turned over again! From time to time, sometimes from minute to minute, we need the Lord to turn over the tables of things like idolatry, strongholds, secret sin, and bitterness. We need Him to drive out the things that have set up residence in our hearts that are not of Him. And the beautiful thing of it all is that He never loses His zeal, passion, fire, or fervor for us! His love never needs rekindling. He is zealous for you and me, and He never gives up on us.

You don’t have to do it on your own. You don’t need to turn over your tables for the Lord to dwell in you. He loves you and if you have given your life to Him, He dwells in you.

Today, press into Him. Ask Him to search your heart to “point out anything in [you] that offends [Him], and lead [you] along the path of everlasting life” (Psalm 139:24 NLT) and trust that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6 NIV).

 

[Administrator]

Day 3

Debates and Discourses​

By Danny Saavedra​

“And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.”—Mark 12:34 (NIV)

Almost immediately after His triumphal entry, the tenor and tone of Jesus’ interactions begin to shift to debates, challenges, traps, and entanglements. We see the effort to discredit Jesus begin to ramp up after the incident in the temple. In the aftermath of that, Mark 11:18 (NIV) tells us, “The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him.”

Now, the next day, they arrive at the temple, and as He interacts and shares truth with others, “the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him” (Mark 11:27 NIV), and proceed to question His authority and seek to trip Him up with questions about paying taxes, the resurrection, and the greatest commandment. But at every turn, Jesus takes them to task!

He met each challenge and question with authority, wisdom, powerful lessons, warnings, and truths that flipped their understanding of God, His kingdom, and our lives upside down. And each time, the true colors of these men were made evident to anyone with ears to hear—though Mark does tell us that many of the Pharisees were amazed by Jesus’ teachings and it’s likely several believed in Him.

Eventually, the religious leaders realize they’re severely outmatched and risk the people turning on them, so “from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions” (Matthew 22:46 NIV). Instead, they turned their attention to more sinister means of trying to quell this movement: “Then the chief priests and the elders . . . schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him” (Matthew 26:3–4 NIV).

So, what made Jesus such a threat? Why were politicians (Pharisees and Herodians), priests, aristocrats (Sadducees), lawyers, and scribes all at odds with Jesus and His teachings? The same thing that causes people to reject Jesus today! You see, so much of Jesus’ teachings—and the gospel itself—takes what we think, perceive, understand, and experience in this world and flips it on its head.

Jesus’ teaches the least will be the greatest in the kingdom of God, the greatest among us serves others, the widow’s mite is a greater offering to God than vast riches, the meek will inherit the earth, the greatest sacrifice made to God is mercy, the way to the kingdom is not by perfection, but through repentance and receiving the grace of God through faith. His message to us causes us to recoil because IT’S NOT ABOUT US!

Our lives are not about us, our purpose is not about us, this world is not about us . . . it’s all about Jesus! We can’t pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and earn salvation, we can’t gain God’s favor by our actions, we can’t muster up faith within ourselves, we can’t find ourselves by looking within, we can’t manifest our best life, and we can’t live our truth and find peace in it. We were made to exalt God and enjoy Him. We were made by Him and for Him, in His image and by His love. We exist to bring glory to God and live in relationship with Him. And we, sinners, stand separated from Him. We can’t save ourselves—we need rescue and redemption that only He can give. All of this stands in opposition to our sinful nature, removes us from being the master of our destiny, and causes us to face our own sinfulness and helplessness apart from Him.

So today, I encourage you to examine your life and ask yourself, “Who is at the center of my life?” Is it you or is it Jesus? If it’s Jesus, the things you say, think, and do will line up with His teachings and the entirety of the message of Scripture. Your life will resemble and reflect His. If it’s you, your life will look more like everyone else’s. It will prioritize and be defined by the things the world deems important and will either defy or seek to justify or twist Scriptural truth to fit into your lifestyle. Regardless of where you land, pray that each day you could look less like the world and more like Jesus as you surrender your life, heart, will, and everything else to Him!

 

[Administrator]

Day 4

The Passover Lamb​

By Danny Saavedra​

“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take it; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.’”—Mark 14:22–24 (NIV)

Enjoying a great meal while celebrating a momentous day is a treat. Gathering with the people we love, celebrating, giving thanks, and sharing stories, memories, and dreams of the future is something we shouldn’t take for granted. It’s something we should cherish and get excited about.

In today’s passage, we’re dropped right into the middle of a celebratory meal between Jesus and His disciples. This meal, called the Last Supper, is recorded in all four Gospels and detailed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 11. So, what were they celebrating? It was the Passover.

Did you know the Passover celebration is arguably the most significant season of the year for the Jewish people, both in Jesus’ day and today as well? So, what is it exactly? It’s the celebration and remembrance of Israel’s exodus from Egypt when God rescued His people from Pharaoh’s hand. Before this, the children of Israel had been in cruel bondage and slavery for 400 years. But God is faithful and He had not forgotten His great promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:2). So, when the time came, God sent Moses to free His people from Pharaoh. But Pharaoh would not “let the people go” (Exodus 7:14 NIV), so God sent the plagues—gnats, boils, frogs, and more.

Finally, the tenth plague came: the death of the firstborn in every household. However, the Lord spared death and gave life to His followers who sacrificed a spotless lamb and applied its blood over their doors (Exodus 11–12). When the angel (“the destroyer” as Exodus 12:23 calls him) saw the blood, he passed over that house. It was after this plague that Pharaoh finally let the Israelites go.

Can you imagine what it must have been like in the upper room on that historical night in Jerusalem? Imagine having Jesus lead a Passover Seder—no one could tell the story better than Jesus! And even more surreal than that, imagine being one of the disciples who experienced the most beautiful thing about that night: how all the symbols and elements of the feast speak of Jesus. As He went through all the different elements and traditions, each part of the feast told the story of God’s ultimate redemption and deliverance, which He was about to live out only a few short hours later.

Here’s something you may find interesting: The word used for feast is miqra, which also means “a rehearsal.” The other word is mo’ed, which means “an appointed time; a fixed time; an exact time.” What an amazing picture! Just at the right time, God sent Moses to deliver His people, and “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son . . . to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4–5 ESV). Do you see that? The Passover was a rehearsal for the future to be celebrated every year—over and over—until, at the exact appointed time, the true fulfillment would come.

After 1,500 years of Passover celebrations, with the symbols of unleavened bread, wine, and a slain, unblemished lamb, the hour had come. No more rehearsals for the Passover had become reality! The night known as the Last Supper saw Jesus and His disciples celebrate the last Passover feast. In that upper room, Jesus took the wine, which represented the blood of the Passover Lamb and said, “This is my blood . . . which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28 ESV). He broke the unleavened bread, a symbol of sinlessness, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you” (Luke 22:19 NLT).

The very next day, on the altar of eternity, upon a cross reserved for a criminal, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, became the Passover Lamb. “God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand” (Romans 3:25 BSB).

Every time we take communion, we’re invited to reflect upon and remember what the Lord Jesus Christ—our Passover Lamb and exodus from the land of sin and death—did to bring us into a new life of freedom in His eternal kingdom!