Happy Holy Week! As we prepare for Easter this week, my heart is tuned to the vignettes leading up to the most significant event in human history–the death and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. I pray you enjoy this experiential journey of the sights, sounds, smells of Jesus’ journey to the cross and tomb from my past trips to Israel. Throughout this Holy Week, I’ll bring some of my reflections on the events of Easter.
What a week. What a Holy Week. Isn’t it amazing that the first half of the Gospel of John covers the first 33 years of Jesus’ life, and the last half covers one week?
Just six days before the Passover and Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus was invited to attend a dinner in Bethany in His honor, hosted by Mary, Martha, and their resurrected brother Lazarus. Can you only imagine what a fun party that would be? For Jesus to have supper with Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, AND his two sisters?
“Then Mary took a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” John 12:3 NIV.
What a beautiful, selfless, sacrificial gift Mary gave Jesus. Of course it was disciple Judas who complained that her gift to Jesus at the party was wasteful and too expensive. Judas was the treasurer and thief-disciple who would betray Jesus in just a few days.
When we give sacrificially some people don’t understand. Like Mary, we may looked at as “over the top” or “too much.” Jesus understood Mary and her heart.
“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended, that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me.” –John 12:7-8 NIV
Mary got it. She understood the message. Jesus had been trying to tell the disciples that He would die and be raised. (John 10:15-18).
Mary gave Jesus the most valuable possession she had. As we prepare for these weeks leading up to Easter, what valuable possession of yours are you willing to pour out for Jesus and His Kingdom? Whatever we give to Him, He gives much more back to us.
The breeze picked up as we began our descent walking down the Mount of Olives to the gates of Jerusalem. The same road Jesus took. I can only imagine the excited cheering of the great crowd surrounding Jesus on that day of His Triumphal Entry 2000 years ago.
‘Hosanna!’
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
‘Blessed is the King of Israel.’
Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written;
‘Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.'”–John 12:13-15.
People had heard of all of Jesus’ miracles. Crowds followed Him. They were ready to greet Jesus as a celebrity. On that famous Palm Sunday, Jesus was welcomed like a rockstar into Jerusalem with people waving lush green palm fronds.
Palm Sunday was and still is a joyful, respectful celebration of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Jesus entered Jerusalem not on a military stallion as the world and its paparazzi may have thought, but on a lowly donkey colt, perfect for the humble, servant Savior He was, is and is to come. Only days later the fickle crowd would turn on Him…
Stay tuned for Journey to Easter Part 2.
Reflect:
–With whom can you relate the most in these two stories–Mary, Martha, Lazarus, Judas or the Palm Sunday crowd? Please comment.
–What are you willing to sacrifice as a beautiful love offering for Jesus for Easter and for your whole life?
Renew:
–“Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘ Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’ ‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.'” –Luke 19:39-20 NIV
Recharge:
–How may we live more deeply for Jesus and show love to others?
–Enjoy 21 Days of Prayer and a free Prayer Guide and video messages from Southern Evangelical Seminary’s Truth That Matters initiative. ses.edu and https://truththatmatters.net/
Danya Jordan