Jesus’ Journey: Reflections on Passion Week and Easter

Easter is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We celebrate the fact that Jesus loved us so much he went to the cross and died for our sins. They buried him in a borrowed tomb; three days later, he rose and ascended into heaven 40 days after that. He is coming again. The Lord wants a relationship with each one of us. I hope and pray you will open your heart to him today.

Passion week is traditionally known as the week before Easter, because Jesus passionately and willingly laid down his life. He had passion for the world. Let’s try to understand this week. It is a sacred time leading to Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. For many, this story is familiar. It is the heart of the Christian faith. It helps to understand the lengths God will go to, to bring us to him. These are more than just events to remember they are lessons to live by. Offering us hope, peace and a deeper understanding of God’s love. I encourage you to open your heart. Listen to what the Holy Spirit wants to say to you through these events. Concentrate on these scenes and think about how to apply what they are saying to your life. There is something here for you.

It’s important to understand a little about Jesus’ time before this and the conflicts he faced with the religious authorities. His teachings challenged the traditions and religious authorities of his time. He explained the call of his message by emphasizing love, compassion, and mercy. His parables shed light on social injustices. Leading his followers to an inner transformation and genuine practice of faith. The miracles he performed confronted traditional ideas of spiritual authority. He healed people, cast out demons and even raised some from the dead. Demonstrating divine power far beyond human limitations. Many admired him. But, to the religious leaders, he represented a threat to their authority and existence. A series of controversial events marked his journey. One in particular marked the anger of the religious leaders. The resurrection of Lazarus, one of the most powerful accounts of Jesus’ miracles. Lazarus the brother of Martha and Mary had gotten ill while Jesus was away and he died. Jesus arrived four days after his death to find family and friends deeply mourning. Jesus felt the pain of death and their grief. Lazarus was Jesus’ good friend. Jesus demonstrated his divine compassion and power. With a simple command, he ordered the stone that sealed the tomb to be removed. Then he cried out with a firm command, Lazarus come forth. A miracle of epic proportions followed. Lazarus, dead for four days walked out wrapped in burial clothes. Shock, and disbelief gave way to joy and amazement at the miracle they had seen. His resurrection was a living testimony to Jesus’ power over death. Also to the promise of eternal life for those who believe in him. While many were touched and transformed by this, others saw it as an attack on their own authority and traditions. They were already upset at Jesus’ teachings and his growing followers. This was a final challenge to their authority and influence. They saw a direct threat to their own agenda, challenging their authority and interpretation of the law. They decided the only way to stop him was to eliminate him once and for all. Jesus knows the events unfolding. He decides to enter Jerusalem.

This is part of his divine plan to fulfill prophecy and carry out God’s work. Jesus fulfilled Zechariah’s prophesy about 500 years after the time of Zechariah. Here is notice given of the promised Messiah. This was a matter of great joy to the old testament church. This scripture tells of the righteous king, the Messiah, his coming and a description of him.Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your King comes unto you: he is just, and having salvation; humble and riding upon a donkey, and upon a colt the foal of an donkey. See, your king comes to you righteous and victorious, lowly, riding on a donkey. This is just one prophesy. There are more than 300 prophesies about his coming and he fulfilled all of them.

Palm Sunday

This marks the beginning of this eventful week. A day filled with deep meaning. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, it was not a casual entrance. It was a deliberate fulfillment of ancient prophecy. Donkeys were used in that country for travel and work. Horses were used only by great men, and for war. By choosing a donkey instead of a horse, he communicated his kingship. He came not as a warrior seeking to win something by force, but as a humble king bringing peace.

Matthew 21:1-11 tells us Jesus sent two disciples into Jerusalem to get a donkey and her colt. He told them where to find them. To bring them to him. They laid their outer garments on it and Jesus rode it in. The people celebrated him by spreading garments in his path and waving palm branches. In ancient times, laying one’s garment in the path of a king was a sign of submission and respect. An honor reserved for leaders and kings. Matthew 21:9 tells they shouted Hosanna to the son of David. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna is a cry of praise for salvation. The people recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah, the one to bring salvation. Their understanding of salvation differed from what Jesus came to offer. They longed for political salvation, someone to liberate them from Roman rule and oppression.

The entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem was more than declaring his identity. It was the beginning of his path to the cross. He knew some of those in the crowd welcoming him with celebration. In a few days, would cry out for him to be crucified. Yet, he didn’t waver from his focus. Fulfilling the will of the Father.

Luke 19:41 when he came near he beheld the city, and wept over it. He entered the city, his heart filled with sorrow, broken for the people he came to die for. He wept over the people of the city. He knew by them denying Jesus they were denying themselves the peace everyone wants. The peace no-one can truly know without Jesus. This brings him great sorrow, so he wept over them. He wept not tears for himself but for the people who did not see the purpose of his coming.

This day is a day of contrasts. On one hand, it’s a day of celebration and hope as people acknowledge Jesus as a king. On the other, it foreshadows the coming of pain and betrayal. Some of these same voices that shout Hosanna would soon shout crucify him. This sudden shift reminds us how fickle human approval can be. How quickly people change their minds when expectations aren’t met. Jesus remained steadfast, firm. He did not seek approval from men. He focused on accomplishing the mission set before him. To lay down his life for the salvation of the world. While their actions seem to acknowledge Jesus as king their understanding of his kingship was incomplete. They wanted a king that would change their circumstances. But Jesus came to change their heart and give them peace and freedom from the law.

Palm Sunday invites us to think on our view of Jesus. Do we, as the crowd, want a savior who fits our desires and expectations? Do we hope for a Messiah who will solve our problems and give us what we want. Or are we willing to accept him as he truly is? The humble king who offers peace and calls us to surrender. This day challenges us to look beyond our circumstances and recognize the deeper work God is doing in us. He calls us to trust his plan, even when it doesn’t fit our own.

The image of Jesus riding on a donkey speaks loudly of him as king. He didn’t come with force displaying power, but humility and peace. In a world that values strength, he did not seek the approval of men. Instead, he accomplished the mission set before him. To lay down his life for the salvation of the world. While their actions seem to acknowledge Jesus as king their understanding of his kingship was incomplete. He gave them peace and freedom from the law. The image of Jesus riding on a donkey speaks loudly of him as king. The lesson is one of perspective. It calls us to see beyond the immediate and look at the bigger picture. People welcoming Jesus concentrated on the immediate, seeking solutions to their problems. Jesus came to confront the root problem. Sin and separation from God. The genuine victory. A victory through the cross.

The true message of Palm Sunday is that transformation begins within your heart. It’s not about changing the world, but allow God to change us from inside out. Reflection on this day reminds us that Jesus sees beyond our outward action. He sees our hearts. He knows our deepest desires, fears, and our hidden motives. Like the crowd, we can come to him with our own agenda, hoping he will meet our expectations. Or we can accept him as he truly is for what he is wanting to do. Jesus gently calls us to put aside our plans and trust his greater purpose. God’s perfect plan orchestrated for the sake of the world.

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