Passion Week

A few weeks after the raising of Lazarus, Jesus once more turned His steps toward Jerusalem. Resting at Bethany over the Sabbath He was entertained in the home of Simon. About that time Judas went to the palace of the high priest with an offer to betray Jesus into their hands. On Sunday Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem, publicly manifesting Himself to be Messiah—King.

The excitement of the people who had come to Jerusalem to attend the Passover was aroused to the highest pitch and they hailed Him as king. Jesus' disciples doubtless took His acceptance of this homage as proof that their glad hopes were about to be fulfilled, and the multitude believed that the hour of their emancipation from the Romans was at hand. Jesus realized that this course of action would bring Him to the cross, but it was His purpose thus publicly to call the attention of all to the sacrifice He was about to make. On Monday He cleansed the Temple a 2d time thus repeating at the close of His ministry the same act by which He had opened His work 3 years before.

That night Jesus retired with 4 of His disciples to the Mount of Olives, where He outlined what must yet take place before the establishment of His visible kingdom upon earth. Wednesday of Passion Week Jesus spent in retirement with His disciples. On Thursday night He celebrated the Passover with them, at the same time instituting the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. After the supper He counseled them at length concerning the future and His eventual return. That night Jesus was arrested, and the following morning He appeared 1st before the Jewish authorities and later before Pilate and before Herod. Jesus was condemned to death by the Jews, and the sentence received the reluctant ratification of the Roman procurator. That same day Jesus was led forth to be crucified.