On Sunday
of what is now known as Holy Week, excited crowds lined the road and cheered as
He approached the city. But their euphoria and loyalty faded before Thursday. Key
leaders who had rejected Him continued to do and say things that turned that
fickle crowd against Him and led to His arrest and crucifixion.
Despite the chaos, Jesus chose to stay visible rather than hide out. For example, He went to the temple that Monday. And when He saw people buying and selling, Jesus became so angry that they had made His Father’s house “a den of thieves” that He turned over the tables of the "money changers."
Even as people plotted against Him, He continued to teach His disciples, to weep over Jerusalem, to spend quality time with those closest to Him, and to pray for them (and for you and me), as well as for Himself.
During that week, one of His closest disciples betrayed Him.
Another one denied even knowing Him.
He was falsely accused.
The crowd clamored for the release of a known criminal instead of Him, the sinless Son of God.
He was taunted, tortured, and humiliated.
As He suffered
unimaginable agony, while also feeling forsaken by God, He prayed, “Father,
forgive them. They do not understand what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
As I reflected on how He lived and how He died — fully obedient to the Father, fully willing to give His life so that others may come into a right relationship with God — I thanked God for Jesus.
I also pondered this question: How closely does my life align with His?
