Where Was JESUS?

Where Was JESUS?
If you have ever wondered exactly how JESUS spent the time between Palm Sunday and HIS Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem and Easter Sunday when HE arose from the tomb, this will answer your questions:

At the heart of our faith is the Paschal Mystery: the Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ. All of salvation history leads up to and goes forth from these saving events. The purpose of this post is to describe Jesus’ Final week.

We call this “Holy Week” for Jesus’ public ministry culminates with His suffering, death and resurrection. What follows is a brief description of each day of Holy Week. It is hoped that you might read it each day of this week and prayerfully walk with Jesus in His most difficult and yet glorious week. Plan to attend some or all of the special liturgies of Thursday, Friday and Saturday at your church. By celebrating them in community, we make them present today and learn again, in a new way, the reality of our Risen Lord alive in our midst.

PALM SUNDAY – Our celebration of Holy Week begins this Sunday as we remember the triumphal entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem to begin His final week and initiate His Passion. All four Gospels recount this triumphant entry that Sunday Morning so long ago.

How will you journey with Jesus this week? Be reminded to praise Him for He is worthy of all your praise.

According to Mark 11:11 Jesus returned that evening to Bethany, a suburb of Jerusalem. Perhaps He stayed with His friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Pray with Jesus this evening as He ponders the difficult days ahead of Him.

Monday of Holy Week According to Matthew 21, Mark 11 and Luke 19, Jesus returned to Jerusalem today and, seeing shameful practices in the Temple area, He cleanses the Temple. John’s Gospel also records that He rebuked the unbelief of the crowds.

Mark 11:19 records that He returned to Bethany that night. Pray with Jesus as He is zealous to purify us.

Tuesday of Holy Week According to Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus again returned to Jerusalem where He was confronted by the Temple leadership for what He did yesterday. They question His authority.

He also taught extensively using parables. There is the parable of the vineyard (Matthew 21:33-46), the parable of the wedding banquet, (Matthew 22:1). There is also the teaching on paying taxes (Matthew 22:15) and the rebuke of the Sadducees who deny the resurrection (Matthew . 22:23). There is also the fearful prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem if the inhabitants do not come to faith in Him. He warns that not one stone will be left on another (Matthew 24).

Wednesday of Holy Week. Traditionally this day was called “Spy Wednesday” for it was on this Wednesday before the crucifixion that Judas conspired to hand Jesus over. For this he was paid thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14). Jesus likely spent the day In Bethany.

In the evening Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus with costly perfumed oil. Judas objected but Jesus rebuked him and says Mary has anointed Him for his burial! (Matthew 26:6). The wicked are besetting Jesus and plotting against Him.

HOLY THURSDAY, marks the beginning of the sacred Triduum, or “three days.” Earlier this day Jesus had given instructions to the disciples on how to prepare for this most holy meal, which will be His last supper. Through the day they make these preparations (Matthew 26:17). We can imagine ourselves in the upper room with Jesus and the Apostles and ponder what might have gone through the minds of not only His followers but of JESUS HIMSELF.

Can we imagine how difficult it must have been for the disciples to contemplate the prospect of this most vital, powerful miracle worker being slain? Would the thought have been beyond their (YOUR, MY ) ability to apprehend?

Can we begin to fathom the LORD of eternity grappling with HIS own impending death? Can we grasp the improbability of the Author of Life surrendering HIMSELF to life's final enemy?

Through the ritual of washing the feet (John 13:1) we see the humility of JESUS and wonder at our own ability to be humble.

After the Last Supper, the apostles and JESUS made a short journey across the Kidron Valley to the Garden where He asked them to pray as HE experienced His agony (Matthew 26:30).

We are with Jesus in the Garden and pray as he goes through His agony.It was near Midnight that Jesus was betrayed by Judas, and He was arrested and taken to the house of the High Priest (Matthew . 26:47).

GOOD FRIDAY, All through the night Jesus had been locked in the dungeon of the high priest’s house. Early this morning He was taken before Pilate who transferred His case to Herod.

Herod sent Him back to Pilate who, sometime in the mid-morning, bowed to the pressure of the Temple leadership and the crowds, and condemned Jesus to a horrible death by crucifixion.

In the late morning, after He had been scourged by the notorious Roman "cat of nine tails," Jesus was taken by the soldiers through the city and up the hillside of Golgotha. By noon He was nailed to the cross where He hung in agony for three hours.

He died around three in the afternoon. He was taken down from the cross and placed in the tomb hastily before sundown.

Because of the solemnity of the day, today should be a day of prayer and fasting for every believer. Whenever possible, Christians are urged to keep today free of work, of social engagements, of entertainment, and to devote themselves to communal prayer and worship.

At noon many faithful gather for stations of the cross for recollections of the seven last words of Jesus. Many churches also offer stations of the cross at 3 pm the hour of Jesus death.

In the evening, the faithful gather quietly in their Churches to enter into time of prayer as they reflect on Jesus' death on the cross. They also pray for the needs of the world.

To acknowledge the power of the cross in the lives of believers today, they go forward to venerate the cross with a kiss. It should also be considered how the apostles might have gathered that night together in fear and prayer reflecting on all that happened.

HOLY SATURDAY – The body of Jesus was in the tomb but His soul was among the dead to announce the kingdom. The hour was coming, and now is, when the dead hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear it will Live (John 5:25).

Consider what it must have been like for the dead in Sheol to awaken to the voice of Jesus!

Meanwhile The Disciples, heartbroken at the death of Jesus, observed the Jewish Sabbath in sorrow. They had forgotten the promise of Jesus that He would rise.

We cannot forget His promise.

We cannot forget.

Tonight, after sundown, many gather for the Great Easter Vigil where they will experience that glorious Easter sunrise! Where they will know afresh the glory of Jesus rising from the dead!

EASTER SUNDAY MORNING -- They gather in darkness and remind themselves that Jesus is the Light in the darkness. He is the Light of the world.

Suddenly, the church lights are lit and the Gloria is sung as we celebrate the moment of Christ’s resurrection.!

He Lives!