The Week of His Passion

How did Jesus’ anguish on the cross come to be known as His Passion, and now known as The Week of His Passion? The Greek word for suffering, is Pascho. This is where we get the word ‘passion’. Passion is one of the strongest human emotions God has shared with mankind, being made in His image and likeness, we are given passion. Suffering, Pascho meaning; especially suffering, affected, experiencing feeling. A feeling of the mind, emotion, or passion.

Now the week of His passion
How they wanted Him dead
How to carry out this evil
Keep the crowd going ahead

They wanted to avoid a riot
Trying to cover up their scheme
It was the Passover celebration
Thousands gathering, the crowd could turn mean

With the raising of Lazarus

The people completely convinced

They would kill him too

That is how to keep this miracle silenced

Jesus went about cleansing the temple
Delivering to them the woes
They desired even more
His life to quickly dispose

He gave attention to last details
Instructing His disciples to follow
Unleavened bread, bread of affliction
Isn’t He called the Man of sorrows

The last supper, The Passover meal
He stood while He boldly proclaimed
He uncovered the way and the plan
His body and blood our claim

Jesus said, “This cup is my blood
Poured out for you,
When you drink it remember
for as often as you do.”

They seeking to take His life
How foolish could they be
It wasn’t theirs to take
He would lay it down willingly

Through all the pain He didn’t speak
His life was not His own
He and God made this plan
His will and His alone

Behold I make all things new;
His heart and mind steadfast
But they didn’t understand
They needed Him gone, and fast
Thinking to do away with Him
Wanting this hushed away
Only later to realize
Behold, Salvation’s Way!

Through the scourging and berating
Brutality and pain
For the joy set before Him
Face set, He endured the shame

The week of His Passion
Body broken and blood poured out
He laid down His life and gave His all
Now we know without a doubt

His perfect work was finished
And we do have our place
Secured for all who believe
Until we see Him face to face

Holy Monday- Following His arrival into Jerusalem during Palm Sunday the people shouted and proclaiming, Hosanna. By shouting and singing they offered praise, adoration, and full belief that Jesus was The Messiah. Now all the people knew who He was and why He had come. Jesus came riding in on a donkey, showing He was a benevolent King. He came to offer salvation and to open the way, offering redemption through His blood.

Did you know? In the Ancient Near East the custom was for the king to enter cities on a warhorse in order to convey his military power and authority. If the cities were newly conquered, this was to show his rule to govern and his authority to rule. This is also true if the city and the residents doubt his authority or if they believe he is usurping authority. Think about this in light of;

11* Now I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.

12* His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.

13* He was clothed in a robe dipped in blood and His name is called The Word of God.

14* And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Revelation 19:11-14

The exception to this custom was when a beloved king entered his own capitol city. If it was his city he would ride in on a donkey as the benevolent king. Riding in on the donkey conveyed he was their caring and compassionate king.

On Monday Jesus going into the synagogue fulfilled a prophecy. “Then Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves.” (Matthew 21:12)

And He said unto them, It is written, “My house shall be called the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves.” Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The lift up His countenance on you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette