by Desiree Bustamante

Palm Sunday begins Holy Week, when the pieces fall into place, fulfilling Jesus’ ultimate purpose.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.”
I Corinthians 15:3-4 New Living Translation

When the Pharisees saw Jesus’ miracles and children waving palms and shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. The crowd believed that the promise made long ago was fulfilled in Jesus. They desired to live under their new king. This event angered the Pharisees, so they plotted to arrest Jesus.

On Monday and Tuesday Jesus traveled to the temple to teach. He taught with authority and urgency, for this was the last time he would teach in the temple. Jesus spent time with friends in Bethany on Wednesday, while Judas accepted the chief priest’s offer of 30 pieces of silver to betray Jesus.

Thursday evening, Jesus and his disciples ate their last Passover meal together. Christ prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, where He was arrested. The Sanhedrin condemned Him of blasphemy and called for His death. Friday saw Christ crucified and buried. Though Jesus told the disciples that He would suffer death and rise three days later, they had no idea this is what He meant.

On Saturday, Jesus confronted Satan and declared victory. Victory over sin and death. His reign over an eternal kingdom. All the pieces of His life would culminate in God’s perfect plan to save the world. Read the many events of this week in the gospels, for all of this was for you!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado