Passion Week

Passion Week Day 1

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

There are two events from Jesus’ life recorded in all four Gospels. The first the miraculous feeding of the 5,000. (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:335-44; Luke 9:10-17; john 6:1-14) The second is the Triumphal Entry (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19)

In feeding the multitude, Jesus found a creative way to remind us of His sufficiency. In the Triumphal Entry, Jesus reminds us He is our Messiah, Coming King, and our once and for all sacrifice for our sin.

In this second event, the Triumphal Entry, Jesus is presenting Himself as the Messiah; as the King of the Jews; and as the “once and for all” paschal lamb.

Prior to this, He wouldn’t allow anyone, including demons, to announce who He was. But now, it was time.

Jerusalem was overflowing with visitors from around the world in preparation for the Passover celebration. Plus, I’m sure the city was buzzing with the news of Lazarus’ resurrection and this formerly blind guy, Bartimaeus, who would have, no doubt in my mind, been running around town telling how “Jesus, the Son of David” had mercy on him and healed him of blindness. (You can read about Lazarus in John 11 and you can read about Bartimaeus in March 11:46-52.)

Everyone wanted to see this miracle worker. Could He be the Messiah?  Could He be the source of everything they had dreamed of? Could He be the answer to all their problems and questions? Could He be the one to set them free? Could He be coming to establish His Kingdom?

As Jesus entered the city, riding on the back of a previously unridden colt, the foal of a donkey, the folks lined the parade route, shouting “Hosanna” which when translated means, “Save us or save now.” It was a cry for deliverance, much like Israel cried out to God while they were enslaved in Egypt. They waved palm branches, which was a sign of national pride and victory. Could it be that Jesus was the King, their deliverer who was to come and overthrow the Romans and establish a new Kingdom?

Scriptures don’t tell us what the Romans thought of all this. It wouldn’t have been the first time someone tried to overthrow them during the Passover. Passover was a celebration of freedom from bondage, dating all the way back to Egypt. But they weren’t impressed. This newly proclaimed king came riding on a humble donkey instead of a war horse. And instead of heavily armed soldiers marching with Him, He was being followed by Galilean fishermen.

I believe there were three responses to Jesus on this day. The Romans ignored Him; the Jews embraced Him, at least for now; and the Pharisees wanted Him out of the way. He was challenging their long-standing “standard of normal.”

I see these same responses today. Some ignore Him, some try to push Him out of their minds, while some embrace Him.

What will be your response? Will you invite Him to establish a new normal? Or will you ignore Him?

Always in Pursuit!

Don

Passion Week

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Someone ask me a long time ago, “What are you passionate about?” I had to think about it for awhile. Eventually I wrote out nine things that I was passionate about.

As I looked at my list, I ask myself the question, what it was that made me passionate about these nine things?

First, they were things I loved. Like being a husband and a father.

Second, they were things I was intentional about. I deliberately set devoted time to these nine things.

Third, I did everything I could to become more proficient in these nine things. I wanted to be the best that I could possibly be.

Fourth, I devoted very little time to anything that wasn’t on my list of nine things. While I didn’t ignore other things or those who were passionate about things I wasn’t passionate about, I knew to be what God wanted me to be, I had to focus on these nine things.

I believe Jesus demonstrated these same values about what He was passionate about.

Sunday, Palm Sunday, begins what is traditionally referred to as Passion Week. Palm Sunday is the celebration of Jesus presenting Himself as the Messiah, the King of the Jews and as the once-for-all Paschal Lamb. The path into Jerusalem was packed with Jews, Romans and Greeks. Most them wildly cheering for Him. Loudly proclaiming Him to be their Messiah and their King.

Each day of Passion Week, I will be sharing about the recorded events of the day. There are many lessons for us to learn. But most of all, I want you to see how passionate Jesus was for each of us. He was intentional about returning to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51). He submitted Himself to the will of the Father rather than call angels to deliver Him.

It’s a great love story, this week of passion. He’s a great Savior who willingly gave His life for us so that we may live our lives in a way that goes beyond anything we can imagine.

Hope you will join me.

Always in Pursuit!

Don