Jesus’ Final Week: From Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday
SUNDAY: The Triumphal Entry, Jesus Wept Over Jerusalem
(Matt. 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19)
MONDAY: Cleanses the Temple (Matt. 21: 12-13; Mark 11:15-18)
Jesus curses the Fig Tree (Matt. 21:18-19; Mark 11:12-14)
TUESDAY: The Authority of Jesus Questioned (Matt. 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8)
Jesus teaches in the Temple (Matt. 21:28-23:39; Mark 12:1-44; Luke 20:9-21:4)
Jesus Anointed, Bethany (Matt. 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:2-11)
WEDNESDAY: The Plot against Jesus (Matt. 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6)
THURSDAY: The Last Supper (Matt. 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:7-20; John 13:1-38
Jesus Comforts the Disciples (John 14:1-16:33)
Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46)
Thursday Night and Friday, Jesus’ Arrest and Trial (Matt. 26:47-27:26; Mark 14:43-15:15; Luke 22:47-23:25; John 18:2-19:16)
FRIDAY: Jesus’ Crucifixion and Death, Golgotha (Matt. 27:27-56; Mark 15:16-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:17-30)
The Burial of Jesus, Joseph’s Tomb (Matt. 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:17-30)
SUNDAY: The Resurrection (Luke 24; John 20 and 21)
SUNDAY: The Triumphal Entry (Luke 19:28-44; Matthew 21:1-11)
The final episode in the travelogue (On the Way to THE CRUX: Week Five) was in Luke 17:11 where Luke reminds his readers that Jesus was “on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee” (NASB). But in 19:28, Luke again reminded his readers that “He was going on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.” (NASB). He even went further in giving his readers more details on the setting of the Triumphal Entry narrative, “When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mount that is called Olivet…” (Luke 19:29 NASB).
Bethphage (bibleatlas.org)
In Aramaic, Bethphage means “place of young figs” (ISBE). It is right at the foot of Mount of Olives near but outside Jerusalem. Bethphage was the starting point of the Triumphal Entry.
After some arrangements, Jesus rode on a donkey while Matthew presents a story of two animals, a donkey (ass) and a colt (young ass). Luke depicts Jesus riding on a colt (19:35) while Matthew gives a picture of Jesus sitting on the garments placed on the animals by the disciples, “The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats” (Matt. 21:6-7 NASB). The NASB Study Bible can help resolve this seeming discrepancy. It states that “typically, a mother donkey followed her offspring closely.”
Matthew presents the riding on a donkey as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, “This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: ’Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold your King is coming to you, Gentle, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” (Matt. 21:4-5 NASB)
As he was going, some from the crowd spread their coats and branches in the road as an act of royal homage. They proclaimed Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38 NASB)
The Triumphal Entry was Jesus’ act of proclaiming himself as the Messiah! It marked the start of the Holy Week with the final conflict on Good Friday and culminates on Easter or Resurrection Sunday. The Triumphal Entry marked the beginning of the end.
Palm Sunday
The Roman Catholic Church observes “Palm Sunday as the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, and commemorates the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem, days before he was crucified. Palm Sunday is known as such because the faithful will often receive palm fronds which they use to participate in the reenactment of Christ’s arrival in Jerusalem.” (www.catholic.org)
Palm Sunday at Imus Cathedral, City of Imus Cavite, Philippines
Two Voices
As Jesus entered Jerusalem, we can hear two types of voice. One coming from those who knew Jesus (Matt. 21:9, 11 and Luke 19: 38), another one from people who do not know him, as the City was stirred by the Triumphal Entry, these people asked, “Who is this?” (Matt. 21:10 NASB). Five days later we only hear one loud voice shouting, “Crucify Him!” (Luke 23:21 NASB). The voice of those who knew him were silenced by the clamor to have him executed!
Jesus Wept Over Jerusalem
“When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it” (Luke 19:41 NASB). As Jesus moves all the way to Jerusalem passing by the Mount of Olives, he saw the magnificent full view of the city. Upon seeing it he wept, for its guilt and declared his “strong sense of the evils that were about to come upon it.” (Barnes) The events of A.D. 70 could be one of the fulfillment of Jesus’ words. A final fulfillment however, may also be expected.
References:
Bible Atlas: http://www.bibleatlas.org
Bible Gateway: www.biblegateway.com
MySword for Android for Barnes and ISBE
YouTube: www.youtube.com
Zondervan NASB Study Bible. Grand Rapids, Michgan, 1999
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