Triumph to Tragedy
Luke 19:33-38, "And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him. And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest."
Last Sunday was observed throughout the Christian world as Palm Sunday in remembrance of the events of the verses that we have just read.
It was Passover time, & Jews from all over the world were crowding into Jerusalem. News had gone out that Jesus was on His way. He had passed through the villages of Bethpage & Bethany on the way to Jerusalem that day. Word had spread rapidly before His arrival and a large crowd of people had gathered to see Him as He rode into town.
Along with those who were standing around the gates and streets of Jerusalem, there where those who traveled along with Jesus and his disciples with Jesus in the lead as He approached the city like a conquering king and hero.
There were those in this crowd who had also accompanied Jesus as he gave the great sermon on the Mount, those who had been healed of leprosy, blindness, lameness and so many other diseases, and there were those who had witnessed His power of bringing the dead back to life. Jews from every city, village and place where Jesus had ministered were there for the Passover and they cheered and bowed before Jesus as he rode into the city.
Waving their palm branches, symbolizing both peace and victory in battle, they were overcome by this one who had done so much for all of them.
Of course, some in the crowds were simply curious. They had heard of Jesus miracles and wanted to see just what this man Jesus looked like. Perhaps he would perform some great miracle for them to see. They were itching for a good time and for some excitement.
Most of the people were shouting "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna to the son of David!" They were praising Him and worshipping Him with all their ability as they recognized Him as King. I am persuaded that many of they really thought that Jesus had come as their delivering Messiah who would use his power to rid Israel of the hated Roman occupational forces and bring Israel’s freedom back.
If only they had only known that Jesus was coming into Jerusalem for a very different reason and a far more eternal purpose.
Mankind has always had the highest of accolades for the man who will take the reigns of leadership and lead people to victory over tyranny.
As our armies have returned from victory at the end of the great wars and battles of our American History, they have, for the most part, been welcomed home amid cheers of joy, with ticker tape parades and great ceremony down the streets of our great cities. Men like George Washington, Gen. Douglas McArthur, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf and others have been welcomed home as conquering heroes of America.
And so it was with Jesus as the Jews looked upon Him with great expectations and hope that the long awaited Messiah had finally come to set them free.
This week in the life of Jesus began with the approval, worship and love of the crowds of Jerusalem but in His heart Jesus knew that this approval of the crowd would not last for long.
Only a few hours before, as He stood upon the hill looking down over the city that He loved so much, and at the nation that He had chosen to bring the Prince of Peace into the world, His heart was heavy with grief for He knew the condition of their heart and the events that would soon come.
Matthew 23:37, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"
His own disciples had not grasped the thought of what would soon take place. The hope was still alive in them that the crowd was right and that now they would stand beside their hero, Jesus of Nazareth, as he led defeated the Romans and then gave each of them a high position in the new government.
They had learned much from Jesus. They too, had seen the miracles of the loaves and fishes as Jesus fed the 5000. They had seen him cast out devils and heal the sick. If Jesus was able to do these miracles, why could He not just speak the word and form a mighty army that Rome could not defeat. Surely Jesus had to be the promised Messiah of Israel. They, like the crowd, thought that the day of Israel’s deliverance from bondage had come just as it done in the days of Moses when Israel was in Egyptian bondage.
Through those first few days of this week, hopes ran high among the people in anticipation of the rise of rebellion against Roman rule. Every heart was fixed upon the bright future that lay just ahead after the victory was won. Joy, happiness, celebration, and thanksgiving were the order of the day.
But, there were some who did not share in this lofty ideal of Jesus being the great deliverer of Israel and who would never accept him as the Messiah. The religious hierarchy was secretly planning and scheming to stop this rabble-rouser named Jesus. They simply could not allow this man of Galilee to usurp their authority as rulers over Israel and would not allow the people to be duped by this charlatan and blasphemer.
The High Priest along with the Sanhedrin council consisting of the Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees were carefully laying plans and plotting against Jesus in order to have this threat removed once and for all. They planned for false witnesses, for Judas to betray Jesus to them and for his ultimate trial before the Council and the Roman authorities. Then they put their plan into action.
Judas was contacted and paid 30 pieces of silver for his act of loyalty to the Council. He was one of the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples and would have no problem infiltrating their ranks and gaining the information needed for Jesus’ capture. The High Priest and Judas together would devise a plan and a sign for the Temple Guard to seize Jesus at a time and place when the crowds were not around and when there could be no real opposition to their plan to end the threat of Jesus who said that He was the Son of God.
Judas wasn’t convinced that Jesus was who he claimed to be. Neither was Judas completely against Christ, in fact, he liked Jesus as a friend, but after all, a man has to have money to live and afford the better things of life. So what if Jesus would be called before the council and sent to prison for a little while. Maybe all they would do is fine Jesus and teach him to be less public through the use of the cat of nine tails. Judas’ love for Jesus wasn’t near as powerful as his love for money and the things of this life. Besides, Judas would be helping the High Priest and the Council. Certainly there could be no fault in that.
The week had passed so very quickly. It seemed that it had only been yesterday that Jesus had ridden into town on the donkey amid the shouts of Hosanna from the crowd.
Now the crowd of that day had disappeared and the week of Passover was in full swing. The celebrations of feasts and reading of the account of Israel’s delivery from Egyptian bondage was accomplished time and again in observance of that great deliverance called the Exodus. For days this feasting would continue and the Passover would end with the last great day of the feast on the 8th day.
It was now nearing the end of the week of Passover. Hope ran high and excitement was in the air. Just think of how the Jews must have felt. Not only was this the greatest feast of the year celebrating the deliverance from Egypt, but now they were on the threshold of another great time of deliverance from the iron fist of Rome. Little did most of Jerusalem know that their hopes would soon be dashed by the plans of the Sanhedrin Council and Judas.
Jesus called together his disciples for the last supper of the Passover in a large upper room. This started out as any other Passover feast, with ceremony and laughter and joy, but within a short time the mood turned quickly as Jesus began to speak of his death that was soon to come.
This took his disciples by surprise. They had heard him speak of his death before but had never really understood what was going to happen.
Jesus knew by the Spirit that his time had come to accomplish that for which he had been born. As the meal was drawing to a close Jesus lifted the bread giving thanks to God and said to his disciples, “This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. " Then lifting the cup he said to them, "...This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you. " Then in a simple gesture of friendship, Judas was exposed as Jesus’ betrayer and ran from the room.
Next we see Jesus and his disciples as they enter the Garden of Gethsemane for a time of prayer. The disciples were so very tired from the long day and were full from the meal so they could not stay awake for long. Jesus was alone, walking a little ways from where the disciples were sleeping He knelt and prayed as He felt the full weight of the coming events upon his heart.
As Jesus prayed, committing His will to that of the Father, there were Temple Guards being led by Judas coming out to meet him in the Garden. At the conclusion of Jesus’ prayer, the victory was already won in the fight against the flesh and now there was no turning back. Jesus was committed to being the sacrifice for man’s sin that He knew must be given freely.
With a kiss Judas betrayed Jesus to the guards. The power within Jesus’ voice as He identified himself caused every guard to fall backward as if some great wind had blown them like dried leaves. They soon came after Jesus to arrest him and Peter, snatching a sword from one guard, sliced of his ear and was ready to fight to the death to defend Jesus just as he had promised he would do. Jesus stopped him, took his sword, gave it back to the guard and then picked up the ear, placed it upon the head of the wounded guard and miraculously healed it instantly. He would offer no resistance for he knew that this was the will of the Father in Heaven.
The long night of anguish and torture had now begun.
The Council had gathered a large crowd of dissidents and criminals. They had sent runners through the streets calling those who they knew would support their plan to get rid of Jesus.
Jesus stood before the High Priest knowing that he would present no defense to change their minds. Jesus knew that he was to be beaten, mocked then sent to Herod and finally to Pilate for judgment and that this long, terrible night would give way to a more terrible day that would finally end with his own death upon the cross.
The next day, Friday, was the day before Passover would culminate in its final great feast day on Saturday. The Council knew that this blasphemer must die and be buried before the Passover so they caused a near riot among the lower class of society who demanded the death of Jesus. Even Pilate would not stand in their way now for he feared the wrath of Caesar if a rebellion were to break out. Attempting to set Jesus free was impossible and after he had tried to remove the guilt of this death from himself he ordered that Jesus be crucified.
Luke 23:33-35, "And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God."
Oh how quickly the mood of the people had changed. How quickly their great hopes and expectations were dashed to pieces. How utterly hopeless they now felt. Even Jesus’ own disciples had run in fear and denied they knew Him.
The city and people of Jerusalem were in total shock from the events surrounding this crucifixion. So many things had happened.
In the middle of the day, the sky had become as dark as night as Jesus drew His last breath. The very earth beneath their feet had shook creating panic in the streets as the earthquake and its aftershocks hit the city again and again. Judas had tried to give back the money but the Council had refused it and Judas was now dead by suicide.
The Jews now felt a hopelessness that could only be compared with those of their ancestors in Egypt so long ago. Their king was dead. The one that many had worshipped as their new deliverer from Rome was dead. He had not been what they expected and was cursed as he hung upon the cross and was crucified for only criminals deserved such as this.
The darkness of despair was worse than the darkness of night. Hope was gone from their heart. This Passover feast would end as a hollow experience.
Why did this happen, what could have gone wrong, when will the true Messiah come? There were no answers for Israel, only more questions. The only thing they could hope for now is that there would be no more reprisals from Rome and that no more would have to die because of this rebellion and rioting.
The body of the one they thought would be their king was taken down from the cross, buried and sealed in a tomb, placed under guard by the Council and kept until the feast of Passover would end in 3 days before the body could even be prepared properly for burial.
Sadness, despair, hopelessness, fear, confusion, doubt and dread was all that the people could feel and the feeling of grief and pain was almost more than any could bear.
Such is the feeling that engulfs mankind spiritually. There is no hope without Jesus and now he was dead.
Our society has done its best to kill Jesus and to wipe God’s name from every public record as though God were some great criminal. Our world has rejected Jesus, mocked God, denied the existence of the Holy Spirit and plunged into utter despair and darkness, without hope. God is dead. Hope is dead. Love is dead. Death is the only release from this life of trouble and there is no hope for eternity.
It’s Friday now and life has lost its meaning!
Little does Jerusalem know, and little does our world yet understand, what is coming in only a few days.
