Thoughts from the Pastor

On PALM SUNDAY, Jesus entered Jerusalem. He rode on a donkey. Many people were there.

They took branches and waved them. Some took off their coats and laid them on the road. The

people shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of

the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” [Matthew 21:9b].

On HOLY MONDAY, Jesus went to the temple. When He got there, He threw out the

moneychangers, the people who exchanged money and sold animals for use in the temple. He

said, “Scripture says, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are turning it into a

gathering place for thieves” [Matthew 21:13].

On HOLY TUESDAY, Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem. They passed the withered fig

tree on their way, and Jesus taught them about faith. At the Temple, the religious leaders

aggressively challenged Jesus for what He did yesterday, throwing out the moneychangers.

They question his authority, attempting to ambush him, and create an opportunity for his

arrest. But Jesus evaded their traps and pronounced harsh judgment on them.

On HOLY WEDNESDAY, Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the Leper. As he sat at the

table with his disciples, a woman named Mary anointed Jesus' head and feet with a costly

perfumed oil. Judas objects but Jesus rebukes him and says,” Mary has anointed him for his

burial! [Matthew 26:6].

On HOLY THURSDAY, Jesus shared a last meal with His disciples. Christians call this meal,” The

Lord’s Supper.” This is what the Bible said happened at the meal. “While they were eating,

Jesus took bread and blessed it. He broke the bread, gave it to His disciples, and said, ‘Take this,

and eat it. This is My body.’ “Then He took a cup and said a prayer of thanksgiving. He gave it to

them and said, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood, poured out for many people so that

sins are forgiven’.” [Matthew 26:26-28].

Then Jesus went with His disciples and followers to the Garden of Gethsemane. He asked His

disciples to stay awake and pray for Him. He prayed to God the Father, asking the Father if

there was another way to save us besides dying on the cross. Yet Jesus ended his prayer with,

“... let Your will be done rather than mine” [Matthew 26:39]. He prayed this prayer three times.

Each time when He went back to see His disciples, they had fallen asleep! He came back the

third time and told them to wake up. “The one who is betraying Me is near,” he said [Matthew

26:45]. Just then Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, came with a large crowd. He came and kissed

Jesus on the cheek. This was a sign to tell the guards who they were to arrest. They came and

arrested Jesus. All of Jesus’ disciples ran away. The crowd took Jesus to a trial held by the

Jewish religious leaders. They said He should die because He claimed to be “the Messiah, the

Son of God” [Matthew 26:63].

On HOLY FRIDAY, they took Jesus to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. They told Pilate that

Jesus should die. Pilate finally agreed to it. After the soldiers made fun of Jesus, they led Him to

Golgotha. That’s where they crucified Him. They hung Him on the cross with nails through His

hands and feet. A criminal hung on each side of Him. Jesus suffered terribly for over three hours

on the cross. Many people made fun of Him.

Finally, Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” You might think that meant He was about to die. But it

meant more than that. It meant that right then Jesus had paid off the debt of all our sin. Jesus

allowed Himself to be captured, tried, and crucified so He could suffer the punishment that

should be ours. After paying for our sins, He died. They took Jesus down from the cross. Two of

Jesus’ friends took Him to a tomb one of them had. They buried Him there.

On HOLY SATURDAY, Jesus’ body rested in the tomb. “The women who had come with Jesus

from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went

home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the

commandment.” [Luke 23:55-56].

Early on EASTER SUNDAY morning some women went to the tomb. Since He had died late

Friday afternoon, they hadn’t finished all the burial preparations. They had to wait until after

the Sabbath to complete them according to their customs. When the women got to the tomb,

they found the guards Pilate had placed there were gone. Even the big stone covering the

tomb’s entrance was moved. Then the women saw an angel who told them the good news:

“Don’t be afraid! I know you’re looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He’s not here. He has been

brought back to life as He said. “Come, see the place where He was lying. Then go quickly and

tell His disciples that He has been brought back to life” [Matthew 28:5-7]. Jesus’ disciples didn’t

believe the women at first. Yet that same day Jesus appeared to them. Then they, too, came to

believe the best news ever: Jesus is alive!

Let us pray,

Gracious God, Holy Week reminds us how intentional You are about loving us. You came to save

the lost and sent Your only Son to be sacrificed so we could be in Your presence. Jesus, thank

You for making a way for us. May we come to know fully and never forget the lengths You went

to save us. Bring the story of each day to life for us as we walk through this final week with You.

Move our hearts closer to You and direct our lives to bring honor to You. In Jesus’ name, we

pray.

Amen. In His Service, Rev. Bobby Tyson