When Jesus came
close to the village of Bethany at the mount of Olives, He sent two of His
disciples saying, Go into the village and as you enter it you will find a colt
tied up that nobody has sat ever ridden. Untie him and bring him here. And if
anybody will ask you, What are you doing with that colt, answer, The Lord has
need of him.
Jesus entered
Jerusalem, lots and lots of people began to rejoice and praise God with a loud
voice for all the mighty works they had seen Saying, Blessed be the King that
comes in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in highest.
Jesus then went
into the temple, which was supposed to be a special place for prayer and worship
to God, but Jesus found, that people were selling their goods and making money
in the temple. It was the worship of money, and not of God! So Jesus turned over
all the tables and threw out all the people who were selling things. Jesus said,
and It's written, and My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it the
den of thieves. And in the daytime he was teaching and healing in the temple;
and at night he went out to the mount of Olives.
The day of
Passover was getting closer, but they didn't know where it could possibly be
prepared. It was very unsafe for Jesus to be around, But Jesus was calm and
peaceful. He said, When you enter the city, you will meet a man with a pitcher
of water; follow him. Tell the good man of the house, and where is the guest
chamber, where the Master shall eat the Passover with His disciples? He will
show you the large upper room furnished: there make ready. Once everything was
prepared Jesus sat down and His twelve disciples sat with Him. He said, have
desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. Then He took the cup and
gave thanks, Take this and divide it among yourselves: This cup is the new
testament in my blood, which is shed for you. So He took bread, and gave thanks
broke it, and gave bread them saying, This is my body which is given for you;
this do in remembrance of me. But, behold, He who will betray me is sitting here
at this table. Disciples began to ask among themselves, which of them it was
that would do such a thing. But Jesus and Judas knew who was the betrayer.
The feast of
Passover was getting closer. and chief priests and scribes were looking for ways
to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of people, because most of the people loved
Jesus and his teachings. Then entered Satan into Judas and he went to see the
high priest. They made a plan for Judas to betray Jesus. The high priests were
so glad and they gave Judas money. After supper Jesus went to a place
called Gethsemane and His disciples followed Him. Jesus asked disciples, Wait
for me while I pray. So Jesus went a little farther. He fell on His knees, and
prayed saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: but
not my will, but Yours, be done. Then there appeared an Angel strengthening Him.
So being in pain he prayed even more seriously: and His sweat was as great drops
of blood falling down to the ground. When He got up from prayer, he came to His
disciples who were sleeping. and He said, Why are you sleeping? Raise and pray,
so you will not be tempted.
And while He was
speaking, Judas one of the twelve came; with him lots and lots of people
carrying swords and staffs sent by the high priests and the elders of the
people. Jesus said, Judas are you betraying me with a kiss? Then Jesus said to
the chief priests, You came with the swords and staffs as if I was a thief. I
was with you daily in the temple; you could not touch me.. But now this is your
hour and the power of darkness.Then all disciples left Him and fled. The chief
priests, elders, & scribes questioned Jesus, if He was the Son of God. Jesus
said to them, You will see Me sitting on the right hand of the power of God, and
coming in the clouds of heaven. The decision of this counsel was death for
Jesus. They bound Jesus & delivered Him to Pontius Pilate, the governor. The
governor did not want to kill Jesus, so he looked for a chance to free Him. He
gave people a choice to free one of the prisoners. Whom will you release
Barabbas or Jesus he asked. Barabbas was a bad man, but the high priest
convinced the people to crucify Jesus, and let Barabbas go free. The governor
answered, I am innocent of the blood of this good person.
And when they had
crucified Jesus, they took His clothes and his belongings, and cast lots for who
could own them. It was 3.00 pm. They put a sign THE KING OF THE JEWS;.
There were two thieves crucified with Jesus one on the right side and one on the
left. One of thieves said to Jesus, If you are Christ, then save yourself; and
us. But another had asked, Lord remember me when you come in Your Kingdom. Jesus
said to this man, To day you will be with me in paradise. So the scripture had
been fulfilled, which says, that He was numbered with transgressors. Which means
he died with thieves.
It was about the
sixth hour, and there was the darkness over all the earth till the ninth hour.
Then when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, Father, into thy hands I commend my
spirit. All of a sudden the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was
broken in the middle from the top to the bottom, and there was an great
earthquake. When the soldier and the people that were with Him watching Jesus,
felt the earthquake, they were greatly afraid, saying, truly this was the
Son of God.
In the evening
Pilate had a visitor, Joseph from Arimathaea, he asked for the body of Jesus.
Joseph took Jesus body down from the cross and wrapped it in linen & laid it
in his own new tomb, which he had hidden in a rock; and he had rolled a great
stone in place for the door. After Joseph visited Pilate the chief priest came
and he asked to put guards at the tomb. On the Monday morning, three days after
Jesus died, Mary Magdalene,and another Mary his mother, came to the tomb.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord came from heaven, and rolled back the stone
from the door and sat on it, and he said to the women, I know that you are
looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here. He has risen. Go quickly
and tell his disciples, that he is risen from the dead. Soon after that Jesus
appeared to His disciples: Mary Magdalene, Peter, then almost all of them,
except Thomas. Because Thomas had gone on a trip, and when Thomas came back,
they told him about Jesus, but he didn't believe them. Suddenly Jesus came
again when the doors were shut. Jesus said, Peace be with you. Then he turned to
Thomas and said, Touch my hands and see. Be not faithless, but believing.
Thomas, because you have seen Me, you believe. Blessed are they who have
not seen Me and yet have believed.
After which He
led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
He said to His disciples, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to
every creature. So then after the Lord has blessed them, He was received up into
heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. They returned to Jerusalem with great
joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.
Amen.
