The Holy Week (Part 2)

As the disciples sat together, each in his place around the table, they talked amongst themselves of the many miracles they had witnessed over the years with Jesus. 

“Do you remember when all those people gave a lot of money at the temple?” Peter asked.

“Yes!” said John, “And then the widow came and gave one mite. Jesus was quick to point out her act of love for God.”

“What about the day we threw tables around the temple?” said James. “That was a whirlwind of a day!”

They all chuckled, remembering the faces of the workers as their tables were being flung across the courtyard.

As they continued to recount all of the amazing things that had passed, Jesus rose from His seat. They all rose, ready to follow Him to wherever He would lead them next.

“No,” said Jesus, “stay seated please, my brothers.”

With that, they sat down once more and watched as Jesus left the room. He returned a short time later dressed with a towel around His waist and a bowl and jar in His hand. He bent down beside John’s chair and began to wash his feet. Next was Andrew, then Bartholomew, then James (the Elder), then James (the younger), then Judas, then Jude, then Matthew (Levi.) But, as Jesus came to Simon Peter and began to wash his feet Peter said, “No Lord! You’re not going to wash my feet are you?!”

Jesus continued on His task then quietly spoke, “You will understand later what I am doing now. Unless I wash yours, you have no part with me.”

Peter was taken aback, “Then Lord, wash my hands and my head as well!”

Jesus chuckled, “If you have had a bath you only need your feet washed, for your whole body is clean. And you, dear Peter, and you all as well, are clean. But not all of you.”

With that Jesus continued on to wash the feet of Philip, Simon (the Zealot), and Thomas. 

When Jesus had finished He once again took His place at the head of the table.

Then He spoke, but this time with a solemn tone. 

“This very night, one of you will betray me.”

The disciples quickly began to shout, “It can not be one of us Lord! For, we love you!”

“Surely you don’t mean me!”

“Or me!”

“Or me!”

“It cannot be me!”

They all shouted out. But one, amid the the table, was silent. Then he spoke.

“Surely you don't mean me Lord?” said Judas quietly.

“You have said so.” replied Jesus sadly.

After the disciples quieted down, Jesus took the bread on the table, and lifting it up He blessed it and broke it.

“Take this, eat it, and know that this is my body broken for you. Whenever you eat it, remember me.”

Then Jesus reached for the wine and His cup and after blessing it He spoke, “This is my blood, shed for many. Whenever you drink this, remember me.”

“You will all fall away from me tonight.” said Jesus. “Just as Zechariah has said.”

Then Peter once again spoke up, “Teacher, even if all fall away, I will not.”

“Oh Peter,” Jesus said, “even you on this very night will disown me three times before the rooster crows twice.”

“No, Jesus, you are wrong!” said Peter, “I will never disown you! Even if I have to die!”

And the rest of the disciples repeated the same.

And after each disciple took some bread and drank some wine, they began to sing praises to God.

A little while later Jesus, Peter, John and James took a walk. Jesus led them to a place called Gethsemane and after requesting for them to sit a while, he walked away to pray. After falling on His face and crying out to God, Jesus returned to find them asleep. 

“Wake up! You couldn’t stay awake even for a few moments? Stay awake so you do not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” said Jesus, then He walked off again to go pray. Once again He cried out to God then returned to the other three. He found them sleeping once more and so He turned away and went back to pray. The third time He returned, He woke them shouting, “Wake up! Here comes my betrayer!” Startled and confused Peter, John and James jumped up and followed Jesus until they came upon Judas.

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Judas had brought a crowd and he turned to them saying, “The one who I kiss is the man.”

As Judas approached Jesus and kissed His cheek, Jesus could do nothing but say, “Do what you came for friend.”

As the crowd began to surround their Teacher the disciples became defensive and Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of the priests servant. 

“Put your sword back,” said Jesus, “for all who draw their sword will die by the sword. I could call to God now and get out of this crowd, you know that. But this must be done.”

Then turning to the crowd and Judas Jesus spoke once more, “Why have you come to me with swords as if I have done the unthinkable? I was always at the temple but you did not arrest me there. But this has all taken place to fulfill the scripture.”

Just as Jesus finished, His disciples each fled into different directions, leaving Jesus and the crowd alone. They led Him away to be seen by Caiaphas, the high priest, and as Jesus entered the courts Peter quietly followed from a distance and snuck in to sit with the guards. Caiaphas searched high and low for false evidence against Jesus, but finding none he offered for people from the crowd to speak. Two stepped forward saying, “This man has claimed He will destroy the temple and rebuild it in just three days!”

Finally, hearing something worth using against Jesus the high priest spoke. 

“Do you have nothing to say for yourself? He asked Jesus, “I charge you under an oath of God, tell us if you are the Messiah.”

“You have said so,” replied Jesus, “but after these events you will see the Son of Man sitting at the Father’s right hand from now on.”

Caiaphas tore his robe screaming, “Blasphemy! He has spoken blasphemy! We need no more witnesses! What do you all think?”

“He is worthy of death,” the crowd shouted. And they took turns spitting on Him, punching Him and mocking Him.

Meanwhile, Peter was off to the side witnessing everything, and as he watched his teacher being mocked a servant girl approached him.”Aren’t you with Him?” she asked.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Peter replied. Then he slipped away to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said, “He was with Jesus!”

“I don’t even know that man!” cried out Peter.

A little while later, a few people approached him once more saying, “You must be with Him, your accent gives you away.”

“I have already said, I do not know that man.” replied Peter.

And with his last word just out of his mouth, a rooster crowed in the distance. Peter swiftly left and wept bitterly as he remembered the words Jesus had said to him.

As Jesus was mocked, and Peter wept, Judas was overcome with remorse. He returned to the priests he had gotten money from and begged to return it. 

“I have accused innocent blood,” Judas cried.

“That’s your responsibility.” said the priests, mockingly.

Unable to bare the emotions anymore Judas ran outside of the city and hung himself.

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“Crucify Him!! Crucify Him!!” shouted the crowd as Jesus stood in trial.

“Crucify Him!!!” they shouted to Pilate, whom Jesus had been taken to after seeing Caiaphas.

“Do you not hear what they are saying about you?” said Pilate to Jesus. “Why don’t you speak up for yourself? Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” replied Jesus.

Addressing the crowd Pilate turned saying, “As is custom during this time, I am entitled to release one criminal to you. Which do you choose? This man or Barabbas the murderer.”

“Barabbas!” they shouted. “Give us Barabbas!”

“What then shall I do with Jesus?” He said.

“Crucify Him!! Crucify Him!!’ the crowd screamed once more.

“Fine!” replied Pilate, “but I am innocent of this man’s blood. He is your responsibility.”

“He is our responsibility!” the crowd repeated.

Then he released Barabbas to them, but had Jesus brutally flogged and then handed over to the people.

After a harsh beating, from spines that ripped open flesh, and whips, the soldiers then took Jesus into the palace and called together the entire company of other soldiers under Pilates rule. They dressed Him in a purple robe and twisted together a crown of thorns to place on His head. Then mockingly, they begin to call Him, "Hail the king of the Jews!" while spitting on him and striking him with a staff. And when they were done they took off the robe, put his clothes on him and led him away to be crucified.

As they were leading Jesus to a place called Golgotha they seized a man named Simon from Cyrene and ordered him to carry Jesus' cross. Jesus was battered, bruised and bloody walking to His own death. As he walked through  the streets people cried out after Him. But He kept stumbling along, saying nothing. Two criminals followed behind, going towards the same fate as He. When they finally came to the place where it would be done, they laid Jesus out on the cross and nailed his hands and feet to it and raised Him up. A sign was set above His head that read "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS." Some people began to weep, while others called out, "Look! He can save others, but he cannot save himself! If he is the son of God, have him come down!" As He hung there, the soldiers cast lots for his clothing, splitting them amongst themselves. Jesus continued to hang there, and when it was about noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, the sun had stopped shining and there was little light surrounding the scene. Jesus' mother cried as she witnessed her precious child hanging, bloodied, and tortured. The disciple standing next to her, the one whom Jesus had told her would take care of her earlier that afternoon was holding her closely, and crying tears of his own. A short time later, Jesus took one last breathe and cried out to God saying, "Father, into your hands I give my spirit!." And then He died. 

The curtain of the temple split in two, people tore there clothes and wailed allowed. When it was time to rid the crosses of their people, the guards broke the legs of the criminals. Giving them no chance to push up on the board of their cross and come up to breathe. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead, so they struck his side with a spear. They did not break any bones in his body, as it was written in the prophecy. 

After Jesus had been taken down from the cross, a man named Joseph came to claim His body. And he buried Jesus in a tomb with the help of Mary Magdalene and Jesus' mother Mary. Rolling a stone over the entrance, they left Him there to lay in peace. 

As they walked away, mourning the loss of their beloved Teacher, son and friend, they had no idea what was to come. 

(To Be Continued....)