Well over 700 years had passed since the nation of Israel celebrated independently what the Passover commemorated. It had been over 700 years since the nation of Israel governed itself, claiming independence from the harsh tyranny of other nations. Even so, year after year, faithful Jews swarmed Jerusalem for Passover to reflect upon their former deliverance and eagerly anticipate their coming deliverance that awaited them when the Messiah would arrive on the scene. Unlike years before, though, this Passover felt different. Rumors swirled about a man from Bethlehem who healed the sick, drove out demons, and even raised the dead to life. His name was Jesus, and the question that followed Him was consistent: Could this be the Messiah? Could this be the anointed King who would reestablish our nation to its former glory and trample over all of our enemies?

Mark’s Palm Sunday account seems to suggest that the answer to this question is both a yes and a no. Like the other kings of his day, Jesus rode, rather than walked, into the city of His coronation, He fulfilled the Messianic prophesy of Zechariah, and He received the acclaim of the people without batting an eye. Jesus, in this triumphal entry, laid all His cards on the table and declared beyond a shadow of a doubt that He, the royal Messiah, had come to claim His throne at last.

In the same breath, however, Jesus declared that His kingship would look entirely different than the one of their expectations. Yes, Jesus would bring deliverance, liberation, and salvation, but not from physical oppression…not political liberation…not salvation from Rome. No. The salvation He came to offer was spiritual in nature—it conquered sin, not just kingdoms. 

Here, Jesus does indeed establish His Messianic kingdom, but He does so on His terms. And the controlling ethic of His kingdom is paradoxical by nature. It’s one where God rides in on a donkey—where a king only accepts a crown if it is made of thorns and where a ruler lays down His life for His constituents. It’s one where a Roman torture device transforms into the most glorious throne the world has ever known, and where the Jewish wrath against their own Messiah becomes the very means of humanity’s salvation.

If Jesus only came to meet our expectations, we’d have no song of salvation to sing, but praise be to God that He didn’t come to be the God we wanted. He came to be the God we needed, and so we sing on this Palm Sunday the song of the first: “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

For some of us, it is unsettling to see our Shepherd become so angry. We might even question it! Does it not say in James, “the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:20)?” How is it that the Perfecter of our Faith could become so angry that He might flip tables, raise his voice, and even fashion a weapon (Matthew 21:12, John 2:15–16). Furthermore, why would Mark not leave this unpleasant scene out of his account? It is preserved that we might see Christ’s zeal for true and unhindered worship. 

The temple in those days was the cultural epicenter—a school, meeting place, church, community center all in one. But, most profoundly, it was the place of worship. This temple, being located in Jerusalem, meant it was a place travelers would come from days away to worship and, most importantly, sacrifice. The custom was to leave your livestock at home, find a sacrifice upon arrival, and take it into the temple for the atoning of sins.

The “Den of Robbers” knew this was many peoples’ only option, and they sought to profit off the faithful worship of others. These solicitors would stand outside the temple courts and sell diseased or tainted animals at an outrageously high rate because they were certain their customers were desperate enough to pay any price. An important note is Jesus had made this trip to Jerusalem before and had certainly witnessed this scene many times—this is where we see that He is slow to anger. This is not an outburst void of self-control. This is not because He was lacking judgment; Jesus knew this would likely set His murder into motion! Christ, in His perfect judgment and timing, stood to protect meek. This is a moment where we see the justice of God setting things right and the mercy of God making a way for those who wish to worship in Spirit and in Truth—this is a dress rehearsal for Calvary.

Christ’s anger burned because He longs to forgive us our sins; He will not let anything stifle our salvation. Jesus is where debts are paid, not made. He turns the tables from a store register to a feast where His favor is free. Praise God for His zeal that will let nothing stand between us and His love, not even ourselves.

-Tim Sanderlin

Many of us are calculated people. If you are like me, you pour over every word of an email to make sure you get your point across perfectly. You know where every dollar fits into your budget. You worry about how others might perceive even small actions. If it can be calculated, I will make sure to do so!

Like us, the Pharisees, chief priests, and scribes are calculated people. They want to arrest and ultimately kill Jesus, but they fear how it will impact their public image. They need to do so “by stealth” and the feast becomes a hinderance to this plan. For a group of religious leaders called to serve their people, the people have become a group to be manipulated and controlled rather than nourished and served.

The very next interaction found in Mark 14 stands in stark contrast to the first two verses. As Jesus reclines at the table with Simon the leper, Mary comes with a “very costly” alabaster flask and breaks it above Jesus’ head, anointing Him. The disciples respond to this scene as many of us would—why waste such a costly gift? Surely there is a better use for the flask that cost nearly a year’s wages! The disciples scold Mary. It does not add up.

I imagine that the mood in the room shifted at this point—the people likely looked to Jesus as a judge. When the cost of the oil and flask is calculated, can it be justified? Who is in the right here—Mary or the disciples? Jesus endorses Mary’s actions, “she has done a beautiful thing for me” before telling the room that Mary, perhaps even unknowingly, has anointed Jesus for His burial.

Living in a calculated manner is not inherently wrong, but at times, it blinds us to the good news of the Gospel. In the next two verses, Judas seems to be unable to understand the interaction he has just witnessed and chooses to betray Jesus.

Songwriter Jess Ray sings of the Gospel, “It may be too good to be understood/But it’s not too good to be true!” Mary understood this in a unique way; her expensive sacrifice prepares Jesus for a sacrifice that is incalculable in value! This Holy Week, Jesus Christ offers us the opportunity to worship Him in a costly way for an even more costly sacrifice. We can offer ourselves not because we made a calculated decision, but because the good news of the Gospel is true!

– Kyle Schumpert

We’ve probably all heard the familiar saying, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s comin!’”

Hallelujah! Resurrection Sunday is the Father’s, “Amen” to the Son’s, “It is finished.”

But today is Friday. It’s Good Friday. Let’s not rush through it. As we have been doing on these Sundays leading up to Easter, let’s draw near the cross. Let’s sit at the foot of the cross. In the shadow of the cross we gain much needed perspective.

In the shadow of the cross we see:

• who we are and who Jesus is. Or, in the words of John Newton as he neared the end of his life, “I remember two things. I am a great sinner and Jesus is a great Savior.”
• that what we desperately need, God graciously offers.
• that what we could never do, Jesus has done.

John 13:1 tells us that when Jesus knew the time had come for Him to “depart this world,” He “loved them (His followers) to the end.” We could also say He loved them to the cross. And, we can make it even more personal by saying, He loved us to the cross.

We must not approach this day casually, but carefully consider what it meant for Jesus to be the sin bearer. Gazing at the cross, it is not a pleasant picture. But, we mustn’t turn away. Look! See Jesus in extreme agony. The horrors of crucifixion are beyond anything we have witnessed or imagined – excruciating pain, bitter humiliation, unspeakable shame. 

Yet, it is then and there that we see the greatest display of selflessness and sacrifice. If we draw near and listen closely we hear Jesus speak these words, “Father forgive them.”

Charles Spurgeon says this, “I love this prayer because of the indistinctness of it. It is “Father, forgive them… Now into that pronoun “them”
I feel that I can crawl. Can you get in there? Oh, by a humble faith, appropriate the cross of Christ by trusting in it; and get into that big little word “them.”

Yes, you and I are complicit. We weep over our sin while we rejoice in our salvation. We sing, “It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished…but this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom.”

Jesus had to die for His prayer to be answered. There were those on that Friday who called upon Jesus to save Himself. Had He saved Himself that day none of us would be saved today.

All praise to our Savior who did not save Himself but gave Himself for us.

Hallelujah what a Savior!

-Tim Kallam

“Only Eat One Pringle.” It may sound odd, but have you ever had one Pringle and then walked away? Solely, just one, salty chip? If so, I commend you. If not, I get you. In elementary school, an old dance teacher of mine started class by giving each of us one Pringle and telling us to take in all the senses. Smell, texture, and then (what felt like forever), taste. After her long speech, she concluded with “only eat one Pringle.” Then I had to dance the next several hours dreaming of another salty Pringle chip.

In the depths of longing, waiting can be utterly ruthless. We find an illustration of this truth in Mark 15:42-47, where the anticipation of God’s people for a triumphant, conquering king to liberate them from the grip of the Roman Empire turned out to be the sight of the crucified Christ, laying there lifeless, shattering their expectations. In the silence of Saturday, our hearts are revealed. Like the disciples wept over the death of Jesus, we too mourn unmet expectations in our life today. Whether the expectations are spoken, unspoken, unrealistic, hidden, or even unknown, our hearts desire to be protected, delivered, understood, and loved.

Holy Saturday reminds us that Jesus did not come down from heaven to meet our expectations, He came down to meet our deepest needs. Without the cross, there is no life found in our loss. No joy found from darkness. And no hope found in our sin. We sit today in between the devastation of the slaughtered lamb and the coming sabbath celebration of the resurrection. In the crushing and waiting is where Jesus turns our heart of stone to a heart of flesh.

To this day, I’m not entirely sure how a Pringle exercise ties back to the art of ballet. But, I do know this…in the midst of our waiting, utter darkness, and loss of expectations…Sunday comes. Jesus, the roaring lion, rose and conquered death. He is our only hope who quenches our thirst, not of worldly desires and expectations, but with our true need of a risen Savior who reigns forever. We too like Joseph of Arimathea can look to the kingdom of God with great expectation and courage for what tomorrow brings!

“For even in your suffering
You saw to the other side
Knowing this was our salvation
Jesus for our sake you died”

-Lauren Caldwell

“In a man’s path of happiness lies a huge rock, which completely blocks the road. Who among the mighty shall remove the barrier?” –Charles Spurgeon

As the conclusion of the Sabbath dawns, three women faithfully seek to fulfill what to them was a significant task in the care taking of the Lord Jesus’ body. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went and bought spices to anoint Jesus’ body.

These faithful women had proven through their constant presence to be extremely loyal to Jesus. But it was during the events of the previous week that their faithfulness was most obvious. Through torture, death, and burial the women continued in steadfast obedience to stand with their savior. And now on this first Easter morning they would be the first to seek out Jesus’s broken and tortured body to allow him to be buried with the dignity he deserved.

On the way to Jesus’ tomb, the question arose among them, “Who will roll away the stone?” According to some, this question was asked over and over again. The reality of the stone was daunting, in that there was no way physically for these women to move the stone themselves. But they carried on in spite of the massive obstacle that awaited them. You see, it was their strong faith and relationship to their savior that moved them with each step closer to the place where Jesus’ body laid.

Upon arrival at the tomb, to their great surprise, they found the stone had been rolled away! Inside, the Lord’s messenger was waiting for them. It seems God knew all along the strength of their faith would move them to carry out their responsibilities to care for Jesus’ body. What they heard as they entered the tomb was the message that fulfilled all of Jesus’ teaching! Jesus of Nazareth was not there–death could not hold him for he had risen just as He promised. In that moment, the truth of the Gospel took center stage.

Despite massive obstacles, these women responded in faith. They didn’t turn back from their mission even as they faced the uncertainty of what awaited them at the tomb. 

Each year we return to this empty tomb with full knowledge that Jesus’ promises are true—the stone has been rolled away—but it’s in the journey that we struggle with the stone. May the hope of the resurrection give us renewed courage to live out the Gospel in the struggles of our day to day!

FOR HE HAS RISEN,
HE HAS RISEN INDEED!

-Kevin DeLaney