- Greenvillenazarene

The days between Sunday

--In Mark 11-16, we have Mark’s record of Jesus’ passion week. Mark gives us a day by day account of this last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Two Sundays bookend the week

--Today we are going to talk about that 1st Sunday, the triumphal entry. It’s Passover time. The most important festival on the Jewish calendar.

--Passover commemorated their deliverance from Egypt, from slavery, and God led them into the promised land, the land he’d give them forever and ever...Passover celebrated their formation as a nation and a people. It united them.

--This, of course, made the Romans nervous. Passover was a very volatile time in Palestine. And because the Romans were so resented, Passover gave the Jewish people a heightened expectation and sense of anticipation.

--Every Passover, there was this hope. "Maybe this is THE Passover? Maybe there’ll be another Exodus? Only the Romans will be the ones leaving! Maybe THIS will be the Passover when Messiah comes and he glorifies Israel?!"

--This is the backdrop for Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. And notice HOW he enters. Mark 11:1-11 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna![a]”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]

10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Jesus Journey toward the cross – entering Jerusalem
OT prophecy etched on the minds and cultural consciousness of the Jewish people, especially at this time of year.

Zech. 9:9-10

9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the warhorses from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.

They see Jesus enter the city, and then they think of THIS passage! As they talk amongst themselves, rallying the excitement amongst the Jewish people gathered in Jerusalem for the Passover Celebration from near and far
’Isn’t this the same Jesus who gives sight to blind people?
He makes the lame walk?
The deaf hear?
The dead are raised?
And the poor get the good news preached to them?
Isn’t this HIM?!
Is he THE one?’
Imagine the sense of anticipation and excitement.

That Palm Sunday was a Sunday of celebration and anticipation. A true high point.

The following Sunday was also one of excitement and realization
Tomb was emptied, body was gone, Savior showed up ALIVE AGAIN!
Easter...
But there were 6 days in-between those 2 Sundays...in between the excitement

Living in the Sundays of life can be exciting, We are grateful for Sundays

-the church can gather together in a building

-We can praise God

-We can pray together for each other

-We are with those who love us and love God

-I LOVE Sundays

-but...Monday-Saturday happens too, work days, school days, long days, hard days, in those days we need to being doing what Jesus did too!

Jesus’ Monday-Friday...what happened?
In a time when so much focus and anticipation guides us to look at these Sundays, I want us to spend the next few moments examining closely what happened in those days in-between.
Particularly Monday-Friday morning
This Friday evening, I would love for you to join us at 130 Luray for a powerful walk through Good Friday experience! Where the focus will be on THAT NIGHT!

Mark 11:15-18 15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’[c]? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’[d]”

18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

Monday
Cleansing of the Temple
“How are we going to get rid of this guy”

Mark 11:27-33 27 They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28 “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

29 Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30 John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”

31 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

33 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Tuesday
Last day Jesus was in the temple
Questioning - “Will we be able to trap him, turn the people against him?”

Mark 14:1-2, 10-11 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”

… 10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

Wednesday
Quieter day
Judas goes to Sanhedrin
“Well how about that...his friend will help us get rid of him!?”

Ever feel betrayal like this? From family or friend. I have been lied to and betrayed by a person that I hoped would love and care for me...it hurts.

Yet it was Judas, one of the twelve chosen, that had sat and learned and done miracles through Jesus power...

John 13:1-5, 12-17 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Thursday
Last supper (communion)
Washed all his disciples feet...including Judas

If there ever was a “those people” it was Judas...and how did Christ treat Judas?

Jesus goes to the garden, Judas leads soldiers to Jesus
Early Friday morning
Handed over to Pilot

Conclusion

-We can live in the Sundays...the powerful Messiah riding in on the colt to concur...the risen Savior proving even death could not stop him...but so much happens Monday-Friday

--overturning tables of injustice

--being questioned

--quiet betrayals

--showing love and serving “those people”