THE EASTER STORY PART 1
PALM SUNDAY
The day before the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, he spent with Lazarus, and his sisters, Mary and Martha in Bethany. The chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if anyone found out where Jesus was, he was to report Jesus' location to them so they could arrest him. Jesus went to visit Lazarus, whom; he had raised from the dead. A dinner was given in Jesus' honor and Mary took a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume, and poured it onto Jesus' feet. She wiped his feet with her hair. The fragance filled the house. Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, objected and said the nard should have been sold and the money given to the poor. He was the keeper of the money bag and a thief. He did not care for the poor.
"Leave her alone, it was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me." Jesus said. Matthew 26:11
Many Jews came to see him. Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead, was there also. The chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus too. They wanted to kill Lazarus because on account of him and his coming back to life, many Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
What a nice, peacful, almost perfect night, Jesus had with his friend Lazarus and his sisters, Mary, who anointed his feet with perfume, and Martha, who served the dinner. He was among friends, except for Judas Iscariot.
The next day was good also, as we read in the book of John.
John 12:13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!"
12:14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written,
12:15 "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt." Zech 9:9
12:16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and they had done these things to him.
12:17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.
12:18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him.
12:19 So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"
The Pharisees and the chief priests were in a cozy situation. They had the temple, their positions and their wealth to think about. They also had the scriptures which taught about the coming Messiah. But when put on the balance, they chose their temple, their positions, and their wealth. They could not see beyond their trappings to what Messiah could do for them. This was ordained by God, because throughout the Old Testament, it was written about Jesus and his coming. They were blinded to the truth of Jesus as Messiah, because Jesus had to die on the cross for our sins to save us from perdition for eternity. It was pre-ordained, it had to happen.
Shalom, Chapitag
"Leave her alone, it was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me." Jesus said. Matthew 26:11
Many Jews came to see him. Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead, was there also. The chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus too. They wanted to kill Lazarus because on account of him and his coming back to life, many Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
What a nice, peacful, almost perfect night, Jesus had with his friend Lazarus and his sisters, Mary, who anointed his feet with perfume, and Martha, who served the dinner. He was among friends, except for Judas Iscariot.
The next day was good also, as we read in the book of John.
John 12:13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!"
12:14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written,
12:15 "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt." Zech 9:9
12:16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and they had done these things to him.
12:17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.
12:18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him.
12:19 So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"
The Pharisees and the chief priests were in a cozy situation. They had the temple, their positions and their wealth to think about. They also had the scriptures which taught about the coming Messiah. But when put on the balance, they chose their temple, their positions, and their wealth. They could not see beyond their trappings to what Messiah could do for them. This was ordained by God, because throughout the Old Testament, it was written about Jesus and his coming. They were blinded to the truth of Jesus as Messiah, because Jesus had to die on the cross for our sins to save us from perdition for eternity. It was pre-ordained, it had to happen.
Shalom, Chapitag