Most are familiar with the plot of Saving Private Ryan.  A small cadre of soldiers, led by Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) is sent to the front lines in France in the Second World War to find Private James Ryan (Matt Damon) whose three brothers were killed in combat.  The War Department wants Ryan saved so the family does not lose all its sons.  Ryan is somewhere on the front, essentially lost in a sea of green fatigues.

Just prior to the scenes in the video clip, Captain Miller is fatally wounded.  As he lays dying he tells Ryan, “Earn this!”  Earn what these men have done for you.  Earn the sacrifice that has been made for you.

I love the title of the film.  I could insert my name – Saving Jon  Kendrick – because I am lost and need saving.  We are each James Ryan in that we need saving and someone has died for us and we wonder if we’re worthy of that.  Apparently, Ryan lived to be a good man, but even if he didn’t, Captain Miller died for him.

We will never be worthy of Jesus’ sacrifice for us, his dying in our place.  Fortunately, Jesus didn’t come to save worthy people: he came to save lost people who could never earn the gift of grace he offers.  This Memorial Day certainly remember and give thanks for the men and women who sacrificed their lives in the defense of earthly freedom.  But give ultimate honor to the One who sacrificed His life for your eternal freedom. 

This can be your story.  Claim the grace that God offers.  Accept the sacrifice of a loving Savior.  Insert your name…

On Easter Sunday, bombs exploded in Sri Lanka killing, at last count, 359 people including at least 45 children.  The bombs were set off in churches and hotels, obviously targeting Christians and tourists.  In France, a church was set on fire in the village of Eyguieres in the early morning; fortunately no one was killed or injured.  In Nigeria, a car bomb exploded near a church in Kaduna killing at least 28 people, part of an ongoing persecution of Christians in that country that has taken at least 380 lives in 2019.  The Washington Post published an opinion piece by John L. Allen, Jr in its April 23rd edition that states: “On major Christian feast days, somewhere in the world, some number of Christians are likely to be killed for no reason other than that they chose to attend religious services.  Because Christmas and Easter are the holiest days on the Christian calendar, churches tend to be especially full, presenting ripe targets for anti-Christian hatred.”  Mr. Allen, editor of the Roman Catholic-oriented news website Crux, goes on to detail various attacks on Christians around the world and not only on holidays: “… it is certain that at any hour of the day, a Christian somewhere is being martyred.”  He ends his thoughts with a call for systematic education in religious tolerance worldwide, as well as aggressive security measures at Christian sites on holy days.  “Until such a mobilization occurs, Christians will continue to be forced to celebrate Christmas and Easter in the grim and certain knowledge that some of their fellow celebrants around the world will not live to see the next day.”

Christian persecution is as old as Christianity.  Many believers over the centuries did not live to see the next day after they gathered to worship.  We seem to find a new level of outrage when these events occur on Easter, considered to be the holiest day on the Christian calendar.  Believers gathered to celebrate the Resurrection only to be attacked and killed.  I hate that my brothers and sisters in Christ are being murdered for their beliefs.  I don’t want anyone to suffer for the practice of faith.  I want the people responsible to be caught and punished.  God is a God of righteousness and He demands justice.   It is wrong that they were murdered for their faith.

Yet we sometimes forget that believers were promised persecution by Jesus Himself.  On the night He was betrayed, Jesus said, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:20)  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great’ for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12)  Our Sri Lankan and Nigerian brothers and sisters are experiencing that reward in heaven now.  As Paul wrote in Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”  Yet it is wrong that they were murdered for their faith.

I have baptized people on Easter Sunday who considered it a great honor to follow Christ in baptism on such A special day.  I imagine that worshipping the risen Savior on Easter one moment and then opening your eyes in His presence the next would be beyond incredible.  Once they have tasted the glories of heaven, we would not wish for our brothers and sisters to return to our fallen world. Yet it is wrong that they were murdered for their faith.

Those who persecute others for their religious beliefs are operating  under the belief that their religion is correct and others are therefore wrong and must be eliminated.  In fact, Christians have killed others, including other Christians, in the name of their faith.  Many people are obviously ignoring the modern mantras that “all religions are the same” and “all paths lead to God” when they are murdering people on a different path.  We delude ourselves if we think mankind can achieve universal peace on its own.  There is only one source of true peace and we can experience that peace, but we will not experience it universally until Jesus, the Prince of Peace, returns.

I recently cleaned out my desk and found some slides in a drawer.  They have been sitting in a pile on the side of my desk for a few days.  As I was writing, I picked them up to have a look while my brain continued to percolate on these words.  They are images captured many years ago when I visited Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro where stands the massive statue Cristo Redentor, or Christ the Redeemer.  I don’t believe in coincidences so let us consider Christ the Redeemer.  Murdered on Good Friday in part because He was a threat to the religious practices of the Jews.  Murdered on “Passover Eve,” just before one of the holiest day in the Jewish calendar (as the Preacher wrote in Ecclesiastes 1:9, “There is no new thing under the sun.”).  Murdered as a part of an eternal plan to redeem men and women from the penalty of sin, which is death.  Murdered willingly, which sounds so odd.  Murdered, yet resurrected on Easter Sunday to grant the promises of abundant life and eternal life to those who believe.  The Redeemer’s arms are open to receive those who believe, even persecutors who are drawn to His grace.

Grieve for the murder of believers.  Grieve and pray for families that are grieving.  Understand that you will suffer for your beliefs; it is not new and it should not be surprising.  Share the gospel, especially in the face of persecution.  We should fight terrorism and murder, certainly, but we should fight to share the truth with a lost world because true terror is eternal separation from the love of God.

And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached out and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear.  Then Jesus said to him, put your sword back into its place, for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.  Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and he will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this way? Matthew 26:51-54

And they laid hands on Hm and seized Him.  But a certain one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear.  Mark 14:46-47

And when those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And a certain one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear.  But Jesus answered and said, “Stop! No more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.  Luke 22:49-51

Simon Peter therefore having a sword, drew it, and stuck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus.  Jesus therefore said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”  John 18:10-11

Wait a minute, Kendrick!  What are you doing?  This is Good Friday.  The arrest in the middle of the night; the trials before Caiaphas, Pilate and Herod; the beatings; the cries of the mob; Pilate’s wife; the road to Calvary; THE CRUCIFIXION; the two thieves; the centurion; the veil; the words of Jesus; HIS DEATH; the spear; the burial.  It’s a crazy, full day with so much going on and so much meaning and your writing about a slave who had his ear cut off?

It was early Friday morning as Judas led the priests and temple guards to arrest Jesus in the garden.  The Messiah had just spent hours in agonized prayer knowing what was coming.  It was to be a horrible day, yet a day that believers venerate and celebrate as the day God offered His mercy to the world.  And early on this day, a disciple cut off a slave’s ear.

We see the story above from all four gospels.  The temple guards, who worked for the Chief Priest, came to arrest Jesus.  Perhaps Malchus was present to report on events to the Chief Priest.  Peter, as he often did, acted impetuously, drew his sword, and cut off Malchus’ ear.  I know Jesus chastised Peter, but I kind of admire Peter for what he did.  None of the disciples fully understood what was happening and what it would mean, so Peter was as prepared as he could be.  However, we know that Jesus would have much preferred Peter stay awake and pray with Him than defend Him with a sword.  I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed, but that sounds like some good advice for us as we encounter people hostile to the gospel: pray, offer compassion and help, and put away the weapons.

Healing Malchus was the last miracle Jesus performed before His death, and He was just hours away from that death.  After the agony in Gethsemane, the betrayal of Judas, and knowing fully what the day would bring, He stopped to heal one of the men sent to arrest Him.  Was it a natural response for the Messiah to heal?  He did not heal all those he encountered that needed healing.  Was it to show His authority to those who had come to seize Him?  They had just been knocked off their feet when He simply said, “I am.”  Was it a lesson for the disciples, particularly Peter who seemed to always act rashly?  Was it a lesson for us that His mission was to provide healing, ultimately from sin and death?

It could have been any and all of those things.  I like to think that the healing changed Malchus; that he became a believer and shared the good news with others.  But I don’t know that; I only know that Jesus healed Him on His way to His death.  It’s very similar to the lesson we learned from Jesus washing the feet of Judas:  we are called to serve others without distinction or discrimination.

Perhaps, as a servant of the high priest, Malchus was present at Jesus’ trial.  Perhaps he followed Jesus throughout Good Friday so he could report back to the high priest.  Perhaps he was on Calvary and, with his restored ear, heard the agonized cry, “My God!  My God!  Why have you forsaken me?” and the final statement of a mission completed, “It is finished.”  Good Friday ends.  The body of our Lord is hurriedly buried.  The Passover Sabbath begins for Jewish families.  Darkness descends on Jesus’ followers who are fearful and dejected.  With them, we remain silent and mourn the death of the true and perfect Messiah.  But we know what they do not … Sunday’s comin!

Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”  John 13:1-11

I really didn’t want to write about Judas again; he is certainly not the hero of Holy Week.  But I can’t get past the fact that Jesus washed  Judas’ feet at the Last Supper.  I’m sure people smarter than me realized this when they considered this passage, but it “hit me upside the head” a few years ago that Jesus washed Judas’ feet.  I had never put the chronology together that Judas was dismissed from the supper after the foot-washing.  I did some googling about the topic and found quite a few people who had not noticed this detail and were amazed when they realized what Jesus did. 

I am astounded that Jesus would wash the feet of Judas.  I certainly wouldn’t have, but then, I’m not Jesus (Duh!).  Foot washing conveyed an important lesson to the disciples and us and echoed Jesus teaching:  The first shall be last Matthew 20:16).  Other verses discuss this, but it is perhaps stated most clearly in Mark 10:45:  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.  In washing the feet of Judas, Jesus showed us that we do not have the option of choosing whom to serve and not serve.  The Second Great Commandment to love your neighbor does not come with clauses and exceptions.  “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” makes it even clearer.

But the cleansing that Jesus offers is more than physical cleanliness, and it is more than a lesson on servanthood.  The cleansing He offers is a cleansing from the sin that consumes us.  This cleansing comes through His sacrificial death by which he paid the penalty for my sin.  This cleansing is available to all, but we must accept the mercy and grace that God offers.  And we must make that mercy and grace known so that everyone has an opportunity to gain the cleansing.

How did Jesus feel as He washed Judas’ feet?  I cannot pretend to speak for Jesus or know His thoughts, but He was fully man and I can imagine what I would feel, what I have, in fact, felt in similar situations.  I am sure His heart hurt when He sent Judas on his way and saw him walk out the door.

Judas has left the building … with clean feet … and a filthy heart.

Jesus has left the building … having stooped to wash feet …. and with a heavy heart as He walked to Gethsemane and on to Calvary.

The one of the twelve,  named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, and said, “What are you willing to give me to deliver Him up to you?” And they weighed out to him thirty pieces of silver.  And from then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Him.  Matthew 26:14-16

The gospels are not entirely clear on when some events occurred between Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week, but two events could have easily taken place late Tuesday or on Wednesday: preparation for the Passover and Judas’ conversation with the chief priests. The latter has been historically accepted as having occurred on Wednesday. Our focus is on the actions of Judas which give the day the name “Spy Wednesday.”

You might assume the word spy is derived from a Greek or Latin word that has a deep, insightful, theological meaning for the events of Wednesday, however, the word spy is simply the word spy.  On this day and the next,  Judas was involved in intrigue, betrayal and spying, or acting as a “mole” among the disciples, hence the name “Spy Wednesday.”

Why?  It is the constant question for Judas.  Why did you betray this Man you followed for three years?  How could you do such a thing to someone so close to you, who had shown you such love?  The easy answer is found in Luke’s account: And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. (Luke 22:3)  John also tells us that Satan entered Judas (John 13:27).  Satan unsuccessfully tempted Jesus and we know he was waiting to renew his attack at an opportune time (Luke 4:13).  He apparently used Peter when Jesus confronted Peter with the words, “Get behind me, Satan.”  So does this absolve Judas of moral responsibility for his actions?  Is this the old Flip Wilson line “the devil made me do it?”

Yes and no.  Satan is active and at work in this world and he can use men and women to accomplish his ends, just as he used Judas.  I have heard excuses for Judas over the years:  he was trying to force Jesus’ hand into declaring Himself the Messiah; he thought he had a better understanding of the political scene than Jesus did and this would prompt Jesus to act because things just weren’t moving fast enough for Judas’ liking.  The musical Jesus Christ Superstar reinforced these ideas.

It is possible that Judas had good intentions in pursuing the betrayal of Jesus.  However, there is an old saying that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.  There is another old saying that applies here, “Actions speak louder than words.”  Fact: Judas betrayed Jesus.  Whether prompted by Satan or not, Judas committed an act of betrayal and his intentions are overwhelmed by his actions.

I have also read about “poor Judas.”  Someone had to betray Jesus, so Judas was the one – it is unfair.  Matthew 27:3-4 is cited – Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!”  And, of course, Judas committed suicide after throwing the money on the ground.  Judas was sorry.

Two Greek words are in play here:  metamelomai and metanoia.  The first is typically translated “regret” or “remorse” and is the word used to describe Judas in Matthew 27:3.  The second is typically translated “repentance.”  (Verses that contain metanoia include Matthew 9:13, Mark 2:17, Luke 15:7, Luke 24:47 and 2 Corinthians 7:9, among others). Metanoia begins with sorrow which leads to repentance, or a change of mind and life.  Judas simply expressed regret that things didn’t work out; he did not express repentance.

I ask the question “why” of Judas, too.  I cannot fathom that I would do such a thing to Jesus.  We deem betrayal to be one of the lowest forms of human interaction.  Trust, typically built up over time and through shared experience, is thrown out the window.  Betrayal hurts and hurts badly.  Yet I read verses like Psalm 51:3-4: For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.  Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You  judge. Sin is action taken against God.  We don’t like to think that way, but it’s the truth.  I betray Jesus every time I sin, and I reinforce the need for Him to die on the cross every time I sin.  Yes, Judas committed a despicable act.  So do I. So do we all.  My good intentions are irrelevant.  My actions are not.

Would Jesus have forgiven Judas?  He forgave Peter who denied Him.  He forgives me every day for the sinful things I do.  But Judas did not repent.  He allowed Satan to enter his heart, not Jesus, despite being so close to Him.  If nothing else, that should be a sobering thought for us.  Who among us pays lip service to following Jesus, shows up for church every Sunday, perhaps even tithes, goes on mission trips, and serves on committees, but has never committed to a relationship with Jesus?

I do feel sorrow for Judas as I do for anyone who turns his or her back on Jesus.  He forfeited eternity for thirty pieces of silver and, more significantly, to do things his way.

And on the next day, when they had departed from Bethany, He became hungry.  And seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  And He answered and said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.  Mark 11:12-14

When evening came, they would go out of the city. As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. Being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.” Mark 11:19-26

When we think of the miracles of Jesus, we usually think of healings, raising the dead and casting out demons.  But the next-to-last miracle Jesus performed was none of these,  but rather a miracle of judgment and destruction – the cursing of the fig tree.  People have struggled with this action for years: why would Jesus curse a living thing, a tree, that simply wasn’t providing fruit.  It seems completely out of character for Him.  Was he “hangry?”

I love fig trees.  We had one at the house where I grew up.  I could climb it and be on the roof in two seconds.  Every summer it yielded the most succulent figs.  My dad and I would pick them and eat some straight from the tree and my mom would make fig preserves with most of them.  Delicious!  I’ve tried growing a fig tree as an adult and I picked one fig one year.  I guess I have that in common with Jesus  – I cursed the fig tree – but I cursed it after it was dead – dadgum fig tree (more of a shrub or treelet)!

 The fig tree was “in leaf.”  This signaled that it should be bearing fruit.  It was too early in the season for fig trees to typically bear fruit, but this one held promise as an “early bloomer.”   Jesus’ expectation was that there would be figs on it.  He was likely hungry and simply wanted to eat a couple of figs from a roadside tree.  But when He inspected the tree he found no figs, and then He proclaimed that it would never produce fruit again, effectively a death sentence.  To curse meant to pronounce judgement; Jesus did not cuss at the fig tree.

We learn in the second set of verses that the fig tree had withered from the roots up overnight.  The disciples commented on it and Jesus made it an object lesson on faith and the power of prayer.  It is indeed a powerful lesson and points out how weak our faith and prayer lives typically are.  But I think there is more going on here.

The fig tree made a show of having fruit by being in leaf.  This is much like the Jews at this point in time:  they made a great show of following the Law and Prophets but were not bearing fruit.  The fig tree is often associated with the nation of Israel (e.g., Jeremiah 8:13, Hosea 9:10, Nahum 3:12).  Figs symbolized the fruit of spiritual fulfillment.  When this fruit is not produced judgment may ensue.  Jeremiah 8:13 speaks of the judgement to be meted out on Israel: ‘I will surely snatch them away,’ declares the Lord; “There will be no grapes on the vine and no figs on the fig tree, and the leaf will wither; and what I have given them will pass away.”

Jesus had just been hailed as a king on Sunday.  Passover, a celebration of God’s deliverance, was being celebrated.  The time was ripe for Israel to accept the Messiah.  Yet they did not and God knew they would not.  So Jesus executed one act of judgement in cleansing the temple of its corruptness and then performed His only miracle of judgment in cursing the fig tree.  Good Jewish boys like the disciples would have understood the significance of the fig tree and of Jesus’ action in pronouncing judgment.

Jeremiah writes in 17:7-10: Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is in the Lord.  For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.  The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it.  I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give each man according to his ways, according to the result of his deeds.  If we trust God we are like trees planted by streams with strong roots that can withstand the suffering that comes.  But Jeremiah then reminds us that our hearts are deceitful and, when God searches our hearts, He will give to each according to his ways and the result of his deeds. 

The act of cursing the fig tree is rich in meaning for believers.  First, Jesus promises that we can have the faith and prayer life to accomplish amazing things.  Second, we recognize the fulfillment of prophecy and the role of Jesus as Messiah and Savior.  Third, we must bear fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) as we serve or run the risk of withering and dying (judgment).

If you have a chance this week, try to find a fig at the grocery store.  As you bite into it and enjoy the sweetness, taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8) and remind yourself that it is up to you to show the sweetness of God’s love to the world.

And they came to Jerusalem.  And He entered the temple and began to cast out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who were selling doves; and He would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple.  And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations?’ But you have made it a robber’s den.”  And the chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of  Him, for all the multitude was astonished at His teaching. Mark 11:15-18

People have different views of Jesus: Savior and Redeemer, Revolutionary, Radical Change Agent, Preacher of Peace and Tolerance, Self-Help Guru, Promiser of Prosperity, and on and on.  These verses from Mark display a Jesus a lot of people like: Angry Jesus.

Twice Jesus cleansed the temple of money-changers and price gougers.  The first time, recorded in John 2, He even wove together a small whip to physically attack them to drive them out.  This “Angry Jesus” appeals to people, perhaps because of the strong emotion he displayed, or perhaps because we see Him in an underdog role taking on the establishment.   Too often, though, Christians cite Jesus’ actions in cleansing the temple as justification for righteous anger. How often do we see Jesus like this compared to the number of times we see Him calm in the face of antagonism or adversity? 

Dutiful Jews were required to make sacrifices at the temple at various times, particularly during Passover.  Since many pilgrims came to Jerusalem for the holiday, it was more convenient for them to purchase sacrificial animals at the temple rather than bring them or try to find them elsewhere in Jerusalem and the surrounding villages.  Of course, this led to higher prices being charged and the high priest would have certainly taken a cut from the profits.  In addition, a temple tax had to be paid by the devout and this could only be paid in Tyrian shekels, which contained a higher percentage of silver than most other coinage of the time.  So worshippers would have to exchange their Roman and other coins for the shekels, and always at an exorbitant rate, which also included the High Priest’s cut.

In cleansing the temple of these greedy enterprises Jesus cited two Old Testament verses:

Isaiah 56:7 – Even those I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer.  Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.

Jeremiah 7:11 – “Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight?  Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” declares the Lord.

It was highly offensive to Jesus that the temple had been turned into a money-making enterprise that was taking advantage of those doing their best to follow the Law.  The temple was God’s dwelling place on earth.  Archaeologists have discovered a Greek inscription from the Court of the Gentiles (the outermost part of the temple) that dates from 20 BC that warns non-Jews not to proceed past that point on fear of death.  Jews could go no further than the Court of the Men and the Court of the Women.  Priests could enter the Court of the Priests/Temple Court to perform their ritual duties.  Finally, the Holy of Holies where dwelt the presence of God was entered only once a year on the Day of Atonement by the High Priest.  This was, indeed, holy ground.

Certainly Jesus’ actions were righteous.  It is fascinating to me that He cleansed the temple just days before His death.  Think about what happened at the temple on Good Friday – the veil separating the Temple Court from the Holy of Holies was torn in two, symbolizing that men could now have direct access to God because of the sacrifice of Jesus.  The day before, Jesus foretold that the temple would be destroyed and would not be rebuilt until people again said, “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.” (Matthew 23:37-39).  Jesus was asserting the authority that was being proclaimed as He entered Jerusalem on Sunday.  The temple was His house and He was reclaiming it days before His death would make it unnecessary.

What can we learn from  Jesus’ actions?  I think the lesson is much more important than “sometimes it’s okay to exercise righteous anger.”  First, we must recognize Jesus’ lordship and authority – He is God and He was not just making a statement. He was exercising His authority in cleaning up His house.  The second lesson for me is to consider what I need to clean up in my life.  Too often, believers can do things that seem good or start good, but turn into self-serving actions.  We can do things in the name of faith that become hypocritical in nature – think Pharisee.  And sometimes God cleans our houses and it’s not pleasant.

Believers are now the temple of God on earth (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).  How clean is your temple?

As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting: “BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” Luke 19:37-40

There is so much to consider about Palm Sunday: the donkey that is waiting for Jesus; the jubilant crowd; the parade; Jesus weeping over Jerusalem; and the visit to the temple.  Jesus entered Jerusalem, not as a Warrior Messiah, but as the Sacrificial Lamb who was to disappoint His followers by not claiming an earthly kingdom, but dying to provide an eternal one.

As Jesus approached Jerusalem, the crowd began to gather.  First it was disciples, which likely meant more than just the twelve.  They praised God for Jesus because of the miracles which they had seen.  The crowd rightfully cited Psalm 118:26 in shouting, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!”  Finally, Jesus, who had previously wanted anonymity, was being recognized for who He was.  This parade was not arrogance on the part of Jesus; it was a recognition of His authority and a necessary step in the progression of His ministry and of the week to come.

I have heard preachers and read commentators who state that the same crowd that hailed Jesus on Sunday called for His death on Friday.  I have heard others say that, while there may have been some overlap, they were not the same people.  The crowd on Palm Sunday was mainly followers of Jesus.  The crowd on Good Friday included only a handful of followers that we know of (Mary, Mary’s sister, Mary wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene and John) and may have included some of the Palm Sunday welcomers.  Those folks, who went from shouting “Hosanna” to “Crucify Him,” would have been disappointed that Jesus did not meet their expectations, which were to defeat the Romans and reestablish Jewish rule.  The fact remains that the crowd on Palm Sunday recognized the uniqueness of Jesus, although it’s likely none of them had any idea what His purpose was and what was coming in a few short days.

Pharisees were also in the crowd.  In this last week of His life they always seemed to be present to challenge Jesus.  Here in this moment of glory and recognition they told Jesus to tell the disciples to hush.  They did recognize Him as “Teacher,” but that rang hollow given their hypocrisy.  They said, “Rebuke your disciples.”  To rebuke means to “express sharp disapproval or criticism of someone because of their behavior or actions.” In the Pharisees’ minds, the disciples had gone too far in claiming Lordship for Jesus.

Jesus likely quoted Habakkuk 2:11 in His response.  In crafting a taunt regarding the tyranny of Babylon and its ultimate destruction,  the prophet Habakkuk wrote:

Because you have looted many nations, all the remainder of the peoples will loot you—because of human bloodshed and violence done to the land, to the town and all its inhabitants.  Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house to put his nest on high, to be delivered from the hand of calamity! You have devised a shameful thing for your house by cutting off many peoples; so you are sinning against yourself. Surely the stone will cry out from the wall, and the rafter will answer it from the framework. Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and founds a town with violence. Habakkuk 2:8-12

Habakkuk is noting that the houses and cities built by the Babylonians at the expense of those they had conquered and captured would testify against them when the Babylonians were, in turn, conquered.  In citing this verse, Jesus states something similar.  If His disciples’ mouths are shut it won’t matter because creation will testify to the glory of Jesus.

Creation does testify to the magnificence and glory of God.  I have seen great beauty in the world from the Grand Canyon to a star-filled night at sea.  I subscribe to an Instagram account from the National Park Service and am amazed every day at the beauty captured in their photographs.  Creation can be glorious and it certainly reveals a glorious Creator.  But stones?  Was Jesus looking at a wall, perhaps a street, or a house, or even the Temple itself when He said this?  The Temple was certainly magnificent, but it was created using stones and timber.  Jesus said inanimate rocks would cry out to glorify Him.

This gives me tremendous hope: if a rock can testify to the glory of God, then I certainly can.  At least, I hope I’m more expressive than a rock.  But it also makes me realize what Jesus knew:  I will be silent more often than  not.  I will miss opportunities to share the gospel.  I will fail to show love.  I will keep my mouth shut when it should be open, and open it when it should be shut (can I get an “Amen?”).

But these verses are not about me.  They are about a person who was fully God and fully man.  A person who was about to give His life as a payment for the sin in my own.  A person who was going to pay a price for me that I could not pay.  A person whose blood would drop onto the stones of the road leading to Calvary.  In the face of that overwhelming love of course the stones would cry out … and so must we.

Passion Week.  Holy Week.  Holy and Great Week.  Palm Sunday.  Spy Wednesday. Maundy Thursday.  Good Friday.  Over the centuries Christians have given names to the week and the days of the week to mark the last few days Jesus walked the earth.  This week has always fascinated me and every year I try to read through the gospel accounts for each day to help me picture what was occurring and discover what actions Jesus took and the words He said knowing what was coming.  This fascination began when I was a boy because my father, a pastor, hosted a Bible study each morning of Passion Week to discuss the scriptures for that day.  I went to the bakery with him as he bought doughnuts every morning.  Someone would have already opened the Fellowship Hall when we arrived at the church and made coffee and hot chocolate (for me, the only kid present).  There were probably never more than 15 people there, but it was a special and blessed time.  Afterward, Dad would drop me off at school.  I looked forward to it every year, certainly because of the time spent with my dad, but also for the weight of considering each day what Jesus encountered and knowing it ended with His death on Good Friday.

Beginning on Palm Sunday, April 14^th, I will post a blog each day through Good Friday that examines something that occurred in the gospels on that day.  It certainly won’t be exhaustive, but will consider something from that day and what it means for us.  These posts are not intended to  replace whatever you do for your quiet time, but are simply a  way of, hopefully, drawing us closer to Jesus.  As poorly as they may be written, they are written to honor and glorify Him, and also as a way of thanking my dad for showing me the love of a wonderful Savior. Please join me on this journey through Passion Week.  If you’d like to have the posts delivered to your email inbox, please sign up to follow the blog at the bottom of the menu on the left side of the page.

Last Sunday, our church hosted the choir from Boyce College in Louisville, Kentucky.  They led us in a fantastic time of worship during a special service that included people who normally attend two other campuses and another earlier service, all of whom came together this day.  As they sang, I felt my heart swell and I experienced an incredible sense of God’s love.  The final song at the end of the service, and one which the congregation joined in on, was “Jesus Loves Me.”  It was a simple, powerful and elegant way to end the service.

Yesterday, Michele and I attended the funeral of a sweet woman who had lost her last battle with cancer at age 65.  The church was full and the memories shared were wonderful.  This woman had asked for three songs to be sung at her funeral.  The first, “Well Done,” was sung by a soloist.  The congregation closed the service with the last two: “When We All Get to Heaven;” and “Jesus Loves Me.”  It was again a simple, powerful and elegant way to end the service.

Two completely different services.  One was a gathering of believers to rejoice and be challenged to serve.  The other was a celebration and remembrance of a life well lived.  There were tears in both services with the first bringing tears of joy and the second bringing tears of sorrow.  Yet both also brought tears of gratitude, and both closed with the simple refrain, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

The story is told that the eminent theologian, Karl Barth, while on a visit to America, was asked to summarize his life’s work in theology in one sentence.  The very learned man, who challenged the theological liberalism of his time, replied, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

On Friday, Michele and I will attend another funeral of a woman who died suddenly. She was younger than us and we first met her and her family when we were in our teens. Her parents are some of the sweetest people we know. They lost their only other child, her younger brother, many years ago in an accident. Our hearts break for them, her husband, her children and grandchildren.

The pastor who led the service yesterday shared many stories with humor and compassion, and then said we needed to consider the elephant in the room: the question “why?”  Why death?  Why suffering?  Why now?  Of course, we cannot answer those questions, but I think it’s perfectly fine to ask them.  It is correct to say we live in a fallen world and disease and death will occur due to the presence of sin in the world, but that is cold comfort to someone who has lost a loved one.  The only answer we have is to trust God in His sovereignty, and that does not always come easy.  Trust and faith are things we learn as we slog through life.  We can rail against the unfairness of our circumstances and turn bitter.  Or we can rail against the unfairness of our circumstances, shed many tears, and trust that God will heal and give comfort.  We will hurt, we will suffer, we will experience loss, and it’s okay to be upset about it.  I cited Job in my last post and will cite the same verse again here: “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.”  (Job 13:15).  When Job finally questioned God about his suffering, God gave him a long and beautiful answer that I have crudely and simply paraphrased as, “I am.”  God offered no explanation for suffering and loss to Job, but asserted His sovereignty which, in my opinion, was God telling Job to trust Him.

Job didn’t know it, but one day God the Son would suffer cruel injustice and pain we cannot begin to imagine – the pain of bearing all of humanity’s sin and perhaps the greater pain of that sin separating Him from the righteousness of God the Father.  God knows suffering.  He suffers with us.  His intention for us, creatures made in His image, is to be in perfect fellowship with Him, not to suffer and die.  He longs for us to return to that fellowship.  Believers can look forward to the day that we will be in His presence and every tear will be wiped away and there will be no more suffering.  We cannot begin to imagine what that is like either.

When things fall apart, when we suffer, when we lose someone we love dearly, when we ask the big question “why?” I think the simplest answer is the most profound, although it still exceeds my understanding:  “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.  Little ones to Him belong.  They are weak, but He is strong.  Yes, Jesus loves me.”