Countdown to Easter : 7 Lessons from Jesus’s Final Week

Easter is a great time to reflect on the life of Jesus and the sacrifice he made to draw us back to the father.  And as we countdown to Easter, here are 7 lessons from Jesus’s final week on earth.

These are lessons that we can draw from some unique events that happened in the final week of the life of Jesus. However, I am drawn back to the prayer of Jesus for his disciples in the book of John, chapter 17. Jesus knew that his God given mission on earth was coming to an end and goes on to pray for those whom God had entrusted into his hands.

“Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! – John 17:18-24

Jesus died to bring us into a new and deeper relationship with God. He died on the cross to pay the debt in full for our redemption from sin and destruction.  And there are some lessons we can draw from his final week here on earth.

The Triumphal Entry – The King of Glory

“Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden. The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” – Matthew 21:5-9

Jesus rides into Jerusalem to shouts of rejoicing and celebration from the crowd. They said – blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. The king of glory humbled himself like a lowly servant to serve God’s greater purpose for humanity.

Jesus was a humble king who was ready and willing to give his live to save many. Indeed, he is the only way through which we can gain access to the father. Today, when you accept Christ, he becomes king of your heart and Lord over your life. Will you invite Jesus to become the king of your heart today?

I love this song by Steffany Gretzinger – King of my Heart. Listen HERE.

Let the King of my heart
Be the mountain where I run
The fountain I drink from
Oh, He is my song
Let the King of my heart
Be the shadow where I hide
The ransom for my life
Oh, He is my song

The Last Supper – Serving God’s Greater Purpose

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. – Luke 22:19 ESV

During this last meal with his disciples, Jesus speaks of his suffering and what lay ahead of him. And then, he asks them to do the same thing he did in remembrance of him. Whenever we take the communion, we are reminded of his blood shed for our sins and his body broken for our salvation.

His life was never about him, but about serving God’s greater purpose to bring salvation to all men. Today, you and I can live rest assured in the victory that comes with redemption and God’s saving grace. Will you reaffirm your faith in Jesus Christ?

Gethsemane – Purpose in pain and suffering.

And he said to them, “My heart is overwhelmed and crushed with grief. It feels as though I’m dying. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Matthew 26:38 TPT

Jesus went through every kind of emotion you can think of in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was overwhelmed by what lay ahead. He was crushed with grief. His heart was heavy. He was deeply troubled and sorrowful unto death. Yet, his eyes were still on the cross. There was purpose in his pain. And even in his deeply troubled state, he could still utter these words. “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39 ESV

Jesus understood God’s purpose for his life. And irrespective of all the pain and suffering he had to go through, he chose to trust the will of the father. Can you trust God in the pain and through every difficult season of your life?

Betrayal & Arrest – Keeping Your Gaze on God Alone

Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” ⁵⁷ But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” – Luke 22:56-57

Jesus was betrayed by one of his disciples. One of those closest to him denied him thrice. He was abandoned by those who should have stood with him. Beaten, battered, spat at, and treated like a common criminal. Jesus had to go this path alone and trust God while at it. Who will you look to in those moments in your life when those closest to you abandon and fail you? Jesus kept his gaze on God.

 Trial – A Criminal Chosen in His Place

So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. ²⁵ He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will. – Luke 23:24-25

Pilate saw that Jesus was not guilty of the charges that were levelled against him. He desired to release Jesus, but the people kept shouting that he be crucified. The bible says that the voices of the people prevailed. And a man who was thrown in prison because of murder and insurrection was released in his place.

Sometimes, popular opinion isn’t always right. Pilate was in a position of leadership and perhaps to please the people delivered Jesus over to their will. Are you a people pleaser or God pleaser? Is your loyalty to God or to men?

Crucifixion – It is Finished

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. – John 19:30

With these words, not only was Jesus earthly ministry brought to an end; his final act of obedience was complete. He had paid the debt in full for our redemption and deliverance from the kingdom of darkness. You are no longer held captive by the power of sin. Jesus came and died so that you might walk in the newness of life that God gives. Jesus was a finisher. He carried out God’s purpose for his life till the very end. What task has God entrusted into your hands? Are you still stalling or doing what God has asked or called you to do?

Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame – Hebrews 12:2

Resurrection – Alive in Christ

And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here,  but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee – Luke 24:5-6

Jesus is risen! The stone has been rolled away and death could not hold him captive. Christ’s resurrection proves his victory over sin and shows us that the barriers that denied us access to the father has been rolled away. We all now have access to the father through Christ.

Jesus is alive and wants to live in your heart and take charge of your life. When you come to Christ, it’s a brand new start for you. Old things have passed away and all things become new for you. Jesus is calling you into this new life where he reigns in the affairs of your life. Will you believe on his name and receive him into your heart today?

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.- John 1:12-13

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