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CHRISTIAN LIVING TODAY
We celebrate Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, the Sunday before Easter.
Does this day prompt recollections of Jesus’ last days before crucifixion? This week in April A.D. 33 was a hopeless one — dark days without direction and seemingly no future for His followers.
I think it’s good to focus on events of Jesus’ last week: what He did, what He knew, what He chose. No one killed Him, for He chose death this path (Hebrews 12:2). Most people are too busy to focus on the days of that momentous week, but you will benefit much from this timely focus.
His triumphal entry into Jerusalem is what we now call Palm Sunday.
Monday, he cursed the fig tree and cleansed the temple.
Several events occurred Tuesday, but late that day, He taught what we call the Olivet discourse: teachings pertinent today (Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21). After reading this, you will listen to our daily news differently.
Wednesday, people gathered, scheming how to arrest Jesus and offered Judas a reward to betray Him.
Thursday, as most gathered for Passover, Jesus also met with his disciples for the Last Supper. He shared many comforting promises that evening, even though few understood that then. Judas later betrayed Him, officers arrested Him, and in the wee morning hours, trial events began.
He was mocked and beaten, scourged and chided. Remember, earlier this very day, Jesus told His disciples, “Let not your heart be troubled …” But likely, His followers were stressed, confused and failed to apply those words to their hearts and life circumstances that day.
Friday wasn’t a good day for Jesus, nor for anyone who knew Him. Imagine their fear for Him, even for themselves. How his mother, Mary, must have felt — helpless for sure, heartbroken.
Jesus carried the heavy cross. He died and was buried before sundown.
It was an eventful day, one our current news reporters would follow hour by hour, noting each unusual weather event, the earthquake, the darkness.
Saturday was a quiet day, not mentioned much in scripture. It must have been one of heartache and sorrow.
Did Jesus’ entry seem triumphal then? They must have wondered what life and God were about.
Like most of us, we often fail to appropriate the truth of Scripture in a timely manner.
They had a really bad day. Today, in 2026, remember let not your heart be troubled, because Sunday is coming!
Make time to watch “Who Is the Man of the Shroud?” by Dr. Jeremiah Johnson. Until next week, Anita
Onarecker, an Elgin resident, author of “Divine Appointment: Our Journey to the Bridge” and minister to women and adults, earned a Master of Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007.
