WEEK 1: THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY OF JESUS
When Jesus had finished his ministry in Galilee, he decided to go to Jerusalem. The purpose was to carry the gospel message to the religious capital of the Jews. Jesus and his disciple travelled through Samaria and entered Jericho. From there, they came to Bethpage, a village near Jerusalem that was situated on the slopes of the Mount of Olives.
From Bethpage, Jesus sent two of his disciples to Bethany, another village near Jerusalem, to bring a colt of an ass, which had never been driven by anyone. If they were challenged, they were to say that the Lord wanted to use it and would send it back. The disciples found the colt at Bethany and brought it to Jesus.
The disciples, and other people who had gathered, threw their garments on the colt to make a comfortable seat for Jesus, who afterwards sat on it. The people formed a procession and they began to move slowly towards Jerusalem. The people paid homage to Jesus by spreading their garments and palm fronds on the road for Jesus to ride over with the colt.
According to Matthew, Jesus riding on the colt of an ass into Jerusalem fulfilled the prophecy of Zachariah 9:9:
“Tell the daughters of Zion,
Behold, your king is coming to you,
Humble and mounted on an ass,
And on a colt, the foal of an ass.”
The people, who had gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, were delighted at the Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and cried out:
“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest.”
The word Hosanna originally meant ‘Save’ or ‘Help’ but later it came to mean ‘Praise’. So, the people were saying:
“Praise to the Messiah, Jesus Christ.”
They were happy that the Messiah and Saviour had come, and so they praised and gave thanks to God.
Some of the Pharisees among the crowd asked Jesus to silence the disciples and the people from praising and thanking God for the coming of the Messiah. But, Jesus answered:
“I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones, would cry out.”
The Pharisees were jealous at the peoples’ recognition of Jesus as the Messiah and at his Triumphant Entry.
Christians everywhere celebrate the Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem as Palm Sunday. This great event is to show the whole world that Jesus is the Messiah of peace, who had come to bring peace into the World.
WEEK 2: THE LAST SUPPER
The Last Supper, as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew (26:17-30), Mark (14:12-26), Luke (22:7-20), and John (13:1-30), was the final meal that Jesus shared with His disciples before His crucifixion. This event took place in an upper room in Jerusalem during the Passover festival.
During the meal, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and distributed it to His disciples, saying, "This is my body, given for you; do this in remembrance of me." Afterward, He took a cup of wine, shared it with them, and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."
As they ate, Jesus also revealed that one of the disciples would betray Him. The disciples were distressed by this news and began to question who among them would do such a thing. Jesus identified Judas Iscariot as the betrayer, who then left to carry out his plan.
The Last Supper is significant not only as a farewell meal but also as the institution of the Eucharist (Holy Communion) and a foreshadowing of Jesus' imminent sacrifice on the cross.
Significance of the Last Supper
1. Institution of the Eucharist: The Last Supper established the practice of Communion, a central rite in Christian worship. Jesus’ actions of breaking bread and sharing wine became symbolic of His sacrifice, reminding believers of His body and blood.
2. New Covenant: Through the Last Supper, Jesus introduced the new covenant between God and humanity, which was based on His sacrificial death. This covenant signifies the promise of forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
3. Example of Humility and Service: In the Gospel of John, Jesus washes the disciples' feet during the Last Supper, demonstrating servant leadership and humility. This act serves as a model for Christians to serve one another in love and humility.
4. Forewarning of Betrayal: The announcement of Judas’ betrayal highlights the reality of human sinfulness and the cost of Jesus’ mission. It sets the stage for the events leading to His crucifixion and emphasizes the necessity of His sacrifice.
5. Call to Remembrance: Jesus instructed His disciples to observe the Last Supper as a way to remember Him and His sacrifice. This call to remembrance is foundational for Christian faith and practice, reminding believers of the significance of Jesus' death and resurrection.
WEEK 3: THE BETRAYAL AND ARREST OF JESUS
Jesus suffered more than any evangelist during His three and half year’s of earthly ministry. Towards the end of His ministry the persecutors did their worst, and finally His disciples betrayed and disappointed Him.
THE ARREST OF JESUS CHRIST MARK 14:26-52, MATTEW 26:47-56)
When Jesus and His disciples had finished eating. The Last Supper, they went straight to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus had already known what would happen to Him there he told His disciples that they would run away when He would have been arrested. But, Simon Peter said no to that and promised to be with him even to the very end.
And Jesus did not hid it from Peter. He told him plainly that he would deny Him.
“But Peter said to Him, even if all are made to stumble yet, I will not be. and Jesus said to him, truly I say to you, that today even this night before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times”. (Mark 19:29-30)
But Peter spoke more vehemently saying if it meant he should die with Him, he would not hesitate to die, instead of him denying. They came to the Garden of Gethsemane and He told His disciples to sit down in a place while He would go a little to pray. He then took three of His disciples namely, Peter, James and John and Jesus was distressed.
He began to worry that one of them would betray Him. He was referring to Judas Iscariot. He left the three disciples and went a little further from them to pray. He started to pray to the heavenly father pleading if possible to remove this cup of suffering. Jesus said “Abba father, all things are possible to thee, remove this cup rom me, let not what I will but what thou wilt”. Mark 14:3-6. Really Jesus made the prayer of agony.
The cup he was referring to is the awaiting death on the cross. But despite the terrible and unbearable situation coming to be fallen on Him, He still maintained that only the will of the heavenly father should be done.
Jesus told the three disciples to be praying where He asked them to stay. He said to them, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit truly is willing but the flesh is weak”. Mark 14:38. Meanwhile, Judas had already concluded his work by collecting money from the enemies of Jesus to show him to them. He collected the sum of thirty pieces of silver to betray the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Then Judas Iscariot His betrayer, seen that He had been condemned was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priest and elders”. (Matthew 27:3)
Judas arrived with crowds in the Garden of Gethsemane and kissed Jesus in the darkness to show the enemies who to arrest and immediately Jesus was arrested.
Peter was ready to fight and deliver Jesus from the hands of His arresters, he drew out his sword and cut the ears of one of the servants of the high priest. But Jesus spoke against such action and he healed the cut ear immediately. Jesus answered Peter that His arrest was to fulfil the plan of God and it was to give salvation to the world.
WEEK 4: TRIAL AND PETER'S DENIAL
After the Last Supper, Jesus went to Gethsemane to pray. It was there that he was betrayed by Judas Iscariot and arrested by a large crowd sent by the chief priests and elders.
This led to his trial before the Jewish high priest, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin, while Peter, one of his closest disciples, denied knowing him.
Jesus' Trial Before the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57-68)
After his arrest, Jesus was led to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and elders were gathered. Many false witnesses came forward, but their testimonies did not agree. Finally, the high priest asked Jesus if He was the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus affirmed it, saying, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."
The high priest then tore his clothes, accusing Jesus of blasphemy, and the council condemned Him, saying He deserved death. They then spat in His face, struck Him, and mocked Him.
Peter's Denial of Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75)
While Jesus was being tried inside, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. The events of his denial unfolded in three stages:
First Denial: A servant girl came up to Peter and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But Peter denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean."
Second Denial: When he went out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." Again, Peter denied it with an oath, saying, "I do not know the man."
Third Denial: After a little while, bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you." Then Peter began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man!" Immediately, a rooster crowed.
Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
