Christmas Musicals for Church
Issue link: http://read.jwpepper.com/i/202296
66 The Seven Last Days Narrations Prologue & Palm Sunday The Seven Last Days! The nal week of Jesus' earthly existence. Was there ever a more monumental week in all of human history? nl y In some ways these seven last days mirror the seven rst days of crea on – in both cases a new world was being born. And yet, at the me, no one was aware of their importance. The Gospel of Mark paints a vivid picture of the events on that nal week in Jesus' life...of those fateful seven last days. Palm Sunday Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you and you will nd a colt there. Un e it and bring it here." When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the elds. They cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" Though the week had begun on a bright note, dark clouds soon rolled in – clouds that Jesus himself had summoned. On Monday, the world saw a side of Jesus they had seldom, if ever, witnessed before. It was an angry, violent Jesus who squandered the good will of the city that had welcomed him not twenty four hours earlier. His rage had been triggered by what he saw at the temple. rP re Monday vi ew (Cont.) O (Palm Sunday) The rst day of the week dawned with a sunshine of hope and exhilara on. On the day that came to be known as Palm Sunday, Jesus basked in the adora on of the throngs as he made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Fo On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. He said, "Is it not wri en: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all na ons?' But you have made it a den of robbers." Tuesday Tuesday dawned as a day of controversy. An ominous spirit was moving among the people. As Jesus taught in the temple, he was confronted by priests, teachers and elders who ques oned his authority. They at tempted to trap Jesus by posing thorny ques ons about paying taxes to Caesar and quizzed him about the greatest commandment. As the day drew to a close, an exhausted Jesus sat down to rest. It was then the only bright spot of the day came his way. Jesus sat down in the temple and watched the crowd pu ng money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on."