The Holy Week (Part 1)
Hey guys!! This week I'm doing something very different, not only that, but I'm making this something different into a 3 part series!! So stay tuned this week for some new blogs! I can't wait to share this story with you! :)
It was but a few days before the Passover and Festival of Unleavened Bread. They had traveled many miles through the desert, feeling hot, dusty, and tired. For every time they stopped to rest, a crowd was sure to gather near. They were used to the people by now, sometimes they would even follow them around. Listening to the stories told by their teacher, watching Him perform His miraculous wonders to those in need.
Jesus was an exquisite man. He had a way with calling people to Him and teaching them about God. The sick, the poor and the needy were especially drawn to Him. Seeking Him out day and night for healing that only He could give. Jesus was perfect in all His ways, and they counted themselves blessed to be His closest friends, His disciples.
As they left Jericho and drew closer to Bethany they were met on the road by Simon the Leper. "Jesus! Friends! Please come and dine with us tonight! We want to throw a party on Jesus' behalf! Lazarus has been called to come, Mary and Martha as well! Please, come and eat!"
"Dear friend, I would love to dine with you this evening!" Replied Jesus. And so, they went. Simon the Leper joined them along the road back to his house and chatted with them along the way. As they all neared his home they were eagerly greeted by Mary, Martha, Lazarus and a few others that had come to join the party.
"Oh, how glad we are to see you!" Exclaimed Mary.
"We were wondering when you all might show up!" Joked Martha, "We heard you were on your way to Jerusalem. Your places at the table are already set. I set them myself!" She finished with a smile and then rushed off to prepare food.
Lazarus laughed and then greeted them with a smile of his own as he motioned them towards the door.
After the greetings they all made there way to the bowl on the ground, each taking his turn washing his feet and cleaning up for the meal. They then made there way over to the table, each taking his place and filling his plate. After Jesus blessed their food they all began to recline, eat and enjoy each others fellowship.
As they were telling stories and laughing amongst themselves Mary quietly slipped out the door. She returned a short time later with an alabaster jar full of sweet smelling perfume. Suddenly, everyone was quiet. Mary slowly began to walk towards Jesus while looking between Lazarus, her brother whom Jesus had raised from the dead, and Simon, who once was a leper but was now healed. She was suddenly overcome with a loving emotion for Jesus, the one who healed. The friend whom she had come to know, and who had saved her in her time of need. She began to cry as she finally neared Jesus, and with every ounce of love in her, broke open her precious jar of perfume and anointed Jesus with it.
"Stop!" cried Judas. "Why have you done this? You have wasted it! You could have sold this and given the money to the poor! What a foolish thing you have done!"
"Yeah!" said some agreeing voices around the table.
"Do not reprimand her," said Jesus, "for she has done a beautiful thing to me. I will not always be here for you. She has done this to prepare me for the path I must soon take. Her story will be known throughout the world. So keep quiet, and let her be."
With that, Judas slowly slipped away from the table and out the door. He creeped down the road and into the meeting room.
"How much will you give me for handing over Jesus?" he asked.
"Thirty pieces of silver." Replied the chief priests.
"So be it." Said Judas, then he disappeared back into the night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day they began traveling once more on the desert path. After a night full of joy and laughter Jesus still had decided to move on to Jerusalem. So, they went. As they neared the Mount of Olives Jesus spoke. "Two of you go on ahead of us and enter the city. Find me a colt, one that has never been ridden. If anyone asks what you are up to reply that you need it for the Lord."
"Yes teacher." The two replied and the rest watched as they ventured over to the city gates.
They soon returned with the donkey for Jesus and threw their cloaks on it for Him to sit on. They were all very confused why Jesus had asked for a colt. They were so use to Him walking everywhere that it was strange for them to see Him riding and animal. Little did they know that what He was doing would fulfill and old prophecy.
As they all neared the gate together they began shouting praises to Him. Soon many people joined in, spreading palm leaves over the ground and shouting,
"Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest heaven! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna!"
Then voices shouted above the crowd at Jesus.
"Teacher! Teacher! Rebuke your disciples!"
"No!" Replied Jesus. "For even if I silenced them, the rocks would then cry out!"
As the people shouted the disciples continued on until they reached the temple courts.
It was then that Jesus began to weep.
They all stood and listened as he bitterly whispered through His tears.
"Oh! If only they knew what would bring them peace. Now it is hidden never to be seen until it is too late."
He cried in anguish.
"If only they knew...."
It was but a few days before the Passover and Festival of Unleavened Bread. They had traveled many miles through the desert, feeling hot, dusty, and tired. For every time they stopped to rest, a crowd was sure to gather near. They were used to the people by now, sometimes they would even follow them around. Listening to the stories told by their teacher, watching Him perform His miraculous wonders to those in need.
Jesus was an exquisite man. He had a way with calling people to Him and teaching them about God. The sick, the poor and the needy were especially drawn to Him. Seeking Him out day and night for healing that only He could give. Jesus was perfect in all His ways, and they counted themselves blessed to be His closest friends, His disciples.
As they left Jericho and drew closer to Bethany they were met on the road by Simon the Leper. "Jesus! Friends! Please come and dine with us tonight! We want to throw a party on Jesus' behalf! Lazarus has been called to come, Mary and Martha as well! Please, come and eat!"
"Dear friend, I would love to dine with you this evening!" Replied Jesus. And so, they went. Simon the Leper joined them along the road back to his house and chatted with them along the way. As they all neared his home they were eagerly greeted by Mary, Martha, Lazarus and a few others that had come to join the party.
"Oh, how glad we are to see you!" Exclaimed Mary.
"We were wondering when you all might show up!" Joked Martha, "We heard you were on your way to Jerusalem. Your places at the table are already set. I set them myself!" She finished with a smile and then rushed off to prepare food.
Lazarus laughed and then greeted them with a smile of his own as he motioned them towards the door.
After the greetings they all made there way to the bowl on the ground, each taking his turn washing his feet and cleaning up for the meal. They then made there way over to the table, each taking his place and filling his plate. After Jesus blessed their food they all began to recline, eat and enjoy each others fellowship.
As they were telling stories and laughing amongst themselves Mary quietly slipped out the door. She returned a short time later with an alabaster jar full of sweet smelling perfume. Suddenly, everyone was quiet. Mary slowly began to walk towards Jesus while looking between Lazarus, her brother whom Jesus had raised from the dead, and Simon, who once was a leper but was now healed. She was suddenly overcome with a loving emotion for Jesus, the one who healed. The friend whom she had come to know, and who had saved her in her time of need. She began to cry as she finally neared Jesus, and with every ounce of love in her, broke open her precious jar of perfume and anointed Jesus with it.
"Stop!" cried Judas. "Why have you done this? You have wasted it! You could have sold this and given the money to the poor! What a foolish thing you have done!"
"Yeah!" said some agreeing voices around the table.
"Do not reprimand her," said Jesus, "for she has done a beautiful thing to me. I will not always be here for you. She has done this to prepare me for the path I must soon take. Her story will be known throughout the world. So keep quiet, and let her be."
With that, Judas slowly slipped away from the table and out the door. He creeped down the road and into the meeting room.
"How much will you give me for handing over Jesus?" he asked.
"Thirty pieces of silver." Replied the chief priests.
"So be it." Said Judas, then he disappeared back into the night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day they began traveling once more on the desert path. After a night full of joy and laughter Jesus still had decided to move on to Jerusalem. So, they went. As they neared the Mount of Olives Jesus spoke. "Two of you go on ahead of us and enter the city. Find me a colt, one that has never been ridden. If anyone asks what you are up to reply that you need it for the Lord."
"Yes teacher." The two replied and the rest watched as they ventured over to the city gates.
They soon returned with the donkey for Jesus and threw their cloaks on it for Him to sit on. They were all very confused why Jesus had asked for a colt. They were so use to Him walking everywhere that it was strange for them to see Him riding and animal. Little did they know that what He was doing would fulfill and old prophecy.
As they all neared the gate together they began shouting praises to Him. Soon many people joined in, spreading palm leaves over the ground and shouting,
"Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest heaven! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna!"
Then voices shouted above the crowd at Jesus.
"Teacher! Teacher! Rebuke your disciples!"
"No!" Replied Jesus. "For even if I silenced them, the rocks would then cry out!"
As the people shouted the disciples continued on until they reached the temple courts.
It was then that Jesus began to weep.
They all stood and listened as he bitterly whispered through His tears.
"Oh! If only they knew what would bring them peace. Now it is hidden never to be seen until it is too late."
He cried in anguish.
"If only they knew...."
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