#TuesdayTruth From Palm Sunday to Easter
John 12:12-13
“The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A huge crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, ‘Praise God! Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!’ “
John 19:30
“…Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
Mark 15:37-39
“With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!’ “
Luke 24: 2, 5-6
“They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus…
…the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!’ ”
This week is commonly called “holy week"- a time when we commemorate the week leading up to Jesus’ death, and even more His resurrection. The verses above are meant to help us consider a few of the big moments from that week as recorded in the gospel- from Jesus arriving in Jerusalem surrounded by joy and celebration (just as it had been predicted years before- Zechariah 9:9), to His crucifixion, to His victorious resurrection.
As we consider our Easter celebrations this year, which most likely look and feel different as many of us are “streaming” church or in small groups of only our immediate family, let us not forget that the reason we celebrate HAS NOT CHANGED! I would encourage you to take some time to think about how the events during “holy week” must have looked/felt to Jesus.
Think about how much courage and compassion it took for Him to go through with it, to know He came to earth and lived a perfect life, not marred by even one sin despite being tempted even as we are, in order to give all of us access to the Father and hope for a future. More than any of that, consider what this means for us, right now. Because of these events, we have access to the Father and hope for a future. We were redeemed at a high price, so that sin, shame, fear, and the grave have no claim on us!
First, Jesus arrives in Jerusalem to people placing palm branches along his path and shouting their praise and adoration. He has a Passover meal with his followers and tries to prepare them for what is to come. Then, Jesus is crucified despite living a blameless life and, quite literally takes our place (He takes on Himself the place, the judgement, the condemnation that we deserve, so that we do not have to). As Jesus’ spirit leaves His body, the Temple curtain is torn, indicating that we all now have access to our Father’s presence. We can talk to Him, be with Him, have relationship with Him. And last, the best news ever- as some of the women who were close to Jesus went to His tomb, they see the stone rolled away and are told “He is not here; he has risen!”
Death could not hold Him. He is risen! The victory has been won. Forgiveness is ours because of that victory. His victory is ours.
Best. News. Ever.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the opportunity to celebrate Easter. Thank you that your Son was willing to take our place, for our sins, in order to give us the hope of life with you. Thank you that we have access to you, our Father. Thank you that we can talk to you whenever we want or need to because of His sacrifice. Thank you for that empty tomb, for the resurrection of Jesus, for the ultimate gift.
We love you Father, Amen.