Monday Musings by Pastor Ron

Friends,

Holy Week. One of the most important weeks of the year for Christians. A week for us to remember the Passion of our Savior and the ultimate Sacrifice that was made for each of us. A time to remember the good, the bad, the ugly, the beauty of life all illustrated for us in these seven days. This is a story worth telling. A story worth remembering. Not just this week but every week of the year. As I thought about this story, I was reminded how it was told to our children when they were in preschool. I would like to share it with you today. Maybe you can share it with your children or grandchildren. I don't remember the exact words that were used from 30 plus years ago, so I have modified them. (My apologies to the original preschool teacher).

An Eggstraordinary Story

This is a story found in a dozen eggs. Each of the eggs providing a piece of the story. Inside each egg is a symbol of that portion of the story.

Our Story begins on Palm Sunday. Jesus and the Disciples make a triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Crowds gather on the street waving palms and shouting for Jesus.

8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9 Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Mark 11:9-10)

After they have entered into Jerusalem, Jesus gathered with the Disciples in the Upper Room for the Passover Meal. After they have sat Jesus rose from the table and washed the feet of his Disciples.

3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. (John 13:3-5)

While they were eating, Jesus told the Disciples that one of them would betray him. And one did. Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.

14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:14-15)

After the meal, Jesus gathered the Disciples and walked to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He asked the Disciples to keep watch while he went by himself to pray to God. Three times he came back to find the Disciples sleeping.

 36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  (Matthew 26:36)

While he is in the garden, Judas Iscariot brought the guards to arrest Jesus. He was taken before the religious leaders and put through a mock trial. He was turned over to Pontius Pilate for sentencing. Pilate finds nothing to charge Jesus with but let's the crowds decide his fate. He is sentenced to be crucified. Jesus was turned over to the guards who mocked him, beat him and make a crown of thorns for him to wear on his head.

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. (Matthew 27:27-30)

Jesus was forced to carry his own cross to the place of the crucifixion.

. So they took Jesus; 17 and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. (John 19:16b-17)

When they reached Golgotha Jesus was nailed to a cross between two thieves.

33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. (Luke 23:33)

After Jesus died on the cross, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for Jesus' body because it would soon be the Sabbath. Joseph and Nicodemus took Jesus' body and wrapped it in linen and spices then placed it in a tomb.

38 After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. 39 Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. 40 They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. (John 19:38-41)

The tomb that Jesus was buried in had a large opening. The Pharisees were afraid that Jesus' followers may come and take the body away and then say that Jesus had not really died but was alive. So, they went to Pilate and convinced him to place a large stone across the opening to make sure no one could get in and remove Jesus' body.

62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive,  After three days I will rise again.’ 64 Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to  them, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone. (Matthew 27:62-66)

After the Sabbath, Mary Magdelene and the other Mary went to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body. When they arrived, the stone was covering the opening. While they were standing at the entrance there was an earthquake and an angel came and rolled away the stone.

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord,  descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. (Matthew 28:1-3)

When the women enter the tomb, Jesus was not there. The angel told them that he has been raised. He is alive. the tomb is empty.

5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. (Matthew 28:5-6)

The story of Holy Week found in a dozen eggs. Eggs, the symbol of new life. Holy Week a story of new life. What a wonderful story to share with everyone you meet. Not just this week but every week. Join us this week as we travel through Holy Week. Following Jesus and the Disciples to the Upper Room and the Garden of Gethsemane on Thursday Night. Standing at the foot of the cross on Friday
Night as we hear Jesus' last words. Then finally standing together with the Mary's at an empty tomb on Sunday. You don't want to miss this story.

God bless you.