What a week!   Holy Week!   Have you ever taken the time to reflect upon the events of Jesus' last week on earth?     He stopped off at Bethany, the home of his good friends - Mary, Martha and Lazarus - for one last visit.     Then, on Sunday, Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey as the crowds cheer and wave palm branches...a sign of military conquest.    The crowds don't have a clue that they are cheering on the Prince of Peace, who has nothing to do with military battle.

On Monday Jesus clears the Temple as the money-changers have set up shop.   Jesus will not tolerate this profaning of his sacred house of worship.     On Tuesday Jesus spends some time teaching in the Temple and Jesus' authority is challenged and ridiculed.

On Thursday Jesus shares the Last Supper with his disciples....the Passover Meal becomes Holy Communion.    The living bread and cup is literally before them.    Jesus takes a basin and towel and washed the feet of his followers and he gives them a new commandment:  "Love one another as I have loved you."
On the very next day, Good Friday as it is known, Jesus is tried by Jewish and Roman authorities in a ridiculous and unjust kangaroo court.    At the same time Jesus is denied by one of his closest followers - Peter.    And, at 9am on Friday Jesus is crucified.    At 3PM his dead and battered body is taken down off the cross and Jesus is placed in a tomb.......

I encourage us to relect upon what this Holy Week means in our life.    Meditate upon the tremendous depth of God's love for humanity in and through His only and holy Son, Jesus the Christ.   Try to absorb what happened during Jesus' last week on earth.   What a difference a week can make!!    What a difference was made eternally because of Jesus' last week on earth.    The best is yet to come.   Yet, we cannot get to Easter before Holy Week.  We cannot get to resurrection without crucifixion.   Don't hurry by Holy Week and the Cross.    Remember what Jesus endured and sacrificed on your and my behalf.    What a week!