Holy Week

I love the readings in scripture from Palm Sunday, Christ's triumphal entry to Easter, Resurrection Sunday. We can read of Christ's last week on earth, which is much like the weeks before. Christ is still loving the people by offering what he has to give. And yet after all this time, the pharisees, scribes, chief priests, still question him, still try to trip him up in an attempt to prove Christ to be a liar. They walked in fear, fear of misstepping their own legalism, fear of believing.

When Christ rode in on the donkey, the people joyfully cried in loud voice, "Hosanna! Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" They knew their King. The Pharisees didn't like that. The people weren't giving them recognition. Hmm? Do you think they might be a bit jealous? They told Christ to tell the people to stop saying such things. I love his response. "I tell you if they stop, the stones will take over the praise." That is my paraphrase. The thing that is so wonderful to ponder, is if the people had become silent, you know the rocks really would have began to cried out. Christ has turned water to wine, healed a myriad of people, calmed a stormed, walked on water, so why not talking stones.

Later that day, he wept over Jerusalem, knowing that it would be destroyed and so many had rejected Him. His own people. How his heart must have broken. Our mind would think, 'Good grief God, You called me to proclaim the gospel, but hardly anyone is listening. I have spent years giving of my time and self, for this? And now I have to die?' Aren't you glad Jesus didn't have that response.

Later, he cleansed the temple of those trying to profit for the passover week, selling of animals for sacrifice in the temple. How little they knew that the Sacrificial Lamb stood before them.

What are your heart cries today? What does the temple of your heart look like? Are you hanging on every word of Christ's as the people did when he spoke in the temple? As we go through the Passion week, sing praise, don't let the rocks do it for you. Let the Sacrificial Lamb rule in the heart of your temple. Read his word, and hang on its every precious word. What Christ did for us deserves our awe and reverence. He deserves the worship of gratitude. Don't be a pharisee and miss the point.