Unholy Drama During Holy Week

Jesus, he was amazing during holy week. he did alot during his ministry here on earth. but during the final week leading up to his death, he went through a lot of unholy drama for a very holy cause.

between monday and thursday: he was hailed as king and rode through the streets of jerusalem in style. the people shouted "hosanna!" then, it seems almost immediately he had to go all chuck norris in the temple with the money changers. then a healing service and a sermon. cursed a fig tree that did not bear fruit and it withered and died. now, let me interject my opionion here: i imagine he was frustrated with his disciples for not understanding the magnitude of the situation, for being clueless and so fully human.

then Jesus went back to the temple to preach his final sermon filled with parables. he was rudely interrupted by the high priest and elders. they questioned his authority, a personal attack on his character and spirituality. then a short riddle to end the attack, Jesus won that one, followed by more teachings. they want to arrest him, but they are scardy cats, afraid of the crowds listening to Jesus preach. chickens. they want to illiminate him because they were comfortable with their way of life and Jesus threatened that. they had pretty much elliminated God out of their rituals. they hesitated to touch Jesus for fear of riots.

Jesus spends some time teaching his disciples and then goes to Bethany to the home of simon the leper to eat and rest. a woman pours expensive perfumed oils on his head and it runs down into his beard and drips onto his robe. the disciples become angry. (remeber samuel annointing king david centuries earlier?)
"what a waste!" the disciples say.
"she should have sold that and given the money to the poor!" they murmur.
"She could have gotten a lot of money for that perfume!" grumble, grumble.
but Jesus stops them and says:
"why are you bothering this woman? she has done a beautiful thing to me. the poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. when she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. i tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." (matthew 26)

judas can't take it anymore. money isn't flowing right for him or to him. satan creeps into the room and overtakes judas. he becomes a puppet in satan's hands. he goes to the chief priests and elders and offers to give up Jesus for a price. at the time thirty pieces of silver was a nice piece of change. i cannot imagine putting a price on a life, thirty pieces of silver seems so insignificant.

it's thursday now, and the unholy drama unravels as passover is celebrated.

questions
do you appreciate the unholy drama Jesus went through on your behalf? what will you do to show your appreciation?

read
Matthew 22-26

song in my head
'Jesus, we enthrone you. we proclaim you as King. standing here in the midst of us...'