The journey to the cross

1 April 2022

Reflections on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus

Words Amanda Hart

In this first of a two-part Easter series, Salvos officer (pastor) Amanda Hart shares her thoughts on the events in the week leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus (often known as Holy Week). Amanda begins her reflections just after Palm Sunday – when Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey and is met by worshipping crowds. 

JESUS NOTICES

Once the buzz of Palm Sunday was over, Jesus’ week seemed typical. He spent a lot of time hanging out and teaching at the temple. A lot. He knew what was coming, so Iassume he was trying to impart every last piece of wisdom he could in the time he had left.

He also had dealings with the religious leaders of the day, who were trying to test him and catch him out so they could have him arrested, but he handled that with his usual flare. A fairly standard week really.

But, in the middle of all of this, Jesus took some time to partake in one of my favourite activities – people watching. He observed the wealthy making a big song and dance about their finan-cial offerings – giving amounts that probably wouldn’t even make a dent in their pockets.

In the middle of this spectacle, he noticed a sweet little lady who, in my mind anyway, sneaked through the crowd to make her sacrificial offering unnoticed. Jesus noticed her and praised her. It didn’t matter how heavy this week was for Jesus. He never stopped noticing those who were otherwise forgotten.

And he never stops noticing you either. How often do we take time to notice the forgotten? Luke chapter 2, verses 1-4.

DOWNTIME

Have you ever considered that Jesus went off by himself for some alone time? To me, the verse from Mark chapter 11, verse 11, suggests that he was once again looking for some downtime at the beginning of this week.

Jerusalem would’ve been packed with people who had come from all over to celebrate the Passover festival. It doesn’t take much for my introverted mind to think that Jesus heading off to the nearby town of Bethany with his 12 disciples (followers) was intentional. Bethany was where his close friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived – approximately 2.5km from Jerusalem. Far enough to spend some quality, uninterrupted time with his dearest friends, close enough to get back to Jerusalem when he needed to 

I have a feeling Jesus knew it was exactly what he needed to face the week ahead. Mark chapter 11, verse 11. 

REST AND BETRAYAL 

It seems that Wednesday may have been a rest day for Jesus – a day for him to be cared for by others instead of the other way around for once. 

But while this was happening, Judas, one of his disciples, was hard at work betraying Jesus to those who wanted him silenced – the religious leaders of the day. 

Even though Judas went to the chief priests, it seems to me that he was trying to avoid any responsibility for his actions by putting the ball in their court. He asked them, “How much are you willing to pay me?” He didn’t want to be responsible for the life and death decision, he wanted someone else to decide for him. 

Once the deal was made, Judas looked for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them. Now, the responsibility lay in the circumstances where this was possible. Judas couldn’t even take the responsibility to create the opportunity himself. Surely, if he didn’t actually make the decision and create the opportunity, he couldn’t be held responsible for what happened, right? 

But, as Jesus and the disciples were gathered for the Passover meal, Jesus called Judas out. He pushed him to take responsibility for his own words and actions. 

Like Judas, how often do we try to avoid taking responsibility for our actions? What is it that Jesus is calling you to own up to today? Matthew chapter 26, verses 14-16. 

To be continued in the next edition of Salvos Magazine (9 April). 

Captain Amanda Hart is a Salvation Army officer (pastor) in Victoria