Seven Days is a first-person account by John the Disciple of the final seven days before Jesus’ resurrection. Part 1 can be found here.
After 40 Days…
Jesus is gone. It’s hard to believe, but it is true.
In the 40 days since his resurrection, Jesus continued to meet with us. Numerous times he appeared to us and other disciples to demonstrate that he has, truly, risen from the dead.
Since our time with him in the Galilee, we have returned to Judea, and are staying on the Mount of Olives.
At one point while we were eating here with him, he solemnly told us: “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Knowing that the time for his departure was close, we kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
From the beginning, we had thought that Jesus was bringing a political solution to our occupation by Rome. We all thought it would be best if the Romans were driven from our country and we had the freedom to govern ourselves once more. But now I see that Jesus had something far bigger in mind.
He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you—and you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
When he said that, I remember thinking, “So, we’re going beyond our borders—it’s not only our people anymore. Jesus has something bigger coming.”
After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud. We watched, craning our necks, until we could no longer see him.
As we strained to see any further sight of him, two white-robed men startled us, by suddenly appearing among us—the same way Jesus would show up in these past 40 days. Out of nowhere he would appear! They said to us,
“Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
Yes, he is gone. But the angels told us what Jesus himself had already said—he is coming back.
And this, my dear friend, is important for you to know: what I am writing to you here is true. I saw Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection with my own eyes. I spoke to him and heard him with my own ears. I touched his resurrected body with my own hands. I can tell you with total confidence that what I’ve written is true.
But Jesus has done far more than what I’ve written. Jesus did many other miraculous things—so that if they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written!
But I have written these so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
So…now we await his return. He hasn’t told us when it would be—he only told us to be ready.
So also, dear reader, I tell you: Be ready!
So also, dear reader, I tell you: “Be ready! For you do not know when your master’s return will be.”
Maranatha: Come quickly Lord Jesus!
Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 5 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006.
Note: Seven Days is a first-person account told by John the disciple. It begins on the night we call “Good Friday”, only hours after John has witnessed the brutal execution of his friend and teacher. Grief-stricken and in shock, John now reflects on Jesus and the amazing events of the past week, sharing his grief.
In John’s mind, it’s over. Jesus is dead. He is gone.
Then John continues by telling us that Jesus has not only risen from the dead, but the numerous times and places Jesus meets with his disciples—even 500 of them at one time—to demonstrate that he has truly risen.
Now in this final post, we finish hearing John’s story as he watches Jesus’ ascent to heaven—along with their next steps in living out Jesus' mission for our world.
Seven Days is a first-person account by John the Disciple of the final seven days before Jesus’ resurrection. Part 1 can be found here.
Monday
The women were right—he is risen.
Yesterday morning Mary Magdalene and several others rushed to tell us that they had gone to the tomb early Sunday morning—and that angels told them that Jesus had risen from the grave.
Curious, we went to the tomb and sure enough his body was gone…but what was fascinating was that the linens that he was buried in had not been disturbed…they were all still in place, only the body was missing.
Then, last night—after dinner—Jesus appeared to us!
Allow me to explain: we met together in a safe place, for fear of the authorities, behind locked doors. All of us were there—except Thomas. We prayed and were eating a meal together when someone began pounding on the door. Someone motioned with their hand to be silent, while they answered the door.
When the door opened, two men rushed into the room, out of breath, talking at the same time. They said that Jesus had appeared to them about an hour ago. One of them, Cleopas, said that Jesus had walked with them and taught them while they were in the village of Emmaus.
We told them that others had seen angels today, and that Jesus had appeared to Peter as well! The two from Emmaus continued by saying that they did not know who he was at first, but when he broke the bread as they prepared to eat, they recognized him.
But as they recognized him, Jesus disappeared—before their very eyes.
At that moment, as the two were explaining, Jesus silently appeared in our room. The door was locked, so he hadn’t come through it…he merely appeared! In the darkness of the lamp-lit room, there were gasps and everyone leaned away in fear.
Jesus greeted us as he always did—simply saying “Shalom” (“be at peace”).
Still, we all thought that we were seeing a ghost, because people don’t just appear like that.
Jesus broke the silence and said, “Why are you frightened? Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” As he spoke, he showed us his hands and his feet.
We stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and amazement.
Then he asked us, “Do you have anything here to eat?”
We gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it as we watched.
Then he said, “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you—yes, you still have a mission. When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
Then he opened our minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’”
“You are witnesses of all these things,” he said.
Then he told us to stay in the city—that the Spirit of God has something big coming and He wants to empower us for His work.
We had never heard or seen such things. But we know it is true: He is alive. Jesus is risen from the dead. We truly are witnesses of this.
I only wish that Thomas had been here to see it as well.
Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006.
Early this morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene, with several other women, came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. They ran and found Simon Peter and me. In their excitement they told us they had seen angels, and they said “They have take the Lord’s body out of the tomb and we don’t know where they have put him!”
None of this made any sense to us, because when they arrived we had just woken from sleep. but we had to see what they were talking about. Fully awake, Peter and I got up, left the house and began running for the tomb.
I outran Peter and arrived at the tomb first. I stooped to look in and saw the linen wrappings, an empty shell, still lying where they had been placed when they put Jesus’ body in the tomb. I didn’t go in.
Peter then came up behind me and walked in. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, undisturbed—but his body was no longer in them. And the cloth they had used to cover Jesus’ head was folded up and laying separate from the other wrappings.
Then I also went in, and the the first thought that came to me was “How could this have happened?” Then it dawned on me, “He’s alive.” He said it would happen, but I hadn’t believed it. But now I have seen for myself. Jesus’ body hadn’t been stolen—Jesus has risen from the grave!
Overwhelmed with all this, we returned home. Still uncertain about what this all means, one thing is certain: if Jesus has risen from the dead, this is not the end. It is only the beginning.
Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006.
Seven Days is a first-person account by John the Disciple of the final seven days before Jesus’ resurrection. Part 1 can be found here.
Friday
[It is still Friday night, and you watch John stir the fire and peer into the flame as he continues telling what he’s seen and heard…]
“Very early this morning, Jesus was taken before Annas, the High priest. They held a mock court, beat him, then sent him off to Caiaphas, then off to Pontius Pilate for sentencing. They said that Jesus had committed blasphemy by claiming to be the Messiah: and for that, they said, He must die.
Pilate sends him to Herod; Herod sends him back to Pilate.
There were so many other details from today that they could fill a book. But in the end, an innocent man was sentenced to execution…”
[John’s voice breaks as he continues]
“He was whipped, mocked and beaten. When I saw him being led down the street to the place of crucifixion, I barely recognized him. He was covered with blood and ripped raw from the whipping.
He was nailed to a cross on the hill of Golgotha—what a name: Golgotha—it means “skull.” A place of death.
Crucifixion is nothing new for us in Jerusalem. Zealots, thieves, robbers, all kinds of criminals have been hung on these cursed crosses.
But when a man you have spent three years with—a man who has shown you and told you things that could only have come from God, is nailed to this, this machine of torture…”
[you see John shake his head] “…and any moment, I suspect they will come for me.”
[John now looks up at the night sky]
“Yet Jesus told us this would happen.
I heard His words, but for some reason pushed them to the back of my mind—maybe in hopes that it would never really happen.
Even in his agony, he asked God to forgive His torturers, because they didn’t understand what they were doing.
Some were crying, some were shocked at what was happening to our Master. But some wouldn’t let him die in peace.
They kept taunting him by repeating things he had said, but all twisted around, to show him how much they hated him.”
[Now John looks you in the eye]
“Does that seem like a strong word? Hate?! These people were possessed with such a hatred that I have never seen.
We Hebrews speak our minds. We do not mince words. I have had many debates, with friends and enemies.
But I have never witnessed such rage—such intense hatred as I have today. It was as if the very Evil One possessed these people. They didn’t just want him dead, they wanted him to suffer in agony as long and hard as possible, then die.”
[John looks back at the fire, shrugging his shoulders.]
“While he was on the cross, he told me to take care of His mother.
Mary was there. I know how I felt, powerless to help a dying friend—how did she feel? What was going through her mind? And how can I take care of her, when my own future is uncertain? The authorities want to put a stop to all of us who were his disciples.
Then he said the words I’ll never forget:
‘It is finished; Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.’
“It is finished; Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.”
Then he bowed His head and died.
Just like that.
Crucifixion is not a quick death. Often it takes days for victims to die. It was as if…he chose when to die.
At the moment that he died, the earth shuddered—rocks split. Tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life and they came out of their tombs.
When the Roman commander and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and said,
‘He really was the Son of God!’
Today was an amazing day.
But there is no question about it. He is dead.
Since tomorrow is a High Holy Sabbath, the bodies were required by our law to be removed from the cross by nightfall. So, a short time later, the soldiers were sent to hasten the death of those hanging on the crosses.
The soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves to speed their death. But when they came to Jesus, they found that he was already dead. To be sure, the soldier thrust his spear into Jesus’ side, and blood and water burst out of the wound. I saw this happen and I know its true. He is dead.
A man, Joseph, well-respected, and a secret follower of Jesus, asked to have His body so it might be buried properly. Joseph is a member of our ruling counsel and didn’t agree with the rest of them that Jesus should be crucified.
So, when he asked Pilate for the body, Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead. To be certain, he sent for the Centurion onsite to see if it was so. The Centurion reported that Jesus was dead, so they removed his body from the cross, wrapping it quickly in strips of linen, with some spices, and then placed it in Joseph’s tomb to await proper burial on the first day of the week.
To be sure that no one would tamper with the tomb, Roman guards have been assigned for the next three days, and the tomb itself has been sealed with the seal of Rome.
I don’t know what will become of us. The authorities want no more trouble from the followers of Jesus…and if they are willing to do this to our master, what will they do to us?
But today seemed familiar. Being born and raised as one of God’s chosen people, I know the Law. I know the writings of the Prophets. I know how God tested Abraham and asked him to sacrifice Isaac on the mountain. At the last minute, God provided a substitute for Isaac. Abraham’s faith was proved true, and Isaac was safe.
For some reason I thought the same thing would happen today. I watched from the crowd—waiting—hoping that at any moment God would step in. That God would stop this mockery of justice…this sham. But it never happened.
Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006.
tonight we gather in the city to celebrate Passover
Seven Days is a first-person account by John the Disciple of the final seven days before Jesus’ resurrection. Part 1 can be found here.
Thursday
The next day, Jesus sent us on an errand. Even now, it amazes me to think how he could know all that he knew—for example:
He sent James and me into Jerusalem to make the arrangements for Passover. Here were our instructions:
Jesus said, “As you are walking into the city, you will see a man coming toward you carrying a pot of water. Follow him. At the house he enters, tell the man in charge, ‘Our Teacher sent us to see the room you have made ready for us—where we’ll eat the Passover supper this evening.’
“He will take you upstairs to a large room that will be perfect for our needs. Prepare our Passover meal.”
You know, if Jesus had asked me to do this when I first started to follow him, I might have asked: “What if there is no man carrying water? And what if he doesn’t go into a house? And if he does go into a house, what if there is no upstairs?”
I’ve learned that it’s easier if I just do what he tells me to do.
So, we went into the city and found everything as Jesus had said, and prepared the Passover.
It was an amazing week.
That night we gathered together in that very room and took part in the feast of unleavened bread. During this part of Passover, the only bread to be eaten is unleavened. It is in remembrance of the unleavened Bread our ancestors ate as they hurried out of Egypt.
That evening, we were sitting at the table breaking and sharing the bread and remembering the powerful time of God’s deliverance of our forefathers from Egypt.
But when we prayed for the meal, it was different: Jesus told us that this bread was his body, which would be broken for us.
…I wasn’t sure what he meant then, but his body was broken today.
Then he poured the wine, and said that this wine was his blood—that it was the seal of the new covenant, which would be poured out for us.
And his blood was poured out today…
But what stunned all of us last night was when Jesus told us that one of us would betray him! I was shocked! “It’s not me, master, is it?” we all begin to say at once.
Andrew cried “It’s not me,” Nathaniel assured everyone of his honesty, and Peter said HE would never do something like that.
Then Peter challenged the rest of us: he wanted to know which of us would be cowardly enough to do such a thing?
One thing led to another and now we were arguing about who was the greatest among us. Again, Peter speaks up and mentions that, since Jesus had given the keys of heaven, that this counts for something!
I’m ashamed that we all joined in the argument.
But quietly, while none of us noticed, Jesus went into a corner of the room and wrapped a towel around his waist. Then he brought a bowl of water over to where we were sitting, and he prepared to wash our feet.
This is a common custom in our land, but it is only done by the lowest of the low. He looked like a common slave! What was our Master doing?
He came up to Peter, and Peter said, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “What I’m doing may not make sense now, but later you will understand.”
“No!” said Peter. “You will never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
Peter’s expression instantly changed—“Well, then Lord, why stop at my feet? Wash my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus smiled and said, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; because his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”
As he washed Peter’s feet, he said, “This is how you are to treat others. If I being your master serve you, then you ought to serve others as well.”
Then Jesus spoke to Peter and said, “Peter, Peter, Satan has desired to have all of you and split you apart as men sift wheat to separate the kernel from the chaff. But I am praying for you. Here is my new commandment for you:
“Love each other. In the same way I have loved you, you must love each other.”
“Love each other. In the same way I have loved you, you must love each other.”
John 13:34
His words stung and I couldn’t catch my breath. Just moments before, each of us was comparing ourselves to the other—and now I felt so small.
It was an amazing week.
But then Jesus said again, “It’s true though, one of you is going to betray me.” We were at a loss for words, because no one knew who it was he was talking about.
I was leaning against Jesus, since I was sitting closest to him, and Peter motioned to me with his head, as if to say, “Ask him which one of us it is.”
I leaned back and asked Jesus. He said it is the one to whom he would give a piece of bread. He took the bread and gave a piece to…Judas Iscariot. Immediately, a shadow came over Judas.
Jesus said, “Go, quickly. Take care of your business.”
None of us knew what Jesus meant but, since Judas had charge of the money box, we thought he had to get something for Passover, or give an offering to the poor.
Judas, with his head down, got up and left immediately. And as the door opened we all noticed, for the first time, how dark it had become outside.
After this, Jesus led us outside the city and we walked into an olive grove called Gethsemane.
In Hebrew, Gethsemane means “The Olive Press”—a place of crushing.
This garden is at the foot of the Mount of Olives. When the olives come off the mountain for harvest, the oil is pressed out of them here in this garden.
All of us followed him into the Garden, and he asked us to stay in a certain place while he went to pray.
Then he took Peter, James and me with him into the garden and he began to be in terrible distress. I could tell by the way He shook and carried himself. His movements seemed slow and difficult. It was as if he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
He told us to stay here and keep watch. As we did, he moved a bit further beyond us and fell to the ground where he prayed.
I heard him ask his Father, if it were possible, to let this cup of sorrow be taken away from him. Then he said, “But, Father, whatever it takes, I want to do your will, not mine.”
It seemed only moments later that he walked over to Peter and James and found them asleep. He told us we ought to stay awake and pray. He went away to pray again, said the same thing, and came back and found all of us asleep this time — and then he went to pray again and found us asleep a third time!
If you were there, would you have slept?! I’m ashamed to say that we did. there was so much going on, and we were all exhausted.
But all of a sudden, a crowd arrived with torches, and weapons—I was awake now. They were a group of soldiers—a regiment—of Temple guards and Roman soldiers, about six hundred in all. I was never so frightened in all my life.
Jesus stood up and Judas made his way out of the crowd, walked over to Jesus and kissed him. Then Judas stepped back…as if to join them.
What was Judas doing with this angry mob?!
All of a sudden Jesus stepped forward and spoke in a loud voice, “Who are you looking for?”
Many of them said, at the same time, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
“I am.” Jesus said. When Jesus said, “I am,” the whole crowd drew back and fell to the ground.
I stood there with my mouth open!
Again Jesus asked them, “Who is it you want?” And some this time said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
Now if I had not been so frightened, I might have laughed! It was a strange sight to see 600 soldiers and guards on their backs, struggling to get off each other, with Jesus asking them again, “Who are you looking for?”
“I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.”
I am telling you, it was an amazing week!
I did some quick math: it was about 50 to one—12 of us against 600 soldiers. I felt a surge of courage!
But before I could even move, Peter, who had a sword, pulled it out and took a swing at the head of one of the men upfront, who was the servant of the high priest…the man’s name was Malchus.
Malchus dodged just in time, but Peter grazed his head, cutting his ear off.
But Jesus told Peter, “Put your sword away! I must drink the cup the Father has given me.” And then Jesus reached out and healed the man’s ear. Even in this dark hour, Jesus cared for other people—even those who despised him.
Then Jesus allowed the soldiers with their commander and the officials to arrest him. They tied him with ropes, cinching them tightly.
What cowards.
A man who was surrounded 600 to 1, bound and led away like a common criminal.
Jesus called my brother James and me Sons of Thunder.
I didn’t feel too thunderous just then.
Feelings are a funny thing, aren’t they? One minute you’re ready to take on the world—the next, you’re running for your life.
Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006.
Seven Days is a first-person account by John the Disciple of the final seven days before Jesus’ resurrection. Part 1 can be found here.
Tuesday
Tuesday morning we left Lazarus’ home to return to the Festival. We were walking back to Jerusalem to return to the temple when we passed the fig tree we had just seen the day before.
Yesterday it was green, with shoots growing from it, but now it was withered—dried out—from the roots up. How could such a thing happen in one day, we wondered? Peter said, “Teacher—look! The fig tree you cursed…it’s withered!”
Jesus said, “Listen carefully: have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, you could even say to that mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
We arrived in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, many of the religious authorities approached him. They asked him “By what authority are you doing these things?” “And who gave you authority to do this?”
Jesus replied, “Let me ask you a question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!”
They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men’….”
The truth was, they feared the people, for everyone said that John really was a prophet.
So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Jesus said, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
Then a group of Pharisees and followers of Herod questioned Jesus about the payment of taxes to Caesar. It struck me as odd that these two were on the same side of anything, because each of these detested the other.
The Herodians, who were supporters of the Roman government of the Herods, detested the hypocritical Pharisees. And the Pharisees had nothing in common with Herodians—they hated their Roman overlords.
So the Pharisees didn’t want the Roman tax; but the Herodians did. The two came together to trap Jesus the same way two hunters would corner an animal.
They said smilingly, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
But Jesus saw right through them.
“Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” He asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s” they replied.
Then Jesus said to them, “Give fully to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God fully what is His.”
Jesus was amazing!
After that there were questions about marriage and heaven, the resurrection; the greatest commandment.
As I watched Jesus speak with the religious authorities, it was as if he were real and they weren’t…it was as if he were a master painter—his words were like beautiful, lucid strokes of truth—true truth! Words that burned in the hearts of everyone there…everyone but the religious hypocrites. Their words were filled with guile & insincerity.
It was as if Jesus knew what the questions would be before they were even asked. But then He asked them a question:
He said: “Tell me, what do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?”
“The son of David,” they replied.
“So,” Jesus said “how is it then that David—speaking by the Spirit—calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’ If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?”
For the first time, these questioners had nothing to say!
A HUGE crowd had gathered and were drinking it in. They loved it! It was an amazing week!
After that, Jesus warned the Pharisees and scribes of the danger that would come on Jerusalem.
As we were in the Temple, there was a huge group of people with us. These people saw Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb and raise him from the dead. These same people were spreading the word about Jesus at Passover. Many people, because they had heard this, came out to meet him.
This made the Pharisees livid. They said to each other, “Look, this is getting us nowhere. The whole world is going after him!”
Even gentiles crowded in to speak with him. When this happened, Jesus said “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”
Immediately after He said this, Jesus became distressed. He prayed out loud to God the Father:
“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Shall I pray, ‘Father, save me from what is coming’? This is the very reason I have come! Father, bring glory and honor to your name.”
And to everyone’s amazement, God spoke back to Him!
I heard Him! He said “I have already done this, and I will do it again.”
Now, some who were there in the temple said it was only thunder, and others said it was an angel, but I know what I heard. It was the same voice I heard on the mountain when Jesus shone like there was sunlight coming out of Him.
On that mountain, God said, to us: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
I know it was God speaking to Him because I recognized His voice.
It was an amazing week.
Jesus told the crowd that darkness would be falling soon, and that they ought to trust in the light, while the light was with them.
We had no idea it would be so soon.
Wednesday
The Passover was still a couple of days away, so at sunset on Wednesday we returned to Bethany for dinner.
We were guests at the home of Simon the Leper—or should I say former leper, because Jesus healed him of that incurable disease.
As we were dining together, Mary poured the rest of this extremely expensive perfume on Jesus for the second time in one week, Only this time she didn’t just put it on his feet, instead, she poured it over His head.
Judas Iscariot said “do you know how expensive that is? This is a total waste. Why was’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”
When Judas said this, we all found ourselves mumbling in agreement with him — we had no idea what Satan had put into his heart.
But Jesus said, “Leave her alone; why criticize her for doing a good thing? You always have the poor among you, and you can aid them whenever you want; but I won’t be with you much longer. She has done what she could and has anointed my body ahead of time for burial.”
I think that was the last straw for Judas.
As I think about it, whenever the master would teach us, Judas would sit in the back and look through the moneybox. Lately, it seemed like the only two things he showed any interest in was money and revolution against the Roman government.
None of us liked the Romans, or the way they mistreated us. But Judas thought Jesus was on the wrong track. Judas would have been happier planning and carrying out something violent, or revolutionary.
But when Jesus taught, his descriptions of the Kingdom of God were amazing! Everyone who came to hear him hung on every word. When he painted a picture of God’s kingdom, and God’s justice and His power, we were transported to another place.
But Judas? He had no idea what Jesus was talking about. By the look in his eyes, you could tell he was off somewhere opposing Rome, or running coins through his fingers.
Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006.
Imagine you find John that Friday night, on a Judean hillside, by himself, in the dark, warming himself by a small fire. It is here that John pours out his story.
Foreword: Welcome to the week before Jesus’ Resurrection. It’s called Holy Week because of all of the events surrounding the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. The word “holy” means “set apart”—specifically set apart for God’s purposes. I wrote this primarily from John’s Gospel, but included bits from the other 3 Gospels as well. For a number of years our family performed “Seven Days” live, with John telling his story, interspersed with music. So, this blog is based on that production. While we no longer perform it live, you can get a flavor for it with this promo video below.
Seven Days Promo Video
As Easter approaches, I hope you can join me in John’s telling his story in my adaptation here of Seven Days.
Seven Days is a first-person account told by John the disciple. It is set on the night we call “Good Friday”, only hours after John has witnessed the brutal execution of his friend and teacher. Grief-stricken and in shock, John now reflects on Jesus and the amazing events of the past week, sharing his grief. In John’s mind, it’s over. Jesus is dead. He is gone. We know the rest of the story: Sunday is coming. But for John, it is still two days before the resurrection.
“Can a week change your life? I have never seen a week like this—nor will I again I’m sure. Can a single day change the course of a life? It has mine.
My name is John, son of Zebedee.
It is Friday night. Just last sabbath we were at the home of Lazarus—the man that Jesus raised from the dead! We were sitting around the table enjoying a meal together when his sister poured out a bottle of incredibly expensive perfume on Jesus. It was her way of saying thank you to him for bringing her brother—who had been in the tomb for four days—back to life.
I can still smell it. Its fragrance filled the room.
We had such hopes that Jesus was the Promised One—the One the prophets spoke of. The one who would bring redemption to our nation. But that’s over now.
He was crucified today. He is gone.
I suppose I should explain. The whole matter started the first day of the week—Sunday—here in Jerusalem.
Sunday
It was the first day of a new week—a week filled with promise. Everything that Jesus did was amazing. For example, he sent two of us on an assignment. Here were our instructions. He said:
“Go into the village ahead, there you’ll find a young donkey tied to a post with his mother. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone stops you, tell them: ‘The Lord has need of these.’”
So, we did. We went to the village, found the animals just as Jesus had said and began to untie them. One of the men in the village said “Hey! What are you doing with those animals?”
We said, “The Lord has need of them.”
And he said, “Okay. Go ahead.” So we did!
How did Jesus know this? And this wasn’t the first time that this has happened. This in itself was a miracle, but it was only the beginning of the week. So we brought the colt to Jesus. Since we had no saddle, we threw some of our own clothing across the colt’s back for Jesus to ride on. Then the crowds spread out their robes along the road ahead of him.
As we reached the place where the road started down to the city from the Mount of Olives, a huge crowd—the whole procession began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for the wonderful miracles Jesus had done. “God has given us a king!” they shouted. “Long live the king!” and “Glory to God.”
It was an amazing week!
These moments are etched into my memory. But as we came closer to Jerusalem and Jesus saw the city ahead, his expression changed. Tears filled his eyes, running down his cheeks.
“Eternal peace was within your reach, and you turned it down,” he wept, “and now it is too late. Your enemies will pile up earth against your walls, encircle you and close you in, and crush you to the ground—both you and your children within you. You enemies will not leave one stone upon another, for you have rejected the opportunity God offered you.”
Monday
The next morning we were on our way back to Jerusalem for the celebration, when we came to the village of Bethphage. None of us had eaten anything for breakfast, but there was a fig tree just ahead of us (although the tree was fruitless, because it wasn’t the right time of year for figs).
Jesus, being hungry as well, walked up to the tree and found no fruit. Annoyed, he said out loud for all of us to hear, “May you never bear fruit again.” As hungry as we were, we all felt the same way. …but it then occurred to me that the name “Bethphage” means “House of Figs”—yet there were none…
When we arrived in the city, we went into the part of the Temple where the gentiles were allowed and found people everywhere selling things offered in the worship of God.
No one could come to worship at any festival unless they had the right kind of currency (the shekel, which was sold at a high exchange rate), or the right animal—and for some reason the ones brought from outside were never good enough. But there were things like this everywhere—barriers placed in the way of people coming to worship God.
And all of this financial gouging was going on inside the temple complex.
I could see fire in Jesus’ eyes! It was the same fire I saw two years ago at Passover as well. Now for the second time, Jesus stormed through the temple area. Driving out those who were buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers, and those selling doves. He wouldn’t allow merchandise through the temple courts.
The only difference between then and now was that, this time, he didn’t have a whip.
He declared in a loud voice, “Isn’t it written that My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves!”
The religious authorities heard this. And though they feared him, it was here that they began looking for a way to have him put to death.
Still, the crowd was amazed at his teaching. It was an amazing week.
When evening came, we left the city and stayed overnight again with Lazarus and his family in Bethany.”
Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.
Your Daily Encouragement 