Yesterday was Palm Sunday and we joyously entered the sanctuary waving palm branches while singing “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna.”  We have begun our journey through Holy Week and Christ’s last days.  I invite you to join me throughout this week read the scriptures and reflect upon this journey in the days ahead.

Matthew 26:1-30

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,  “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and they conspired to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.  But they said, “Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.”

6 Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.  But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, “Why this waste?  For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor.”  But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me.  For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.  By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial.  Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”

14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests  and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver.  And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

17 On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?”  He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’”  So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

20 When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”  And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?”  He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.  The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.”  Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”

26 While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”  Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

30 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

What a contrast for this day.  We moved from the joy and celebration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to the plotting of his death by the priests and elders.  This is no surprise to Jesus, he’s fully aware of what is before him.  In fact, he has already  told them about it. (Matthew 20:17-19)  This catches me off guard every year.  There is so much hope and anticipation as he rides into Jerusalem.  Palm Sunday worship is festive and full of hope.  And yet, it lasts just a minute and then the darkness creeps back.

After entering Jerusalem, Jesus overturned the tables and “cleansed”  the temple and then left the city, going to Bethany. (Matthew 21:12-17)  In the Gospel of Matthew, all of this takes place on Monday.  Tuesday morning, he returns to Jerusalem, curses a fig tree that has no fruit (Matthew 21:18-22); enters the temple; is questioned about his authority; and teaches through parables.  Jesus addresses the payment of taxes, resurrection, the Great Commandment, the Son of David, and judgement. (Matthew 21:23 – 25:46)

And now it is Wednesday: 2 days before Jesus dies on the cross.  The priests and elders are fed up with this Jesus and they plot to end his life but they are careful to orchestrate the events in their favor.  An unnamed woman extravagantly anoints Jesus with an expensive perfume.  The word used for perfume is not the same as used when someone is anointed for office.  This root word points us toward burial.  This insightful woman prepares Jesus for burial even before his death.  This is the only anointing/preparation for burial in Matthew and Mark and John place this after his death.  She was able to see the truth about his life and death even when others did not.  I wonder if we are so deeply rooted in Christ that we can discern truth even when those around us do not?

In Matthew, Wednesday draws to a close with Judas seeking to make a deal with the priests.  Judas wants to force Jesus’ hand; to motivate Jesus to rise up and be the leader Judas wants him to be and so he agrees to betray Jesus.  I can just see him saying, “This will get him to act.  This will get him to be the king we are all waiting for.”  But what I struggle with is this: how did Judas know they were plotting to kill him?  Had he heard rumors?  What would have happened if he been listening more intently to Jesus than others?  Was he a control freak thinking he could use Jesus’ charisma and popularity to accomplish his own agenda?  Or did the enemy have a strong hold on him enticing and courting him just as the enemy had done with Eve?

As a mother of teenagers, I am always looking for ways to get them to fall in line with how I think they should think, believe, and act.  And I fail miserably most of the time.  How much of the energy I spend trying to accomplish my  goals are in opposition to God’s goals for them?  Or to make it even more plain, how much time do I spend trying to set my agenda instead of seeking God’s agenda and purpose for my life and their lives?  What do I need to change?

Thursday, one day until crucifixion, brings the preparation for the Passover meal as well as the meal itself where Jesus institutes what we call the Lord’s Supper.  He knows his freedom is almost gone and spends that last evening with the disciples fellowshipping around the table and giving them new meaning for bread and wine.  And he does this with full awareness that Judas will betray him.  The epitome of darkness sits right there with Jesus and the disciples.  With all of his love, Jesus offers bread and wine to them and points them to life.  He points them to perfect Light while darkness sits right there.

Isn’t that the way life goes?  No matter how connected to the savior we may be; no matter how fully we love God and love others and live out our faith, the darkness is still lurking close by.  We are not immune to darkness’ influence.  The question is  what will we do to ensure we do not find strength in the darkness?  How will we remain in the Light of Christ, living in grace, mercy, and hope?