Entries from March 1, 2010 - April 1, 2010
A Week That Would Change History: Yom Khah´mee´shee/Yom Ha´shee´shee Fifth Day/Sixth Day
Thursday, April 1, 2010 at 12:00AM This is preparation day for the Passover which will begin at sundown. Jesus spent the Passover with his closest friends. It was his desire to have this time with them.
After the supper they went to the Garden. Jesus spent those last hours, before his betrayer came, in prayer. His close friends tired from a busy day, a big meal, and a walk in the night air fell asleep - even though Jesus asked a few of them to stay awake with him and pray. They still did not understand what was about to happen.
Judas and the guards arrive in the garden...
With a kiss it all begins, promises fulfilled:
And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel."
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you."
There will be 6 trials. Two illegal ones before Annas and Caiaphas, then one before Sanhedrin. Jesus was declared to be guilty at these trials even though no reliable witness testimony was given. He was then taken before Pilate and found not guilty, before Herod and found to be innocent, and then back to Pilate who sentenced him to death by crucifixion. This was based on political expediency rather than any guilt on Jesus’ part in breaking Roman law.
By 9am Jesus was nailed to a cross. By 3pm he was death. Not passed out, dead. Before the Sabbath started (about 6pm) Jesus’ body is in a borrowed tomb sealed by a large stone.
The disciples are in shock, in mourning and in hiding, the authorities are satisfied. Who knows what Pilate or Herod are doing. Hell is partying and Heaven is hushed.
A Week That Would Change History: Yom Revee´ee: Fourth Day
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 12:00AM Everything is quiet. Everyone is resting up for the busy celebration of Passover, that starts for some tomorrow, and some the next day.
easter, pass, passion week in A Week That Would Change History A Week That Would Change History: Yom Shlee´shee: Third Day
Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 12:00AM The authorities have had enough, today is the day they will confront the carpenter in public. The people will see him for the fraud he is.
As Jesus entered the Temple, the chief priest with the temple lawyers (scribes) and elders came to him and wanted to know by whose authority he drove out the sellers and money-changers. He was willing to answer them, if they would answer a question of his, “John's baptism—was it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!"
They would not answer. Neither did Jesus answer theirs. He did tell a parable about a vine owner and how the son of the owner was treated by the ones who were supposed to be overseeing the owner’s land. They got the point of the story and went away.
Next the Pharisees and the Herodians tried to trick him with a political question concerning taxes. (Politics has always been tricky.) His answer is known even by those who know little of the other things he had taught. ”Should we pay or shouldn't we?" But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
And they were amazed at him.
There was that silly “question “about resurrection the Sadducees tried to stump him with. He made short shift of their pretense. The question of which is the greatest commandment was answered in the spirit it was given, a serious thoughtful answer for a serious thoughtful question.
After that no one in authority had any more challenges.
Jesus had a question of them about the true nature of the Messiah.
Later that day Jesus answered his disciples questions about his second coming. They didn’t understand what he was saying. They still were thinking in terms of Jesus being the one who would free Israel from Roman rule. They were waiting for this one, who they had seen heal many, feed many with little, and raise people from the dead (they all saw Lazarus come out of the tomb just a few weeks earlier - one doesn’t get over experiencing something like that quickly), to reveal himself as Israel’s long awaited warrior Messiah. They still had visions of ruling with him, even though he had stated repeatedly he was going to Jerusalem to die. After all, how does one exactly kill someone who can heal the sick and raise the dead? How do you cut off supply lines to someone who can feed many with almost nothing?
Meanwhile Judas Iscariot, who had offered to betray Jesus to the authorities before the week had begun, was still plotting to do so. Nothing he had seen or heard had changed his mind.
A Week That Would Change History: Yom Shaynee: Second Day
Monday, March 29, 2010 at 12:00AM He entered the Temple and drove out the sellers and the money changers!
He claimed the Temple to be His Father’s house. Blaspheme again, in public. He cost the authorities a lot of money that day, and troubled many people. Each family had to sacrifice an unblemished lamb in 3 days. In theory the family could bring a lamb with them to Jerusalem for the sacrifice. The lamb must pass inspection before being accepted for the sacrifice. Lambs not purchased at the Temple rarely passed inspection. It was easier for the traveling worshippers not to have to bring a lamb with them.
The money changers were not always generous in their exchange rates. The worshippers’ foreign coins had to be exchanged for Hebrew currency so they could pay the Temple tax.
To make matters worse, this was not the first time the carpenter drove out both the sellers and the money changers. It did not help that he was quoting the prophet Isaiah, "for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations, but you have made it a Robber’s Den.” For you see they were selling in the court of the Gentiles, the only part of the Temple Gentiles were allowed to enter. This was the only place in the Temple Gentiles could pray. Not a welcoming place for all nations this week.
A Week That Would Change History: Yom Reeshone: First Day
Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 12:00AM Two days prior to the events of this day, the carpenter and his followers were at a party given in his honor by the sisters of the man he was rumored to have raised from the dead.
On the First day of that week, the authorities worst fears were played out before their eyes. The carpenter came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. He was mocking the words of the prophet:
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zech 9:9
And the people were cheering for Him. If this carpenter starts a rebellion against Rome now, this week, thousands may die. Rome will replace the leadership with those better able to keep the peace.
But he was popular with the crowds. If the authorities tried to arrest him in public, there would be a riot and the Roman authorities would crush it and replace the leadership with those better able to keep the peace.
Some say in the midst of all the commotion, he was seen weeping for the City....
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