Jesus fell three times on the way to Calvary (this is not in scripture, but is Christian tradition)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe reading begins with the return of Jesus to Jerusalem as the crowd waved palms in joy:<\/p>\n
\u201cAs he rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen. They proclaimed:<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cBlessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.\u201d Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him,<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cTeacher, rebuke your disciples.\u201d He said in reply, \u201cI tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nPalm Sunday Reading: The Last Supper<\/h2>\n
In the gospel of Luke, we read about the institution of the Eucharist.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the hour came, Jesus took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, \u201cI have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it again until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nThen he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, \u201cTake this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you that from this time on, I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.\u201d Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, \u201cThis is my body, which will be given for you; `do this in memory of me.\u201d And likewise, the cup after they had eaten, saying, \u201cThis cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\nPalm Sunday Reading: The Agony in the Garden<\/h2>\n
In the \u201cAgony in the Garden,\u201d we see Jesus\u2019 full humanity on display as he pleads with the Father to \u201ctake this cup from me.\u201d Jesus, acknowledging His purpose God had intended for Him, follows God\u2019s will despite His fears.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen, going out, he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he arrived at the place, he said to them, \u201cPray that you may not undergo the test.\u201d After withdrawing about a stone\u2019s throw from them and kneeling, he prayed, saying, \u201cFather, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.\u201d And to strengthen him, an angel from heaven appeared to him. He was in such agony, and he prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground. When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping from grief. He said to them, \u201cWhy are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nThe Road to Calvary<\/h2>\n
Jesus\u2019 painful trek carrying His cross shows His love and trust in God.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said, \u201cDaughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, \u2018Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.\u2019 At that time people will say to the mountains, \u2018Fall upon us!\u2019 and to the hills, \u2018Cover us!\u2019 for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?\u201d Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nThe Crucifixion<\/h2>\n
The gruesome process of crucifixion was intended to denigrate Jesus as a criminal further. This was a tortuous way to die. In the gospel of Luke, we do not have Jesus\u2019 words on the cross, putting His humanity on full display, calling out to His Father, and asking why the Father has abandoned Him:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said, \u201cFather, forgive them, they know not what they do.\u201dThey divided his garments by casting lots. The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, \u201cHe saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.\u201d Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, \u201cIf you are King of the Jews, save yourself.\u201d Above him, there was an inscription that read, \u201cThis is the King of the Jews.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nThe Two Criminals<\/h2>\n
Jesus was crucified along with two criminals. One mocks Jesus, but the other acknowledges Jesus as God. Jesus promises the criminal, \u201cToday you will be with me in Paradise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, \u201cAre you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.\u201d The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, \u201cHave you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.\u201d Then he said, \u201cJesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.\u201dHe replied to him, \u201cAmen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nJesus Dies on the Cross<\/h2>\n
It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, \u201cFather, into your hands I commend my spirit,\u201d and when he had said this, he breathed his last.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nA Time of Darkness<\/h2>\n
What starts as such a joyous occasion ends with darkness. We are all \u201cpost-Resurrection\u201d people, so we know how the story ends. The people during Jesus\u2019 time did not, and their despair and darkness from these events were overwhelming. The darkness was about to give way to the light of Easter morning.<\/p>\n
Please let me know your thoughts about this article in the \u201cComments\u201d section.<\/p>\n
Peace<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week, a week of joy and sorrow. The week begins with Jesus arriving in Jerusalem and ends with His death on the cross. Good Friday\u2019s depth of sadness and despair will soon be replaced with joy on Easter morning. Due to the length of the gospel, I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5001,"featured_media":3599,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1339,1342,1345,1336,1348,1333],"tags":[1357,1360,1363,1354,414,1351],"class_list":["post-3781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-calvary","category-crucifixion","category-jesus-humanity","category-jesus-passion","category-last-supper-palm-sunday","category-palm-sunday","tag-calvary","tag-crucifixion","tag-jesus-humanity","tag-jesus-passion","tag-last-supper","tag-palm-sunday"],"yoast_head":"\n
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