The last two weeks of the Lord’s life were unique from the previous three years. Lazarus, the Lord’s friend, died. When Jesus arrived in Lazarus’s hometown his two sobbing sisters, Martha and Mary, met the Lord outside of town. It was there they showed Him the burial place. It was a cave—a sad site. For the first time in scripture, it is recorded our Lord cried.
About two weeks later, as the Messiah was making his way to Jerusalem, he saw the city, and wept. As our Lord pondered their future and its citizens, He knew their eternal state, and he was saddened to the point of crying.
The next day, our Lord proceeded to cleanse the Temple, driving out the money changers with their merchandise from God’s house of worship.
Come Thursday, Jesus and the disciples observed the Passover, which today’s believers call the Last Supper. It was there, Judas made an early departure to gather the Pharisees and soldiers to arrest our Lord.
These ungodly people found the Lord at Gethsemane. But our Lord was still in the miracle business. Peter, in his impulsiveness, cut off the ear of Malchus, the High Priest’s servant. Jesus gently picked up the ear and reattached it. The soldiers arrested Jesus anyway.
The crowd escorted Jesus back into Jerusalem, where he appeared before several priestly officials condemning him. Finally, our wonderful, innocent Lord was condemned by Pilate and sentenced to death that Friday morn. Our tattered Savior headed to a hill called Calvary, and there He was nailed to a cross.
Later about noon, the sky turned black. The sun didn’t shine for three hours. Our heavenly Father turned His eyes away from His only Son. Finally, the Lord’s saddened spirit broke, and He felt all alone with our sin upon Him. Jesus’ last words on the cross asked why God had forsaken Him? Our Lord died.
Jesus’ mutilated body was laid to rest in Joseph of Arimathea’s unused tomb with the help of Nicodemus, who originally came to Jesus by night.
Saturday came, and no word from the grave. Then came Sunday! When Mary Magdalene and others arrived at Jesus’ burial place, the tomb was empty. Jesus was not there; He was alive and well forevermore to encourage his disciples and believers. Now, our Lord is seated beside His Heavenly Father, waiting for our arrival.
I’m glad it’s Sunday, Resurrection Day.
