Reflections on Holy Week: The Path to the Cross Begins - Part One

by Jessica Jones

As we embark on a reflective journey through Holy Week, our exploration delves into the profound events and teachings that mark the final days of Jesus's earthly ministry. This series is divided into three parts, each offering a deep dive into the pivotal moments that define the cornerstone of Christian faith. Today, we begin with Part One, focusing on Matthew chapters 21 through 25, where we witness Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, His poignant teachings, and His challenging of the religious status quo. Join me as we uncover the layers of prophecy, sacrifice, and ultimate love woven through these sacred narratives.

Reflective Look Back at Palm Sunday

Last week, we commemorated Palm Sunday, marking Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem. This event, described in Matthew 21:1-11, fulfills the prophecy from Zechariah 9:9, showcasing Jesus as a king who comes in humility, riding on a donkey:

"Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’"

(Matthew 21:5 NKJV)

This moment sets the stage for the final week of Jesus's earthly ministry, emphasizing the nature of His kingship and the beginning of a journey that would change the world. Jesus’ humble entry on a donkey symbolizes not only His approach to kingship but also prefigures His forthcoming sacrifice on the cross. This act of humility and peace starkly contrasts the might and power typically associated with kingship.

Cleansing The Temple (Matthew 21:12-13)

The Cleansing of the Temple, as recounted in Matthew 21:12-13, is one of the most dramatic and significant actions of Jesus during His earthly ministry. It wasn’t merely a moment of physical clearing of space but a profound teaching moment about the nature of true worship, the misuse of religious practice, and the reclamation of sacred space for its intended purpose. To grasp the depth of this event, we need to explore its historical, cultural, and spiritual dimensions.

Historical and Cultural Context

The temple in Jerusalem was the center of Jewish religious life, a place where people came to worship, offer sacrifices, and celebrate festivals. By the time of Jesus, the temple area included the Court of the Gentiles, which was the only part of the temple where non-Jews could come to pray and seek God. However, this area had become crowded with merchants and money changers. These individuals provided necessary services, such as exchanging foreign currency for the currency accepted for temple offerings and selling animals for sacrifices. Yet, their presence in the Court of the Gentiles and the manner in which they conducted their business—often at exorbitant rates—corrupted the sacredness of the space and hindered the true purpose of the temple as a house of prayer for all nations.

Spiritual Significance

When Jesus enters this scene, His actions and words are charged with deep spiritual significance. By driving out those who were buying and selling, He was doing more than correcting a practice; He was making a statement about the purity of worship and the accessibility of God's presence to all people, not just the Jews. The phrase “den of thieves” implies not only commercial exploitation but also a betrayal of trust and desecration of the sacred. Thieves hide in dens, and by calling the temple a "den of thieves," Jesus was condemning the religious leaders and merchants for making the temple a place of spiritual concealment and deceit, rather than a place of openness and honesty before God.

Rejection of Superficial Religiosity

Jesus's actions were a direct challenge to the superficial religiosity that had taken hold in the practices surrounding the temple worship. The temple had become a place where outward acts of piety—sacrifices and offerings—had taken precedence over the inward devotion and moral integrity that God desired. This moment was a call back to the heart of worship, emphasizing that true worship cannot coexist with exploitation and injustice. It was a dramatic demonstration of God’s disdain for religious practices that outwardly appear righteous but are inwardly corrupt.

Call for Genuine Relationship with God

At the core of this event is Jesus’s call for a genuine relationship with God, characterized by prayer and devotion. By quoting Isaiah 56:7, “My house shall be called a house of prayer,” Jesus underscores the universal scope of God’s salvation and the inclusive nature of true worship. It is a reminder that the essence of worship is not found in ritualistic observances but in a heart genuinely seeking after God.

The Cursing of the Fig Tree (Matthew 21:18-22)

On their return to Jerusalem, Jesus and His disciples come across a fig tree. Despite its lush foliage, it bears no fruit. Jesus's response is immediate and startling:

"Let no fruit grow on you ever again." Immediately, the fig tree withers. (Matthew 21:19 NKJV)

This act goes beyond a mere demonstration of divine power. It serves as a vivid parable in action, a symbolic indictment of spiritual barrenness and a call to genuine faithfulness.

Understanding Fig Trees: Growth Patterns and Spiritual Lessons

Fig trees in the Middle East are known for their long fruit-bearing season. Interestingly, the fruit of many fig varieties appears before the leaves, and often, a tree will have leaves only if it has produced fruit earlier in the season. Thus, a fig tree with leaves but no fruit, especially out of season, symbolizes a promise unfulfilled, an appearance of health and vitality that is superficial and deceiving.

This natural characteristic of fig trees enhances the symbolic weight of Jesus’s curse on the barren fig tree. It represents not just the judgment on the visible lack of fruit but also a deeper critique of spiritual hypocrisy – an outward show of religiosity without the inner substance of faith and obedience to God.

Linking to Jesus's Teachings on Spiritual Fruitfulness

Jesus’s action with the fig tree is a powerful illustration of His teaching in Matthew 7:16-20, where He says:

"You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them."

(Matthew 7:16-20 NKJV)

In this context, the fig tree's barrenness becomes a metaphor for the spiritual condition of those who have the outward appearance of righteousness but lack true faithfulness and obedience to God's commandments. The presence of leaves without fruit—signaling a failure to fulfill one's created purpose—serves as a caution against such superficiality in our spiritual lives.

Additional Overview of Matthew 21-25:

Authority Challenged (21:23-27)

When questioned by the chief priests and elders, Jesus demonstrates His authority by challenging their own understanding and acceptance of John the Baptist's ministry, highlighting their inability to recognize divine authority.

Parables of Judgment (21:28-46)

The parables in this section, including the Two Sons, the Wicked Tenants, and the Wedding Banquet, illustrate the rejection of Jesus by the religious leaders and the openness of God's kingdom to those who show true repentance and faith.

Chapter 22: Confrontations and Teachings

Parable of the Wedding Feast (22:1-14)

This parable emphasizes the inclusivity of the kingdom of heaven and the serious consequences of rejecting God's invitation. It underscores God's grace and the requirement for righteousness.

Paying Taxes to Caesar (22:15-22)

Jesus navigates the trap set by the Pharisees regarding paying taxes to Caesar. His response, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's," highlights the distinction between earthly and divine obligations.

Sadducees and the Resurrection (22:23-33)

Jesus counters the Sadducees' denial of the resurrection by affirming the living nature of God and the reality of life after death.

The Greatest Commandment (22:34-40)

In response to a lawyer's question, Jesus summarizes the Law and the Prophets with the command to love God wholly and to love one's neighbor as oneself, encapsulating the essence of God's requirements for humanity.

Whose Son Is the Christ? (22:41-46)

Jesus confounds the Pharisees by asking about the Messiah's lineage, pointing to the complexity of His identity as both David's son and Lord, highlighting the divine nature of the Messiah.

Chapter 23: Denunciation of the Pharisees

Jesus openly criticizes the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy, legalism, and obstruction of the way to God. The seven woes He pronounces serve as a dire warning against superficial religiosity and a call to authentic faith and practice.

Chapters 24-25: Eschatological Discourses

These chapters contain Jesus's teachings on the end times, including signs of the end, the importance of being prepared, and the criteria for judgment. Parables like the Ten Virgins and the Talents emphasize vigilance, faithfulness, and the judicious use of gifts and opportunities in anticipation of the kingdom of God.

Conclusion

As we close this reflection on the initial chapters of Holy Week, we are reminded of the depth of Jesus’s teachings, the significance of His actions, and the profound love He demonstrated towards humanity. From His humble entry into Jerusalem to His cleansing of the Temple and the symbolic cursing of the fig tree, Jesus challenges us to examine our faith, to embrace genuine worship, and to bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

This journey through Holy Week does not end here. On Friday, we will continue with Part Two, focusing on the heart-wrenching chapters of Matthew 26 and 27, where we encounter the Last Supper, Jesus's agonizing prayer in Gethsemane, His betrayal, trial, and the ultimate sacrifice on the cross. These chapters are crucial for understanding the depth of Jesus’s love and the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan for humanity.

Then, on Sunday, we will celebrate the victory of life over death in Part Three, exploring the glorious resurrection of Jesus as described in Matthew 28 and Luke 24, and reflecting on the hope it brings to all believers. We will also delve into the fulfillment of prophecy and the profound implications of these events for our lives today.

Join me as we continue to walk this path of reflection, learning, and transformation. May our hearts be open to the lessons of faith, sacrifice, and renewal that Holy Week offers.

Closing Prayer

Lord God Almighty, as we meditate on the events of Holy Week, we are humbled by the magnitude of Your love and the depth of Your sacrifice. Guide us through this journey of reflection, that we may gain a deeper understanding of Your grace and Your call upon our lives. Prepare our hearts for the parts of the story that are still to unfold, that we may fully grasp the significance of Your sacrifice and the glory of Your resurrection. Help us to live in the light of Your love, bearing fruit that honors You in all we do. In Jesus’s name, we pray, Amen.

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