Grapevine Ministries
Messages from the bible to uplift and encourage those that need a word from the Lord, to strengthen their faith. Ps Phillip Barker is an itinerant pastor in Perth, Western Australia.
Grapevine Ministries
Drawing Closer to Our Savior During Holy Week
The final week before Easter offers us a sacred opportunity to draw closer to Jesus Christ by reflecting on the deliberate steps he took toward his sacrifice and resurrection. While many rush to Easter Sunday's celebration, this episode explores the profound significance of each day leading up to Christianity's most pivotal moment.
Beginning with Palm Sunday's triumphant entry into Jerusalem where crowds shouted "Hosanna" and spread palm branches before Jesus, we journey through each meaningful day. On Holy Monday, Jesus cleansed the temple and cursed the barren fig tree—symbolic actions revealing his divine authority and the need for genuine spiritual fruit. Holy Tuesday brought confrontations with religious leaders trying to trap Jesus, while Spy Wednesday marked Judas's fateful decision to betray his master for thirty pieces of silver. The Last Supper on Maundy Thursday gave us both communion and Christ's new commandment to "love one another as I have loved you."
Every moment of Holy Week serves as another facet of the same diamond—unique, pure, and revealing the character of our Saviour. These eight days shifted humanity's relationship with God forever, establishing a new covenant through Jesus' perfect sacrifice. By understanding the biblical context and prophecies fulfilled during this week, believers gain a richer appreciation for Easter itself. The resurrection isn't merely a standalone event but the triumphant culmination of a deliberate journey of love. As you move through the days before Easter, consider reading the suggested scripture passages to experience the full weight and wonder of what Jesus accomplished for us all.
Reflect on each day's significance this week, from Palm Sunday through Maundy Thursday, preparing your heart for Good Friday and Easter. How might drawing closer to these events transform your understanding of Christ's love and sacrifice?
Good morning, good afternoon, wherever you are in the world - Welcome to Grapevine Ministries.
Okay, here we go. Welcome back everybody. Now this is the final week before Easter and I want to title this Draw Close to Our Saviour because once again, it's important to understand why Jesus did what he did because he was aware of everything going on. Events leading up to the resurrection can draw us closer to the Saviour and foster a deeper understanding of the atonement. Sometimes this is neglected because of time factors in most churches, and I'm not saying that in a negative way. It's just that they try and coincide their messages in relation to time availability and the fact that a lot of people take holidays and everything. But I'm not doing that. I'm going to go through this and then I'm going to focus right in on Easter itself. So, as we approach the Easter season, christians worldwide prepare to commemorate the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ by reading and reflecting upon the scriptures and the accounts of the last days of his mortal ministry, the most important parts of this story, and I think it's important to note that it is very good for all people to go through the scriptures that I mention and just spend some time reflecting on that. As the Saviour atones for our misconceptions, our wrongdoing, our sin. This all consists of his suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, his crucifixion and his triumph and rise from the tomb. They're all known as to Christians and believers worldwide, and this is what is on the Easter calendar. What is on the Easter calendar? And out of all things, I think more people, christians and non-Christians have a greater understanding of what Easter is all about in comparison to, say, christmas, for instance.
Speaker 1:However, I want to highlight a few things myself. However, I want to highlight a few things myself. The Gospels Matthew, mark, luke and John include variations of the events that prepare Christians to an understanding and a symbolism of the atonement and why Jesus was uniquely qualified to work An infinite and eternal sacrifice. This is what he did. Now, occasionally, in the four gospels, authors differ in their emphasis on certain aspects of these events, but these differences do not detract from the historical truth now remember that this is historical truth of the Savior's actions and his teachings. Indeed, they give readers added insights and perspectives into the four mosaics that function together like different facets of the same diamond, like different facets of the same diamond, and the reason I say that is because it's so pure and it's so unique that it's just like a diamond. Every diamond has a unique signature to it and is so unique that it's not like anything else, and that is if we really look at our Lord and Saviour. That is really the difference between him and all of us is because he is so unique in him and what he was brought here to do.
Speaker 1:This period is commonly known as Holy Week. It is actually a string of eight days, not seven, that allow us an opportunity to reflect upon the shift in humanity. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was to change everything. It started with Palm Sunday, when Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem. The week leads up through the Last Supper, his crucifixion, and ends on Easter Sunday with his resurrection. Now, the reason I say that it shifts humanity is because it is the most significant event in all history. Now no one disputes that Jesus went to the cross and he did this, and no one disputes that he was the greatest prophet of all times, because he's mentioned in so many different manuscripts, not just the Bible. But the stumbling block with some people is his resurrection. But we know this from the scriptures that it is true. So this is the basis of Christianity. His sacrifice launched the new covenant God promised and many had prophesied throughout the Old Testament. Each day of Holy Week allows us to peek into the heart of our Saviour, as intently close proximity to him. His love for us is reflected in every significant step towards the cross, every breath up to his last one and his resurrection. Now I can't overemphasize this, because it gives us a very clear look at what he was doing. Now we know Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday.
Speaker 1:During this one week, many biblical prophecies were fulfilled. Jesus came to the earth to save humanity by dying on the cross on Good Friday and resurrecting on Easter Sunday. By enduring and defeating death sacrificially for us, he swung open the gates of heaven, allowing our sins to be forgiven, and ushered us into the presence of God. Now I'm just going to ring. Sorry, I'm not ringing. I'd love to ring God to see what's going on. I'm just going to read Romans 5.8. Okay, romans 5.8.
Speaker 1:But God demonstrates his own love for us. While we were still sinners, christ died for us. So there is a clear indication. We were still sinners, but he wasn, wasn't sin, but he died for us due to our sinful nature, of all humanity, as a result of adam and eve's fall in the garden of eden. It's possible for us to be good enough? No, it is impossible for us to be good enough. No, it is impossible for us to be good enough to be in the presence of God and forgiven for our sins. Jesus died to make the way for salvation. The Old Testament law offered many sacrifices to God, but Jesus was the perfect atoning sacrifice, once and for all. He endured the cross out of his great love for us.
Speaker 1:Holy Week is a sacred opportunity to study the foundation of Christianity. To study the foundation of Christianity For God is not one of coincidence. Every step towards the cross was intentional, every lesson laced with his personal love for all of us. And we start with Palm Sunday. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on what is now called Palm Sunday. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on what is now called Palm Sunday. Palm branches, which symbolized triumph or victory, were strewn in Jesus' path as he rode into the city.
Speaker 1:He rode into the town on a humble donkey, fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 9.9. Now I'm just going to read a couple of these, but later on you'll see there's too many and I'll have to skip a few. Zechariah 9.9 said Rejoice greatly, daughter Zion. Shout, daughter Jerusalem, see your kings come to you righteous and victorious. Low and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. The people welcomed him, echoing the words of Psalm 118, 25 to 26. The words were echoing Lord, save us, lord, grant us success, more popularly recognized as Hazana, hazana, hazana in the Highest.
Speaker 1:Now, the word Hazana originated from the word save. The meaning of the word eventually shifted to express gratitude for salvation and is used in the New Testament, initially in Matthew 21.9, and this is what it said. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted Hosanna to the son of David Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest heaven. This is a pivotal moment in the history of humanity, as a long-awaited new covenant God promised to his people would produce new salvation through Jesus' death on the cross. Now churches celebrate Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem by distributing palm branches and reading passages like Matthew 21,. And reading passages like Matthew 21, 1 through to 11, or John 12, 12 through to 19, to reflect on the crowds. Cries of Hazana. Now look those scriptures up. I'm not going to read through them for time. It's of an essence Now. So we start off. We've started with Palm Sunday, right, and now we go on to Holy Monday.
Speaker 1:On the Monday of Holy Week, jesus continued his journey towards the cross with significant events that revealed his authority and mission. He cleansed the temple, driving out money changers who were exploiting worshippers. That's Matthew 21, 12 to 17. Please write these down so you can read through them later. That's Matthew 21, 12 to 17. As he cleansed out the temple, he symbolizes the need for true worship. He also cursed a barren fig tree in Mark 11, 12 through to 14, representing Israel's spiritual emptiness. Later he taught in the temple, confronting religious leaders who questioned his authority, and that was in Matthew 21, 23 to 27. Now, these are all fulfillments of things that were prophesied for the Messiah to do.
Speaker 1:Now, like I said before, I'm not reading through all the scriptures, but just giving you an overview of the week. And then we finish up, okay, with Easter next week. Okay, now let's move on. We've had Sunday, right, palm Sunday. We've had Holy Monday, and now we go. This is Tuesday of Holy Week. On the Tuesday of Holy Week, peter received the fully withered. Oh, sorry, let me go back a bit. Okay, jesus cursed the fig tree, and this is where Peter noticed the fig tree was withered, that it had been cursed by Jesus and which Jesus admonished a lesson to have faith and recognize the power of forgiveness.
Speaker 1:Holy Tuesday was a day of avoiding traps and teachings. The priest set up four traps for Jesus. The first, questioning his authority, to which he answered with a question and then taught three parables. Okay, now, he taught these the parable of the two sons, the parable of the tenants and the parable of the wedding banquet. The second trap challenged Jesus his allegiances. The third, attempt to ridicule Jesus' belief in the resurrection. And the fourth, Jesus answered by claiming God's greatest command to be love, stopping on the Mount of Olives to rest on the way back to Bethany to spend the night. Now, this is interesting to note. Right as you read through these, you'll find that this is when Jesus spoke to the disciples about their upcoming trials. And, as we all do, we're not to jesus and we're saying he's got it all wrong and we know that he didn't.
Speaker 1:So let's move on to holy wednesday now. This is also known as spy wednesday. A lot of um, a lot of denominations like to highlight and emphasize on certain things. It's not really that important, but it shows what he's actually doing. He's putting everything in a chronological order as he leads up to the cross. So Wednesday of Holy Week is referred to as a day of rest for Jesus, see, while in Bethany a woman anointed Jesus' feet with perfume. It's also widely known throughout churches as Spy Wednesday.
Speaker 1:While Jesus was at rest in Bethany, he was at the home of Mary, martha and Lazarus. He was at the home of Mary, martha and Lazarus. The plot of the high priest and the authorities to kill Jesus is in full swing here, finding an open opportunity in the greed of Judas. Satan entered him and Judas went to the chief priest and the authorities and from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him Jesus. He would soon betray Jesus for the price of a slave and the twelve would scatter. None of the twelve would be left at the foot of the cross as Jesus died, none but John, okay. And then we have what they call mundane Thursday.
Speaker 1:Now, on holy or mundane Thursday, in an upper room, jesus' disciples. They shared the Last Supper. All right, this is when this happened. This was the Passover cedar mill remembering Israel's exodus from Egypt. On Thursday, jesus washed the feet of his disciples and broke bread with them for the last time of his disciples and broke bread with them for the last time, still celebrated today as part of many congregational traditions. This is basically taking communion. All right, this is what it's all about, and he's talking about the body and the blood of Christ to be broken and shed for his disciples and for all of us. During the meal, jesus predicted his portrayal by one of them and also Peter's denial. After the meal, the disciples accomplished Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed in agony. It said this Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me. Yet not my will, but yours be done. An angel came to strengthen Jesus in the Garden. There he taught his disciples and us what to do when we come to the end of our own strength and need God to help us to press on.
Speaker 1:Mundane from the Latin root madam, means commandment or to mandate. On the Thursday, jesus gave his disciples a new commandment, which is why we use the term mundane today. The word in this context is used by Jesus after he washed his disciples' feet. Now, john 13, 13,. All right, this is what it says A new covenant, a new commandment I give you that you love one another just as I have loved you, and also to love one another. Now I read that again, because I kind of messed it up John 13.34, and I think this is one that we really need to highlight in our Bibles because of the importance of what it is actually saying. It's a new commandment. So Jesus is saying this, which is God? Of course he goes this is what I give you. So he's basically saying this is what I want you to do that you love one another just as I have loved you. You are also to love one another. So it's a double-edged sword.
Speaker 1:From that perspective, it's where we actually clearly see that Jesus is saying look, you've got to do what I did, because it's important. Give, and it shall be given unto you. Pressed down, shaken together and running over man will give into your bosom. It's not just about tithes and offerings as you give your love, others will give love back to you. Do unto others as you would have them do unto me. It's the same thing, it's just written different ways. It's telling you the most important thing for you to do irrespective of how someone treats you, you have to be able to treat them with love, with God's love, god's love that is shed abroad in your heart, because this is more important than a lot of other things from a Christian perspective.
Speaker 1:You know we need to not tell people that we're a Christian. We need to show them we're a Christian. And I tell you what. It's an old saying, but it basically means the same thing. You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. So if you've got the nice sweet stuff rather than the sour, bitter stuff, it will do a lot better for you. Now, this is where we leave it for now.
Speaker 1:Next week I'll finish it off with Easter, and please take time to read the scriptures and share with friends, families, colleagues, other family members outside your realm of expectation, and if you are able to come and have fellowship in a local church, invite your friends and family to come, because the Easter message is the total foundation of our faith. Without the you know the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the birth of Jesus, really is. It pales in significance in relation to this. All right, so I want you to look at the week leading up to Easter, so I mean this weekend. This is what this message is all about and so just remind yourself of each week, every day of the week, as you go through, starting with sunday, right after you've listened to this message, and then monday, when you go back to work. You know it's only going to be a short week. So look at monday as being you know the journey. But remember those scriptures matthew 21 12 to 17, mark 11 12 to 14, and matthew 21, 23 to 27. And then tuesday, you know, this is where you know.
Speaker 1:I suppose you could put it this way this is only my interpretation of this. You don't have to take it on face value if you don't want to, but the parables help decide this. But Peter, noticing the withered fig tree, is really the start of the recognised power and authority that Jesus had. And it's almost like the pennies dropped and the disciples go wow, this really is happening and this is who it is. And then on Wednesday well, I mean Wednesday is important because it's fulfilling the scriptures. It's when Judas had actually made the decision in his heart, okay, to actually betray Jesus and that's when he started to plot how to do that. And Monday and Thursday, it's basically it's remembering Israel's exodus from Egypt. So read through that, go through the scriptures, but I want you to be ready for the Easter message which I will give on Good Friday. All right, god bless you all. Bye for now, and we'll speak to you soon on Great Vine Ministries.
