It was the most incredible week. The city of Jerusalem was filled to capacity and beyond. People had come from all over the country to celebrate the Passover. Jesus entered the city gates on the back of a donkey to cries of Hosanna to the Messiah – the son of King David – the rightful heir to his kingdom. Even though they honored Him with praises and the waving of palms, they would soon be screaming for His death. Behind closed doors, one of His own disciples was making arrangements to turn Jesus over to the leaders of the Pharisees. Jesus would continue His ministry in His earthly kingdom – turning the attention of His followers to the Kingdom of Heaven. Those closest to Him were told He would soon be leaving, and they couldn’t understand.

In that week – that very holy week – Jesus turned over the merchants’ tables, casting their wares upon the ground and sending doves into their escape. He overturned the tables of each vendor who was taking advantage of this holiday to make money. His rage was justifiable. His Father’s house, intended as a house of worship, had become a den of thieves. The Passover meal was set in an upper room. Jesus washed His disciples’ feet as an act of a servant. He instituted a new meal, which would replace the Passover Feast.

He prayed feverishly that the cup He was meant to drink would be taken from Him, yet He submitted to the will of His Father. He prayed while His followers slept. A group of soldiers was led by His disciple, Judas, who betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Another of His disciples, Peter, would try to defend Jesus by using his sword to cut off a soldier’s ear. Jesus healed the man. That same disciple would denounce knowing Jesus three times. Jesus was arrested, put on trial and declared guilty of blasphemy. He was brutally flogged to the point of death. He was mocked and ridiculed by the Roman army. A sign naming Him the “King of the Jews,” was placed at the top of the cross He would carry to Golgotha. Long, iron spikes pierced His hands and feet to the execution instrument. He would hang there for three hours asking for forgiveness of His enemies – feeling the pain and distress of losing oxygen and being bitten by flies. His already beaten body would endure more pain than anyone could bear. When He could breathe no more, He died. All of this occurred at the time of the evening sacrifice. The Lamb of God had taken the sins of the world to the grave.

That was not the end of the story. As we meditate on Jesus’ last week, let’s realize the extent He would go to release His creation from the grip of sin. He gave His life so that we could inherit His Heavenly Kingdom. So today, we can look at an empty cross and know the price that was paid for our salvation. It is a time of sadness, but our joy will overtake. In just three days He would also conquer the grave, the devil and our sins.

HOSANNA! GOD HAS SAVED US!