articlesforchristians

The Events of Holy Week: A Journey to Calvary

The Road to Calvary: The last week of Christ’s life he many prophecies were fulfilled and demonstrated the compassion of Jesus for His Friends and enemies.

1. The Triumphal Entry
   • As Jesus and His disciples came near Jerusalem, He sent two of them to a nearby village with instructions to return with a colt that they would find.
   • Jesus instructed them as to what to say.
   • A great crowd of people greeted him spreading garments in the path of the donkey.
   • Fulfilling Zechariah 9:9
     • Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
     • Matthew 21:1-5 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
   • The Multitudes cried out:
     • And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
   • In a few days these same people would be screaming “Crucify Him”
     
2. The Last Supper
   • The next event that occurred during the week before the crucifixion is known as the Last Supper: Matthew 26:17-29
   • Every year, the Jews kept the Feast of the Passover in remembrance of their delivery from Egyptian slavery
   • During the week before Jesus was crucified, at the Passover meal, Jesus instituted something new to the disciples and said:
     •  Matthew 26:26-28 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
   • Jesus revealed to His disciples that this meal would have a new special meaning. It is called the Lords Supper and it signifies that Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us
     • 1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
     • 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 For I have received of the Lord that which also I deliverered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
   • Paul explained the meaning of the scripture as follows:
     • The bread represents Christ’s body.
     • The fruit of the wine symbolizes His blood.
     • This ordinance is to be observed.
     • This ordinance should be continued until the Lord’s return.
       • 1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.
   • Before Jesus instituted this supper, He said:
     • Matthew 26:20-25 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me, And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it 1? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
3. GETHSEMANE
   • Following the supper, Jesus and His disciples came to the Garden of Gethsemane. He told eight of them of remain behind while He went to pray.
   • He took Peter, James, and John.
   • He became very sorrowful and heavy at the prospect of His betrayal and crucifixion.
   • He began to pray.
     • Matthew 26:40-41 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
4. BETRAYED
   • Sometime later, He woke the disciples and said:
     • Matthew 26:46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
   • While Jesus was still speaking, Judas came with a multitude armed with swords and clubs.
   • Judas came to Jesus and said:
     • Matthew 26-49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master, and kissed him.
       • This was the prearranged signal to identify Christ to the mob.
5. The Trial
   • Jesus’ trial was a mockery.
   • Arrangements for false witnesses had been made to testify against Him so that Jesus would be put to death.
   • They spit in Jesus’ face.
   • They struck Him with their hands.
     • Matthew 26:57-60 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven, Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying. He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, Saying. Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee? Now Peter sat without in the palace; and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee,
   • Following these tragic events, Jesus was led from Caiaphas to Pilate; Pilate was the governor over Judea and was responsible for carrying out the death penalty on criminals.
   • After questioning Jesus, Pilate said to the Jews:
     • Luke 23:14 Said unto them. Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:
     • John 18:39-40 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Then cried they all again, saying. Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber
   • In their frenzy they rejected the Son of God and chose a criminal.
6. JESUS BEATEN
   • Little did they know that prophecy was being fulfilled by men of God years before.
     • Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
   • The stripes that Jesus took on His body was the price paid for our healing
   • Many years later Peter said’:
     • 1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
   • Healing of the sick is one of the signs that follow believers, Jesus said:
     • Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.