The Specialness of Holy Week
by Christopher Hendrix
This past Sunday began what’s known as Holy Week. Every day is holy to the Lord, so it’s not that this week, in particular, is commanded by the Lord to be set aside. All of us will work, go about our everyday routine, care for children, pay our bills, and live life as usual. However, we call it a holy week because of the marvelous events that unfolded in Scripture. Beginning with Palm Sunday, the triumphal entry of Christ proclaimed His Kingship. Unlike any earthly King, this King entered the city as the Son of David, the One to sit on the eternal throne. Most thought he would usher in a kingdom of this world, where Jerusalem would vanquish the oppressive Roman State and live to its fullest capacity. But, this King entered humbly, not in military garb, not on a war horse, but on a colt. As the colt was appointed to bear the weight of Christ, Christ was appointed to bear the weight of sin. He did not enter Jerusalem to kill the Romans but to be killed by the Romans. He sought victory through death.
Watch Pastor Chris Hendrix’s sermon on Matthew 21:1-17.
On Monday, Jesus prepared for His death by bringing judgment upon Israel. Without the understanding of sin, then what’s the point of the cross? He used a fig tree to illustrate that the New Covenant was being ushered. The nation of Israel would no longer bear the fruit, but salvation would come through Christ. This salvation would go to all the nations. This came in cleansing the temple, specifically the Court of the Gentiles. Here was the place the nations were allowed to go and worship, yet Israel turned it into a marketplace. Goods were worshipped instead of God. However, Jesus fixes that issue by driving them out and proclaiming the worship of God on behalf of the nations.
The tension escalates on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday fends off several verbal assaults by the religious leaders. Jesus, a Galilean, was on their home turf, and they were not to be shamed. After all, these religious leaders were the crème of the crop. They were at the top of their class. They led the people from the very seat of Judaism, Jerusalem. They were a force to be reckoned with. And yet, Christ wrecked them. With truth, grace, and wisdom, He destroyed their arguments, foiled their schemes, and revealed their foolishness. He demonstrated His authority and knowledge by cutting their cunning dilemmas. As Jesus defends against the full frontal assault, a traitor in the midst begins his work. Judas, who witnesses these attacks, allows the leaders to attack from within. However, the Lord’s Sovereignty shines forth as Judas was selected as the son of perdition. He was appointed to betray Jesus, for there was no other way to trap Him.
Maundy Thursday would forever change the form of worship for the Lord. The evening before His crucifixion, Jesus established the Lord’s Supper. This sacrament was given to the disciples and for the generations that followed. In that scene, He also demonstrated the servant nature of His kingdom. The greatest washed the feet of the least. This modeled each believer’s attitude, motivation, and response to one another. The night finishes with Him in the Garden, uttering cries to the Father in prayer. He would experience one final temptation as the repeat of the Garden of Eden scene transpires. Satan enters into the Garden, this time not in a serpent but in a snake of a man. The temptation is to flee as the disciples did. However, Jesus holds firm. In complete obedience to the Father, He goes quietly to the slaughter.
May we reflect, study, learn, and meditate on these events and the specialness of Holy Week. May they speak to our souls and burn in our hearts as we ponder the sacrificial lamb given to us. Each story this week is purposeful, pointed, and planned. Let the anticipation of it build to the cross as churches gather on Good Friday to bask in the salvation of the cross.