Holy Week: With friends like these.....

It's Holy Week, and as I stated last Friday, my posts this week will be about the Passion of Jesus through the eyes of the witnesses.

Let's make the journey together. Along the way, I hope we are asking ourselves some tough questions. Who are you in the Passion of the Christ?

Passover

It's Passover. You've shared in this meal as long as you can remember, and you know well the text of the Haggadah.

Tonight is different though. There are so many things going through your head during the recital of the kiddush;

"And on the seventh day God completed the labor He had performed, and He refrained on the seventh day from all the labor......" (from the kiddush)

Being with Jesus these past several years has been a special, yet turbulent time for you. There have been so many people that have wanted to be close to Him as you have been; to hear the things that He has told you in private, along with the other eleven. And you've witnessed so many miracles, things which just cannot be explained.

"Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments, and....." (from the kiddush)

How convinced you have been that Jesus is the Messiah! How excited you have been that your people would soon be freed from their captors, prisoners no longer!

But when!? This message of love and forgiveness, what does it all mean in the Messianic Kingdom? How does it fit in? If only He would stand up and lead us in the fight......

Ah, we've reached the Karpas, the dipping of the Karpas in saltwater.

Jesus is saying something as you think back to your childhood.

You remember as a child how this strange act made you wonder, caused you to ask what this was about.

Jesus hands the Karpas to you.

Why are they looking at you? What is this silence?

Until Jesus speakes to you;

“What you are going to do, do quickly.” - John 13; 27

...Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” So he dipped the morsel and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. - John 13; 21-26

A Trial....at Night?

What is this about!? Things are happening quickly. Jesus has been taken to the high priest?

You make your way along with a friend, past the gate, and find a seat. Why did the temple guard strike Jesus?

You have to get closer to hear what's going on, but a woman is bothering you. She just needs to go away!

Finally, you reach a position to hear. There is testimony being given to the Sanhedrin? No, they are not even supposed to gather at night!

You can't believe the things they are saying about Jesus. Now this girl is bugging you.

You watch, terrified, as the high priest tears his robes, and your friend Jesus is beaten, spat upon, ridiculed, and mocked.

Why do these other people keep harassing you? "No!!!! Go away!!!!"

A cock crows.........

Jesus said to him, “Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.” - Matthew 26: 34, 35