The Holy Week: the Passion of the Christ

📷Introduction: How was your week? What was the best day of your week? What was the worst day of your week? How long is a week? 7 days! A week begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday.

Question: Where did the idea of a week come from? God! See Genesis 1-2, the CREATION Week.

Have you ever heard the statement:

“Seven days without the Lord makes one W-E-A-K?”

I am so glad that you decided to be in Church on this first day of the new week – Sunday is the Lord’s Day. We are gathered to worship God, to connect with Jesus Christ, and to be taught by the Holy Spirit. We are here to learn more about Jesus Christ.

On this Palm Sunday I want to talk about the last week of Jesus’ life. The week that began on a Sunday and concluded with His crucifixion and burial. It is referred to as The Passion Week because in that time, Jesus Christ truly revealed His passion for us in the suffering He willingly went through on our behalf. (gotquestions.org).

What was Jesus’ week like? Well, we discover the following as we walk through each day. Here is what we learn:

I. Sunday – Day 1 (Commonly called, Palm Sunday).

Does anyone know what today is called on the Christian calendar? It is called: Palm Sunday. It is the day that Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. This day is also called, The Triumphal Entry.

All four Gospel accounts tell of Jesus entering Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19).

What events transpired on this day? Allow me to point them out for you:

A. We see Jesus’ omniscience – Matthew 27:1-7

Jesus sent His disciples into a village to get a donkey and her colt, and He told them that if they were questioned to say, “The Lord has need of them.” They went, they found the animals, they were questioned, and they came back to Jesus with the donkey and the colt.

A donkey in Scripture is a symbol of peace.

B. We see the people’s response – Matthew 27:7-9

The disciples placed their clothes on the back of the animals, and in the original text it reads, “He sat.” Jesus sat on the back of the colt (Luke 19:35), and He began His journey into the city of Jerusalem.

A donkey with a king riding it was a symbol of a king coming to offer people peace.

Our text tells us that the great multitudes spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down palm branches from the nearby tress and spread them on the road.

The people began to cry out,

Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!” Hosanna in the highest!”

C. The People’s question and the answer given – Matthew 27:10-11

Now, if you saw something like this transpiring here in the city of Spirit Lake, it would get your attention. You might even ask, “Who is this?” Well, as Jesus came into the city of Jerusalem this is exactly what some of the people asked, “Who is this?”The response they received was, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Don’t miss the teaching in these verses. Jesus Christ is:

· All-knowing.

· Peace.

· King.

· Savior (meaning of the name Jesus).

· Prophet.

Now, before we move on to day 2, I want to mention that Mark’s Gospel tells us that Jesus went into the temple, but because of the lateness of the hour He left and returned to Bethany with the twelve (Mark 11:11).

II. Monday – Day 2 (Called Holy Monday).

Two events happened on this day in the life of Jesus. The first was the cursing of the fig tree. I’ll not deal with that event (although it is significant), but the second event was what is called, The Cleansing of the Temple.

You see, on Monday Jesus returned to Jerusalem and He walked into the temple. We are told that He began to clean house (Mark 11:12-14). Jesus didn’t like what He saw transpiring in the temple. What should have been a house of prayer became a den of thieves. Religion had taken foothold of the temple. Money changers were selling inferior sacrifices to the people.

It went something like this:

Suppose that I lived during this period, and I came to the temple with two pigeons. They were inspected and one was determined to be flawed, and therefore could not be used as an offering. The money changers were willing to take my blemished bird and provide me with an unblemished bird for an additional price. After I had left the temple, the money changers would take the bird that they deemed blemished, and they would pass it on to another unsuspecting temple goer as an unblemished bird for a price. These people were crooked to the core.

Jesus saw this taking place and it angered Him. Here we His righteous anger. He began to drive out those that bought and sold in it. John’s Gospel tells us that,

“When He had made a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changes’ money and overturned tables.” (John 2:13-17).

Mark’s Gospel reads,

“Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changes and the seats of those who sold doves.” (Mark 11:15).

III. Tuesday – Day 3 (Called Holy Tuesday).

Scripture tells us that Jesus was in and out of the temple on Monday and Tuesday and that He was teaching the people. We know that on Tuesday that He evades an ambush by the religious authorities.

It was also on Tuesday that when Jesus came out of the temple with His disciples, and He spoke to them saying,

“Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” (Matthew 24:2).

As Jesus and His disciples made their way to the Mount of Olives the disciples asked Jesus several questions. Day three in Jesus’ last week has been called, The Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:1-25:46; Mark 13:1-37; Luke 21:5-36).

What were the disciples’ questions:

1. Tell us, when will these things be?

2. And what will be the sign of Your coming?

3. And the end of the age?

The first question they asked was about the destruction of the temple. This event took place in 70 A.D. The Romans destroyed the temple. Not one stone was left upon another.

The second question concerned the signs that would be evident before Christ’s Second Coming. This no doubt deals with the events of the Tribulation period (See Revelation 6-19).

The third question centered on the end of the age.

IV. Wednesday – Day 4 – (Spy Wednesday).

Notice that Wednesday is called, Spy Wednesday. Most Bible teachers believe that it was Wednesday that Judas went and betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:12-14; Mark 14:10-12; Luke 22:3-6).

It is also believed that Wednesday was a down day for Jesus and His disciples. They simply rested. There is a great spiritual lesson here for each one of us. We all need a day where we REST.

Do you have a rest day?

V. Thursday – Day 5 (Maunday Thursday).

On Thursday Jesus eats the Passover with His disciples. He speaks to them and tells them that one of them would betray Him. All were sorrowful, and each one asked, “Lord, is it I?” Jesus made it clear who would betray Him, and even said, “It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” (Matthew 26:24).

We move from the Passover to the institution of the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:7-20).

Open your Bible to Matthew 26:26, we read,

“And as they were eating Jesus took bread, blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my flesh.”

The BREAD is a picture of Jesus’ flesh.

In verse 27-28 we read,

“Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

The cup is a picture of Jesus’ blood. (Which would be shed for many – are you among the many?).

Finally, in Matthew 26:29 Jesus says,

“But I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the wine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

What a glorious PROMISE.

At SLBC we partake of the Lord’s Supper on the first Sunday of the month. I read from 1 Corinthians 11:23-26,

23For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

Three things I want to point out from the Lord’s Supper:

1. We are to partake of the Lord’s Supper (Bread & Juice) in remembrance of Him. His crucified body and shed blood. He died for us, and in our place.

2. As we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we proclaim His death till He comes again. We are evangelists! Jesus will come again.

3. We are to be careful that we do not partake of the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner. Each one of must examine ourselves before we partake of the Lord’s Supper. Get our hearts right before God.

Remember this day is called “Maundy Thursday.” Maunday comes from the Latin word meaning, “command” it was on this day that the Lord gave His disciples a new commandment – “that you love one another.” (John 13:34).

VI. Friday – Day 6 (Today it is called, Good Friday).

What happens in the life of Jesus on Friday? Well, we know that He was…

1. Betrayed and arrested – Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:2-12.

His betrayal and arrest when down like this.

A. Betrayed by Judas Iscariot (The Great Pretender among His disciples).

B. Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (The price of a common slave).

C. Betrayed by a kiss (A sign of deepest affection).

D. Betrayed unto death (Judas went out and hanged himself, and Jesus was taken away to be crucified).

2. The Trials of Jesus – 6 Trials: 3 Jewish and 3 Roman.

Jesus stood before the following people:

A. Before Annas (Father-in-law of Caiaphas) – John 18:13-34

B. Before Caiaphas (High Priest) – Matthew 26:57-68; Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:54-61

Jesus tells them, “Nevertheless I say to you, hereafter, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Father, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:64)

That statement so angered the High Priest that he “tore his clothes, saying, “He Has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have for witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!”(Matthew 26:65).

C. Before the Sanhedrin – Matthew 27:1; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-71

They sought false testimony against Jesus.

D. Before Pilate – Matthew 27:1, 11-14; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:1-5; John 18:28-38

Pilate found no fought in Jesus, and He washed his hands saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.”

E. Before Herod – Luke 23:6-12

Herod is the one who put John the Baptist to death. Pilate heard that Jesus was from Galilee, and he knew that region was Herod’s responsibility, so Jesus was taken to Herod. Herod was glad to see Jesus and wanted to see a miracle performed by Him. He questioned Jesus, but Jesus didn’t answer Herod. Herod’s soldiers abused Jesus, and then He was sent back to Pilate.

F. Before Pilate – Matthew 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:28-19:16

This time Pilate sought to appease the Jews by releasing a notorious criminal, and afterwards He had Jesus scourged. He then handed Jesus over to be crucified.

3. The Crucifixion of Christ – Matthew 27:15-26; Mark 15:16-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:17-30

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ went down like this:

· Pilate delivered Him to be crucified (Matthew 27:26).

· Soldiers took Jesus and stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. They twisted a crown of thorns and placed it on His head. Then they placed a reed in His hand and bowed down mocking Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” (Matthew 27:28-29).

· The soldiers spit on Him, took the reed, and struck Him, and led Him away to be crucified (Matthew 27:30-31).

· Jesus carried His own cross to the place of crucifixion until He stumbled, and another man (Simon) was compelled to carry the cross the rest of the way (Matthew 27:32).

· When they arrived at Golgotha, they crucified Him and divided His garments, and then they sat and kept watch on Him (Matthew 27:35). Jesus was crucified at 9:00 A.M. in the morning.

· Jesus was mocked by people who passed by, by the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders, and even the robbers reviled Him (Matthew 27:38-44).

· From the sixth hour to the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land (Matthew 27:45). From Noon to 3:00 P.M the darkness overed the land.

Yes, Jesus Christ had been crucified. He now hung from the cross.

4. The saying from the cross – Luke 23:34, 43, 46; John 19:26-28; Mark 15:34; Luke 23:46

Scripture points out that there are seven sayings that Jesus spoke from the cross. What were they? They were:

1. Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34).

2. Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43).

3. Woman, behold, thy son! (John 19:26-27).

4. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34).

5. I thirst. (John 19:28).

6. It is finished. (John 19:30).

7. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. (Luke 23:46).

As I was preparing this message, I came across what is believed to be the theological interpretation of the seven sayings of Jesus from the cross. They are:

1. Forgiveness.

2. Salvation.

3. Relationship.

4. Abandonment.

5. Distress.

6. Triumph.

7. Reunion.[1]

5. Jesus’ burial – Mark 15:42-45; John 19:31-38

Prior to the Sabbath the body of Jesus was taken down from the cross. It was prepared for burial, and then it was placed in a tomb.

The two men responsible for the burial of Jesus was Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member (Mark 15:43), and Nicodemus, a Pharisee (John 19:39).

It is here that the Holy Week ends here. But you might be asking, “What about Saturday?” Well, we know that…

VII. Saturday (Black Saturday).

Jesus’ body is in a tomb, and the tomb was guarded. A seal had been placed on the rock (Matthew 27:66). And this is where the Passion Week of Christ concludes. Jesus was buried!

John Piper wrote, “Considering the first disciples’ experience of Holy Saturday gives us a meaning for the day that cuts across theological divides. First, they waited. Saturday was a Sabbath. They could not finish tending Jesus’s body for entombment (Luke 23:54-56). They felt an incompleteness. Surely they experienced on Saturday feelings similar to those described on Sunday before the truth of Jesus’s resurrection fully dawned on them. They went over and over events, trying to make sense of the shock (Luke 14:15). Their dejected faces expressed their hearts (Luke 24:17). Jesus was dead. Could this really be the end of him? Yes, he had predicted that he would rise on the third day. But the disciples in their grief either forgot that promise or no longer believed it (or perhaps had never really understood it). The revolting sounds of Good Friday kept spilling into the eerie quiet of his absence. They waited, but with little, if any, hope. On this barren seventh day, those who loved Jesus hid behind locked doors in fear and despair (John 20:19). (disiringgod.org).

Conclusion: What a week in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have walked through everything from His presentation as King to His crucifixion as Savior. I want to mention the seven days again and give you one or two words for each day.

1. Sunday – King and Peace.

2. Monday – Worship and Prayer.

3. Tuesday – Present and Future.

4. Wednesday – Betrayal and Rest.

5. Thursday – Passover and Lord’s Supper.

6. Friday – Trials and Crucifixion.

7. Saturday – Tomb and Soldiers.

But SUNDAY is coming!

[1] Bromiley, Geoffrey W. (1988). International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. 4. Eerdmans Press. p. 426. ISBN 0-8028-3784-0.