The last days of Jesus
The way I look at this, we have two choices…………just two choices. When we think of this Man Jesus, His life, His teachings, His ministry, His healings, His unconditional love for the common person, who’s Son was He? Was Jesus the Son of Joseph and Mary, or was He the Son of God sent to take away the sins of the world? Was Jesus just a good man, was he a prophet in a world that had not seen one for hundreds of years? Was the life and death of Jesus merely a conspiracy dreamed up by a small band of eleven, whose resurrected life would ultimately change the lives of millions over the centuries? Pastor, author, teacher Max Lucado writes, “A probing question. A properly positioned question. The ‘what’ is answered by the ‘who.’ What we think about Christ cannot be separated from whose Son He is. Jesus never asked what we thought about His teachings, opinions on social issues or His ability to lead people. After three years of ministry, hundreds of miles, thousands of miracles, innumerable teachings, Jesus asks, ‘who?’ Jesus asks us to ponder not what He has done, but who He is. It’s the ultimate question of Christ: Whose Son is He?” The way I see it, we have two choices. We can either whole-heartedly accept Him or half-heartedly reject Him.
Max Lucado continues, “When a man knows the end is near – only the important surfaces. Impending death distills the vital. The trivial is bypassed. The unnecessary is overlooked. That which is vital remains. So, if you would know Christ, ponder His final days. He knew the end was near. He knew the finality of Friday, He read the last chapter before it was written and heard the final chorus before it was sung. Each step was calculated. Every act premeditated.” So enter the Holy week and ponder now with me. Feel His passion. Laughing as children sing, weeping as Jerusalem ignores, scorning as priests accuse, pleading as disciples sleep and feeling disgusted as Pilate is swayed by the crowds.
Jesus knew what had to be done. He was born for this purpose and nothing could change it now. His life course would culminate into the events that would follow this week. A Man so loved, followed by hundreds of thousands, would end up alone. And because of the events that would take place this week, we as followers of Christ have all been given one thing. Hope. But the way I see it, we have two choices.
The week started with fanfare. All four of the Gospel writers tell the same story. All four speak of Jesus’ triumphal entry into the Holy city. All four report that Jesus came into Jerusalem as a King, and that a great multitude of people were in position to welcome Him. But the words He chose, the manner He arranged, were they truly fit for a King as He rode through the streets on the back of a lowly donkey.? Where were the great multitudes only days later when Jesus died alone on the cross?
From the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 21, verses 1-10; “As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Zechariah (chapter 9 verse 9, written 500 years before the birth of Christ.) "Say to the Daughter of Zion, See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.
A very great multitude spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"
After arriving in Jerusalem, Mark writes that the first thing Jesus did was to go into the Temple. There were lots of other places He could have gone. Mark writes that the hour was late on that Sunday evening, and I’m sure Jesus was tired, but He needed to go to the Temple, and He needed to look around at all the things taking place. And as He returned to Bethany, just a couple of miles from Jerusalem, I’m sure He thought about what He saw. Because the very next morning He was back, but this time He took matters into His own hands, overturning tables, driving out those who bought and sold in the Temple. All of the money changers, and those who sold doves for sacrifices, he would not allow anyone to carry wares through the Temple. For He said that His Temple was a House of prayer for all nations, and not meant to be a den of thieves!
As Max Lucado also writes, “Want to anger God? Get in the way of people who want to see Him. Want to feel His fury? Exploit people in the Name of God.”
And I’m sure there were thousands of people there who closely observed and said, “Who is this Man Jesus?” The way I see it we have two choices.
Throughout the Holy week and the celebration of Passover, the city was overflowing with people. It was the place to be. Millions were visiting, and the Roman Government was positioned for the worst. Guards were on hand in case of riots, and the “whose who” of Roman officials were in the city to be seen as well. Pontius Pilate, the governor/procurator of Judea was there. His palace, built by Herod the Great was located to the north in Caesarea on the Mediterranean Sea, yet he had a home – a Praetorium, his military headquarters, within the city of Jerusalem. And Herod Antipas was there too. Herod ruled over Galilee and Perea (the region east of the Jordon River in modern day Jordon) and it was most important for this King to be seen and to be present.
And then there was Caiaphas, the High Priest of the Temple in Jerusalem. His Father-in-Law, Annas is also mentioned as the former High-Priest, both were there for the Holy week activities. Yet Caiaphas had a lot at stake. His selfish concern involved money, power, influence and security, all of the things that Jesus spoke against. Yet Caiaphas was the religious ruler of the day!
The end of Jesus’ life is really a whirlwind starting that Thursday night. We know Jesus and His disciples secretly met in the upper room within the city limits for their last supper. We know that Jesus was betrayed by His chosen disciple Judas, the treasurer of the group, for 30 pieces of silver, the going rate for a slave. We know that Jesus left the upper room with His disciples, singing one of His favorite Psalms, as they headed toward the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.
We know that the closest of His disciples, Peter, James and John could not stay awake while He prayed. And we know that Judas with a kiss, whom Jesus referred to as friend, turned Him over to be carried away by Temple guards and hundreds and hundreds of Roman soldiers.
And yes, we know the rest of the story. The disciples scattered as predicted, Peter denied knowing Christ, and throughout the night and following morning, Jesus was sent from one ruler to another to decide what should be done with him. The high Priest Caiaphas could not ultimately condemn Him to death, so He sent Him to Pontius Pilate. Pilate, fearing the worst, searched for a way out and upon learning that Christ was a Galilean, sent Him to his rival Herod. Who were these people? This is interesting. When Herod the Great was King, he issued a decree that all male children 2 years and younger who were in Bethlehem and all its districts, were to be put to death. Remember the wise men and the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem? Another prophesy was fulfilled when Jesus escaped with Joseph and Mary to Egypt. Herod the Great was an extremely brutal King and he was responsible for colossal building projects including the rebuilding of the second Temple in Jerusalem, the remains of which can still be seen today. When Herod the Great died, his kingdom was divided 3 ways and given to three of his sons. They ruled as tetrarchs instead of kings (although they were referred to as kings.) One son, Herod Philip II ruled over the region to the north of Galilee. Another son, Herod Archelaus ruled over Samaria, Judea and Idumea (the region south of Judea.) He was such a brutal and ineffective ruler he was deposed by Rome after a short reign and replaced with a governor appointed by Rome. And Pontius Pilate was the 5th governor of this region. The third son, Herod Antipas is the main Herod in the Gospel accounts.
He was the one who had John the Baptist (Christ’s forerunner) put to death, and he was the one Christ was sent to for trial and examination.
Early that Friday morning, upon examination of Jesus, Herod treated Him with contempt, mocked Him, turned around and sent Him back to Pilate. According to Luke’s Gospel, that very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, based on their common unjust and cowardly treatment of Jesus for previously they had been enemies.
Pilate was hesitant to condemn Jesus to death, but eventually he was forced to give in when the crowd insisted, and the Jewish leaders reminded him that Jesus’ claim to be king was a challenge to Roman authority. Pilate could have stopped the madness, but prophesy would not have been fulfilled. Pontius Pilate’s own wife, who became a believer herself, tried to warn him but he didn’t listen.
And only a little while later, after terrible beatings and a scourging Jesus didn’t deserve, He made His way up the Via Dolorosa with help from a man named Simon who carried his cross. And just outside the city walls, at a place called Golgotha, the place of a scull, He died alone. His words, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit” and “Father forgive them, because they know not what they do” can still be heard today. Then, the world was without hope. Now, because of Easter, we have everything, including hope. But we have to go through Thursday and Friday to get to Sunday. The same is true in our lives today.
Two thoughts as we come to a close. I am reminded of the scene when Jesus and His disciples were gathered in the upper room, just hours before His crucifixion.
According to the Gospel of John, “After supper was ended and after Judas had already made preparations to betray Christ, Jesus laid aside His garments, and wrapped a towel around Himself. He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and wipe them with a towel.
This was truly the ultimate act of servant hood. Christ chose water from a basin to teach His disciples that the greatest should be the least. To wash the feet of others as we serve Him.
And then I am reminded of another scene, involving a pitiful man, Pontius Pilate. A man of power, swayed by the cries of those around him. Afraid to take a stand, afraid to make a decision. A man, ironically, who would become known throughout history as the man whom Christ suffered under. Yet this man, in his last attempt to sit on the fence called for a basin of water. I wonder if it could have been the same one. Can you even imagine? According to the Gospel of Matthew, Pilate took the water and washed his hands before the multitudes saying, “I am innocent of this just Person. You see to it!” And he washed his hands of it.
The way I see it, we have two choices. We can either take the basin and use it to wash the feet of others, or take this basin and wash our hands of Christ forever. We can either accept Jesus as the Son of God, or reject Him. We only have two choices. Which will you choose? Don’t let this Easter escape you.
