Stunned Silence

As we observe this Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday (followed by Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday (Spy Wednesday), Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday), Good Friday (Holy Friday), and Holy Saturday), there is the gamut of emotions. 

Palm Sunday began with the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.  Crowds took up the shouts of “Hosanna to the Son of David”, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming!”, and “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”  Palm branches and garments were strewn across His path.  Such actions were surely in recognition of a king, or maybe…the Messiah?  He was nothing less than a great teacher or prophet, this Nazarene.  Stories of His teachings, His miracles of healing, the multiplying of bread and fish, and even the raising of the dead had circulated throughout the countryside.  The pilgrims were numerous, as they approached the city to celebrate the great Feast of the Passover in the coming days.  The crowds swelled, and the shouts of adoration and honor rang out as this simple, humble Carpenter approached.

The religious leaders recognized the center of attention right away.  They, too, knew the stories of His miracles and teachings.  This was no ordinary man.  Most of the leaders felt threatened by His mere presence.  And here He was, riding on a donkey, and accepting the acclamation given by the people.  They tried to put a stop to it at once.  From Luke 19:39-40:  “And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.’”  The mood of the crowd does not appear to have been dampened in the least.

On the following day, Jesus taught in the temple, answered the questions meant to entrap Him, and did not shy away from public attention.  I’m sure many in Jerusalem were further intrigued by the authority of the teachings given by this Man.  He was welcomed into the Holy City with shouts of triumph.  The leaders seemed to be against Him.  And yet, here He was in the temple, teaching publicly.  He even tossed over some tables, and not a finger was laid on Him!  (see Luke 19:45-48)

“Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Laz′arus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.” (John 12:1)  He traveled outside the city to the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary—a journey of about 2 miles.  Here, He and His disciples were given a supper.  For all appearances, this did not seem to differ from previous visits.  However, a seemingly small act changed it all.  Mary knelt at the feet of Jesus, and poured costly, perfumed oil on His feet, then wiped His feet with her hair.  In a moment of insight and foreshadowing, the writer notes a comment made by Judas—who would betray Him—that this oil could have been sold, and the money given to the poor.  “This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it.” (John 12:6)  I can only imagine the puzzled glances as Jesus responded that she was anointing Him for his burial.  (Matthew 26:12)

Judas began showing his true colors over the next few days, as he proceeded back into the city and cut a deal with the chief priests.  “What will you give me if I deliver Him to you?”  That day, thirty pieces of silver became the price of more than one life.

As the Feast of Passover approached, Jesus gave instructions for the celebration of the Seder (a Jewish ritual service and ceremonial dinner).  A room was secured, provisions purchased, and preparations made.  Perhaps they felt a bit of hopefulness in the traditions being practiced.  Surely Jesus was merely tired when He kept speaking of His impending death?  The Passover was a time to rejoice and celebrate the release from captivity.

Jesus began the evening by washing the feet of His disciples.  This was usually the job of the lowest of servants.  Yet here He was on bended knee, washing the dust and filth from their feet, and wiping them dry with a towel.  Obviously, this made His followers very uncomfortable.  Peter even decried the actions.  Jesus made it very clear that this was an important moment, though.  This was an action He wanted them to imitate, as they learned to serve each other as well as any others under their care.

He then spoke of a betrayal that would take place.  No one seemed to see Judas as a suspect, as they all questioned Him, “Is it I?”  Almost immediately after this, Judas went away to fulfill his agreement with the leaders.  Where was Judas going?  Was he taking an offering to the poor in observance of this holy feast?

As the evening wore on, Jesus then altered the ceremony.  As He offered the bread, He called it His own body, which would be given up for them.  Instead of the usual cup blessing, He spoke of it as His blood, which would be poured out for them.  What was this?! Certainly not the traditional words they had spoken since their childhood. 

Following the meal, they went out to the Kidron valley to pray.  There is a garden there, at the foot of the Mount of Olives.  There, Jesus walked away to pray by Himself.  There, He fought the final battle.  Upon His return to His disciples, He found them sleeping.  It had been a long day, filled with the final preparations for their celebration.  Still, could they not pray with Him for even one hour?  Surely they felt embarrassed.

From this point, events began to happen in rapid succession.  The temple guards, led by Judas, came into the garden.  Judas kissed Jesus.  Peter cut off a servant’s ear.  Jesus healed the man.  Then, He was bound and taken away.  The disciples ran, supposing they too could be arrested.  John alone followed at a distance. 

Later, Peter would find his way into the courtyard of the building where Jesus had been taken. 

He would be filled with shame, as, when questioned by others, he would deny even knowing Jesus.

All too soon, morning arrived, and Jesus was taken by the leaders to Pilate, then to Herod, and back again to Pilate.  In an attempt to appease the crowds, yet not condemn an innocent man, Pilate offered to release Jesus.  It was a common act of good will at each year’s Passover.  But the leaders stirred up the crowd, and they shouted, “Away with Him!  Give us Barabbas!”  Upon further insistence of this Man’s innocence, they responded to Pilate with even more vigor, “Crucify Him!”

And so it was.  He was scourged (a horrible, brutal whipping).  He was mocked.  He was crowned with a thorny wreath.  He was spit upon.  His blood oozed from wounds which marred His entire body.  He was given a cross to carry.  His weakened, battered body was given a burden so cruel.  Yet the bigger burden was unseen, for He was carrying the very sin of the world on His shoulders.

In the end, His was a death common to so many others who were crucified.  He was nailed to the crossbeam, both through His hands and feet.  The cross was lifted for all to see.  He was mocked, even by others suffering the same fate.  There was a difference, though.  This Man called out for His Father to forgive his tormentors.  He offered no words of anger or revilement.  There was no response to the accusations of, “He saved others.  Let Him come down from the cross and save Himself.”  He answered not a word. 

With His last breath, He spoke the simple words: “It is finished (accomplished, consummated).”  Then He bowed His head and died. 

Anguish. 

In the moments after His death, Joseph of Arimathea asked for Jesus’s body to be given to him.  The women who were there followed him, and Nicodemus provided the spices and oils to prepare His body for burial.  The religious leaders asked for a guard and a seal for the tomb.

So there they were.  Holy Saturday.  A day of stunned silence.  All the hopes and dreams of the past three years seem to be as dead as the Man who invoked them.  They didn’t know the end of the story.  They only knew what they could observe.  He was dead.  Their lives were more than likely at risk as well.  Judas hanged himself.  All seemed lost.

They hid in stunned silence.

As we have journeyed through this Lent and the COVID-19 situation at the same time, you may be feeling somewhat similar emotions.  Our world has come to an almost standstill.  Our usual preparations for celebrating Easter have been stifled by an invisible, yet very real enemy.  Our hopes may seem as buried in despair as the hopes of the disciples almost 2,000 years ago.  Have you experienced the gamut of emotions they felt during that first Holy Week?  Are you feeling that stunned silence?  

Have great hope, my friends.  He has promised a resurrection.  Not just His own, but ours as well.

It may seem like a silent, Holy Saturday.  But Sunday is most assuredly on the way!