We are currently in the middle of what is normally called Holy Week in the Church, beginning with Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday.  It is filled with dramatic ups and downs in the life of Jesus and His twelve disciples.  It is likewise not unusual for the followers of Jesus today to experience ups and downs in their own lives.

        On Sunday, Jesus fulfilled predictions from Old Testament Scriptures  by riding a colt into the city of Jerusalem, while His disciples spread palm branches and clothing in His pathway.  They shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!.”  Some criticized His followers, but Jesus said if they were silent, the rocks themselves would cry out in praise to Him.

        On Monday, Jesus returned to Jerusalem, cursing a fig tree on the way for its failure to bear fruit.  This was an act of judgment on those who were spiritually dead and who failed to bear spiritual fruit.  He then visited the Temple, where He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and of those who sold sacrifices.  He declared that God’s house was meant to be a house of prayer, but they had made it “a den of thieves” because they cheated the people who came to the Temple to worship.

        On Tuesday, He passed the fig tree, and this time it was dead.  His critics tried to place Him under arrest, but He evaded them and pronounced judgment on them.  He called them “blind guides” because they led people astray, and He called them “whitewashed tombs” because they appeared beautiful on the outside, but were filled with iniquity on the inside.  On this day, Judas Iscariot conspired with the religious authorities to betray Jesus.

        On Wednesday, He rested in the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, and on Thursday He celebrated the Passover, eating His last meal with His disciples.  He predicted His betrayal during the meal, and afterwards washed the feet of His disciples.  He then went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, and there He was betrayed, arrested, and put on trial.

        On Friday, Jesus was crucified to pay for the sins of all the people of the world.  Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimethea buried the body of Jesus, and He remained there though Saturday.  On Sunday, He rose from the dead, and appeared to Mary Magdalene, to Peter, to two disciples on the way to Emmaus, and to eleven of His disciples who had gathered in a room to pray. This all happened during His final week, and it truly changed the course of history.

Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  For informa-tion, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.