Passover was the annual celebration of Israel’s freedom from slavery in Egypt under Pharaoh. Jewish people came to Jerusalem, from all over the known world, for this important festival. There would have been thousands upon thousands of people in and around Jerusalem, staying with friends or camping out in the surrounding countryside.
There is a map of Jerusalem and the temple at the time of Jesus, this will help you locate the events of this week.
Last words are important and generally, people who are about to leave this world, do not waste their breath on trivia. Jesus was no exception, in his last week he positively crammed his disciples and other listeners with teaching, parables, and examples.The gospels do not agree in every way on the timing of the events of the week, but they do agree that they really happened, are true and we can believe and trust in Jesus.
Each day will have a ‘Selah’, think about this, moment. No prayers have been suggested, so pray as each day’s notes inspire you.
Palm Sunday (Matthew 21v1-16)
This day when Jesus entered Jerusalem to much acclaim, became known as Palm Sunday, on account of the branches that were waved in celebration. If you can source a picture/map of Jerusalem and the Temple, identify the Golden Gate. This gate led from the Mount of Olives straight into the outer court of the Temple. This was the most likely route that Jesus took and it certainly makes sense of what happened next. This outer court was the place set aside for non Jews who wanted to pray. This area had been taken over by the equivalent of a combined boot fair/jumble sale/auction, with traders shouting out their best price for a sheep/goat/pigeon/dove.
Also, people who had travelled a long way, bringing their sacrificial animal with them, would have it checked by a priest to make sure it was fit for God. In most cases, it was rejected and the worshipper had to purchase another animal at a grossly inflated price or take the risk of being rejected by God. The religious leaders were responsible for this market and lined their pockets at the expense of the ordinary people. Jesus then commenced healing people who were unable to go any further into the Temple, because they were probably ritually unclean. Then the religious money makers complained that the children were calling Jesus Son of David, one of the names of the Messiah.
Selah: Jesus singled out three groups of people for his attention, what does that tell us about him and about us?
Monday (Mark 11v11)
The Temple in Jerusalem had been built by Herod the great 37BC-4AD (the one who ordered the death of children under two during Jesus childhood), with his fortress in the top left corner overlooking the Jewish religious services. This was a security measure because if trouble was going to begin, it would be from the Temple. Herod built this temple to curry favour with the Jewish religious leaders, because they controlled the people. This temple had some of the features of the original portable worship tent that Israel centred life on in their wilderness wanderings.
There was an altar for sacrifices, a washing basin for the priests to keep themselves ceremonially clean. A lamp stand with oil lamps, a table with special bread offerings and an altar for burning incense on. In the most holy place, separated from the rest of the temple by a very thick curtain, was the Ark of the Covenant. The main feature missing was the actual presence of God himself, which in the tabernacle was visible in a pillar of cloud and fire. Jesus would not have been able to enter the most holy place, so he would have been limited in what he could look at. What was he thinking, was he reflecting that in a few days, this temple and all the sacrifices would no longer be necessary, because he would have fulfilled all the sacrifices and requirements of the law?
Selah: Give thanks that Jesus is not only the one who has dealt with the requirements of the law, but is also a real presence with us.