Jesus’ Journey to the Cross
The entire life of Jesus was a prelude to the events and teachings during His final week, especially His death and resurrection. One half of all four Gospels focus on the final week of Jesus’ ministry, slowing way down and absorbing us in the details, especially from Good Friday to Easter Sunday.
These events are the key to understanding everything about Jesus’ mission.
Holy Week:
Sunday: The Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on the day each Jewish family was to select their Passover lamb. Jesus enters through the “Golden Gate” – the gate of the Messiah, as a great crowd proclaims “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!”
In less than a week many in that same crowd will shout: “Crucify Him!” (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19).
Monday: Jesus curses the fig tree for having leaves but no fruit, then cleanses the Temple, clearing the money changers out of the “court of the Gentiles,” declaring: “My Father’s House is to be a house of prayer for all people – but you have made it a den of thieves!” The die is cast. Both the Priests (Sadducees) and the Pharisees (Teachers of the Law) determine to kill Jesus (Matthew 21:12-22; Mark 11:12-18).
Tuesday: The last day of public teaching and debate as Jesus speaks in parables of Himself as God’s Son, by whom all will be saved or judged. Jesus makes some of His most memorable statements as He faces down the religious leaders and thwarts every verbal trap they set, finally pronouncing seven woes upon them (Matthew 21:23 through 23:39; Mark 11:27 through 12:34; Luke 20:1 through 21:4; John 12:20-50).
Wednesday: On the Mount of Olives, Jesus prophecies His Second Coming and Final Judgment and the events leading up to that day. Jesus is anointed by Mary, and Judas secretly agrees with the Chief Priests to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 24:1 through 26:16; Mark 13:1 through 14:11; Luke 21:5 through 22:6; John 12:2-11).
Thursday: The disciples prepare the Upper Room.
At the Last Supper:
Jesus introduces the reality of the New Covenant (acceptance with God) established through the shedding of His blood. He points to Himself as the True Vine, teaches His disciples about the Holy Spirit, and prays His great final prayer in John 17. Then He enters into the agony of Gethsemane, where the fate of humanity hung in the balance as Jesus sealed His determination to drink the cup of divine judgment for our guilt (Matthew 26:14-46; Mark 14:12-42; Luke 22:7-46; John 13:1 through 18:1).
Friday: The early morning (dead of night) betrayal by Judas’ kiss, leading to Jesus’ arrest, the triple denial by Peter, Jesus’ illegal mock trial before Caiaphas, then Pilate, then Herod. The flogging and the multiple beatings come after.
The crown of thorns is next, then Pilate’s judgment seat and the crowd choosing Barabbas over the Christ for release from punishment, followed by their choice of Caesar for their king. Then the crucifixion between the two thieves. In those six hours of suffering (9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) the salvation of God is offered to humanity.
There are seven declarations to Christ’s innocence (His perfect righteousness), seven wounds on His body (His perfect sacrifice) and seven statements from the cross (His perfect teaching). Jesus extends acceptance and assurance to a repentant, dying thief. At mid-day it becomes midnight!
Three hours of supernatural darkness signal Jesus’ descent into the outer darkness of damnation: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” At 3:00 p.m. (the hour of the Passover sacrifice) Jesus dies as the “Lamb of God.” There is an earthquake, the centurion confesses his faith (“Surely this was the Son of God!”) and the veil is torn from top to bottom just as Jesus proclaims that salvation is accomplished: “It is finished!” After His death, Nicodemus and Joseph bury Jesus in a new tomb in a garden (Matthew 26:47 through 27:61; Mark 14:43 through 15:41; Luke 22:47 through 23:56; John 18:2 through 19:42).
Saturday: The Jewish leaders break the Sabbath to insure that Jesus’ tomb is sealed and a Roman guard posted; as Jesus spends His final Jewish Sabbath “resting” in death (Matthew 27:62-66; Luke 23:56).
Sunday: Jesus steps forth in resurrection power, triumphant over sin, death, and the devil. His resurrection is God’s confirmation of Jesus’ all-sufficient victory, assuring that entrance into God’s eternal Kingdom is the present possession of all who trust in Him.
Shortly before dawn on the “first day,” the stone of the tomb is rolled away by a mighty angelic hand. Later, the angels tell the women at the tomb: “He is risen!” Jesus appears first to these women, next to Peter alone, then to the two on the Road to Emmaus, and finally to His disciples in the Upper Room (Matthew 28:1-17; Mark 16:1-14; Luke 24:1-43; John 20:1-25; Romans 4:24-25; reference also 1 Corinthians 15:1-9).
Walk this week with reverence and prayer. We are traversing Holy Ground.
“By this Gospel you are saved…”
“For I delivered unto you as of first importance that which I received: that Christ Jesus died for our sins, according to Scripture, that He was buried and He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures.”
1 Corinthians 15:2-4.