The Journey To The Cross

Holy Week has begun. It may not “feel” different from any other week – aside from the frenetic work to prepare for Easter Sunday – but it is indeed Holy because it was Jesus who lived through these events. Most of us will know that Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and culminates with Easter Sunday, but the gospels, particularly the synoptics, attribute a huge portion of their text to these seven days of Jesus’ life. Why? Because this is the climax of Jesus’ story and therefore Israel’s story – and the story of all human history. 

Traditionally the Church has associated various events with different days of the week as historians and biblical scholars have outlined the events of the week. Of course, we don’t know exactly what happened on each day of the week, but we don’t need to. The point isn’t that we gain an absolutely accurate historical account, but that we journey with Jesus to the cross by reading and reflecting on what these events meant for Jesus and what the Spirit might speak to us through them today. For the sake of brevity, I will only treat Monday through Thursday since they are otherwise given less attention than Good Friday and Easter Sunday. 

Monday

On Holy Monday we read of Jesus cleansing the Temple (Matt. 21:1-11). This reminds us that, although the Jewish people were hoping Jesus would come to overthrow the oppressive powers of Rome, Jesus starts his universal redemptive work on the inside, in the Temple. He works within his own people and faith tradition by going to the Temple to cleanse it and restore its purpose as a house of prayer.

Whatever God intends to do in the world through Jesus will also include the cleansing and purifying of each and every human heart. 

Tuesday

On Holy Tuesday we read the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 21:23-24:51). An astute teacher could dedicate a year of sermons to the teachings of Jesus found in these chapters, but our goal on this day is not to study and exegete the words as much as it is to hear them. To let them unsettle us and realize that on his final few days he gives us warnings and calls us to pay attention and be ready.

wednesday

Holy Wednesday, also known as “spy Wednesday,” is when Jesus and the disciples rest in Bethany, followed by Judas going to the high priests to betray Jesus. In Matthew, only one verse is given to this fateful moment (26:14). But that speaks for itself:

The point of reflecting on this is not to lead us to despair, but to humble us and allow the Spirit to examine our hearts. It is also telling that during this week Jesus would take time to rest and “recline at the table” with his friends one last time. Sure, there was a lot to teach or reiterate, he also could have fasted and prayed the whole week, but instead Jesus lingered in the presence of his closest friends. 

thursday

On Maundy Thursday, Jesus gathers with the disciples to celebrate the Passover meal which is followed by sharing the bread and cup of Communion and footwashing in John’s gospel (Matt. 26:17-30; John 13:1-17). These are the last moments with his disciples and what he leaves them with is clean feet and the bread and cup of Communion. Most of us are so familiar with these events that this isn’t striking to us anymore, but it should be.

How might we participate with the events of these days? As I’ve mentioned, begin by reading slowly and meditatively. Imagine that you’re there with Jesus and the disciples. Hear him speak, visualize the details. And invite the Holy Spirit to speak and draw you into the “fellowship of his sufferings.” If you desire to engage even more deeply you could fast a meal each day or fast all day on Wednesday. If you desire to engage with your team around one or more of these you could begin your weekly rehearsal by reading the Maundy Thursday passage(s) and receive Communion together.

The spirit of Holy Week is that of journeying with Jesus to the cross and that can be done countless ways. But what is most important is that you respond to the invitation of Jesus to draw close this week. If you do you might find that his joy becomes your joy as his life becomes your life.