I've celebrated Holy Week a number of times- and for years before that, I didn't know what it was. Even knowing what Holy Week is now, I hadn't taken the time to put the events of Jesus' life into the context of the final week which we now call "Holy Week." Christians around the world are celebrating Good Friday today, and if you're unfamiliar with the traditions, or have resisted their celebration because of their origins, take a moment to read my condensed version of Holy Week. This interpretation is deeply meaningful to me, and provides a framework from which I can wrestle with my own suffering, and engage more personally with Jesus.
Sunday- Palm Sunday; Jesus humbly enters Jerusalem on a donkey. Just prior to his entry, he offers a prayer of Lament over what Jerusalem was meant to be, and what it has become. At the end of the ride through town- where he is greeted like a king, he enters the temple, and dismantles a system of religious oppression (somewhat violently). Saying “My house is a house of prayer for all nations- you’ve allowed it to become a place of robbery and dishonesty.” His action of healing the physical space was followed by actions of physically healing the people.
Monday- Holy Monday; Jesus curses the fig tree for not bearing fruit on his way into the temple. The religious leaders immediately attempt to trap Jesus into meaningless arguments. Jesus asks them a question and instead of answering honestly, they feign ignorance to avoid “looking bad”- they value appearances over truth, they care more for the show than for the fruit. If the religious leaders were to answer Jesus' question honestly, their grip on cultural and political power would be loosened. Jesus continues to teach, and answer questions (Most of which were asked out of hearts seeking to appear wise, or clever, pious or righteous) In between questions he offers a few parables and final teachings, which he'll continue tomorrow.
Tuesday- Holy Tuesday; Jesus teaches in the temple courts, the religious leaders only grow more indignant with him; crowds of people are listening and amazed. His teachings continue to uplift the oppressed, and call out the oppressors. He glorifies the poor, the weak, the shamed, he shames the strong, the rich, and the influential. He threatens the systems of power that keep the religious elite comfortable.
Wednesday- Spy Wednesday; Judas- either fueled by greed, or because he’s had enough of Jesus’ upside down way of life seeks out the Chief priests and asks what they will give him in return for his handing over of Jesus. They offer a small amount of silver. From this point on his heart was not open to what Jesus said or did, but was focused on how to accomplish his task in order to earn his money.
Thursday- Maundy Thursday; Jesus serves his followers- washing their feet before the meal. He washes the feet of all- including the greed and power driven disciple who would later sell Jesus out for a (relatively small) sum of money. Jesus gives his final instructions- really a reminder of their entire ministry. He offers a simple command- one which he previously had taught as the fulfillment of the law and the prophets; Love. One. Another. (Fellow believers, your neighbor, your enemy- everyone fits within the “One another” category). By this command, he says all people will know that his followers belong to him; conversely, anyone who does not love has no part in him- those who disguise spiritual abuse as love do not belong to Jesus. This is the command on which he has established everything. He asks that his followers remember him (and his commands) by taking bread and wine to symbolize his body which he gives up willingly for them- he asks them to do this whenever they are together. They continue on in anguish to a garden where they’ve prayed and rested before.
Jesus is overwhelmed by the weight, his sorrow visible in the sweat that drips from his brow. Jesus is in deep mourning, Jesus is in pain. His disciples, like so many other people before and after, do not have the words to comfort their friend in a moment of pain- is this because they are simple minded fools? Or is this the human response to deep suffering by someone you love deeply? Judas leads a group of religious soldiers (Those tasked with protecting the temple and its traditions and sacraments) to Jesus and despite his display of affection, has a heart that only desires money and power, not relationship with Jesus. Peter pulls out a sword and maims one of the high priest’s servants. Jesus rebukes the violence- and heals the man’s ear making it clear that even in moments of desperation, and self preservation, physical harm and violence is not the way of the Kingdom. In the garden, amidst the anguish and tears of Jesus, darkness has its hour. From this point, every one of Jesus’ close friends left him to suffer his fate. At some point either later tonight, or early the next morning Judas hangs himself- an event which would almost certainly have brought great sorrow to Jesus as well. His friend had lost himself, and then become overcome with guilt and taken his own life. The religious leaders do not grieve the death of Judas- he was just a means to an end.
Friday- Good Friday; At dawn, the religious leaders hold a meeting to berate and falsely accuse Jesus. Their purpose was not justice, or unity, or healing, their purpose was to mock, and accuse. The religious leaders embody Satan in this moment; and Jesus responds the same way he did upon encountering Satan in the wilderness years earlier. This sham of a trial continues- none in power looking for justice; all simply reaching for a way to stay in power. The religious leaders intentionally lie to others about Jesus, and the things he has said. They fabricate half-truths that paint Jesus as a divisive criminal, bent on destroying anyone and everyone in his path- in doing so, however, they betray their own hearts. The religious leaders saw an obstacle to their continued “peace” in an occupied nation, and a threat to their authority- they broke the commands they so strictly held others to in order to remove the threat. These religious leaders ran to the mistress of empire though the kingdom was in their midst. The same crowds who listened in awe to his teachings on Tuesday demand his death on Friday. As he is led away it is the women of Jerusalem who weep for what is happening, the men are blinded.
Jesus suffers and dies on the cross at the hands of religious elite and empire. A sobering reminder that it was the confluence of religion and empire that crucified Jesus It was religious people afraid of losing influence and power who colluded with an oppressive empire in order to murder the Messiah. The religious leaders pledged their allegiance to caesar so they could crucify their own king and God. Despite a large amount of evidence that the religious leadership probably *DID* know what they were doing, Jesus still prays “Father forgive them- they do not know what they are doing” as nails rip at his flesh, and blood flows from fresh open wounds on his back and head. Jesus reveals what he feels in the depth of his being- loneliness. All of the people he has loved, and served, cared for, and led throughout his life have deserted him. With his breath growing more and more labored, he feels that God himself has deserted him as well- he cries out and there is no answer. Jesus dies, naked, bloody, alone, human. Some of his followers take down his body- surely to keep him from further shame, and from being eaten by birds and vermin. They place him in a cave, and plan to return with spices and perfumes after the sabbath.
Saturday- Holy Saturday; Rest. Some accounts have the women who were part of Jesus’ close circle coming to the tomb as soon as the sabbath is over, others have the priests asking pilate to post Roman guards at the tomb. All of them have Jesus body lying in the tomb, dead from crucifixion and a spear through the heart.
///Just as a side note- in those days, a day began on the previous day’s sun-down. Sun-down on the sabbath is the beginning of what we call Sunday. An additional note that I found beautiful- in many traditions, the service held after sun-down on Holy Saturday is a time for baptism as well as renewal of baptismal vows- a practice I’ve never experienced, but find meaningful.///
Sunday- Easter Sunday; Jesus’ disciples (the women) go to serve him a the tomb by embalming his body. (Note that his male followers whose feet he had washed had still not understood the humility to which Jesus called them- they didn’t participate in the act of love the women intended to carry out). The women find an empty tomb- they fear the body has been taken away; there is anguish- no doubt associated with loss and grief, but also maybe associated with the fear of what the Romans and the religious leaders might do to the body of this beloved friend and teacher. In some accounts Jesus encounters and comforts the women in the Garden. By some accounts there are angels. By all accounts, this moment was transformative for those who followed and knew Jesus. Jesus experienced death in all of its power, he rested in death, and he awoke again as a victor over death. His resurrection is a promise to us- death has been defeated; even though we may still experience it’s sting in the form of loss, and in the form of our own deaths; in the form of oppression, and in the form of brokenness and corruption ruling, and “winning” day after day. Even while religious leaders seek their own glory and power and empire seduces them to reject the beauty of the kingdom, Jesus is victorious- not partially, but fully. Surely even Judas can’t escape the redeeming love of Jesus. Surely those who claim Jesus, yet deny him with their grasps for cultural and political power and with manipulation, deceit and spiritual abuse can't either.
