Friends
As Holy Week begins, I can’t help but wonder. If I had walked the streets of Jerusalem in those days long ago, would I have recognized Him? Would I have known who He was? Would I have known His Name?
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“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being, in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”
John 1:1-5 – NRSV
~~~
Anna looked up and saw her two friends, Simone and Rachel, coming down the road from the market. She quickly set aside her bowl and rushed to meet them, blurting out, “Were you in the temple this morning? Did you see what happened?”
Her tall friend Simone was the first to respond. “Yeah, I was.” The man everyone has been talking about came into the temple court while I was there to buy my doves. Did you see all those people with him? He’s got a crowd of followers that go with him everywhere.”
Rachel excitedly chimed in. “Oh, yes, one of my friends saw him when he rode into town. He was riding on a donkey, a bright cloak covering the colt’s back. Tons of people gathered along the road and started spreading their cloaks on the road in front of him like a royal carpet. They were shouting and waving palm branches as he went by.”
Really? Wow! What were they saying?” Anna queried.
“Something like ‘hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Simone raised her eyebrows as she turned her head toward Rachel. “Really? What’s that all about?”
Rachel shrugged, “I don’t know, but this man from Nazareth certainly is the talk of the town.”
Anna spoke up. “I was there when he came into the temple today and got a good look at him. He looked so kind, so gentle, and then all of a sudden, he was furious!”
Simone jumped in, nodding emphatically, “I know. He was just standing there looking around, and then Boom! He just lost his temper! He started turning over the tables of the money-changers, knocking the bird cages into the floor. It was crazy! I’ve never seen anything like it!:”
“Did you see the look on the priest’s face? He was furious!” Anna asked.
Simone nodded. “When all the commotion started, I saw one of the scribes run to get the chief priest and the others.”
Yeah, I saw them as they rushed in. The look on their faces was scary. They were definitely not happy!” Anna’s brown eyes grew wide as she added, “I was close enough to hear what the man said as he turned over the tables. I heard him say, ‘It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer’; but you have made it a den of robbers.’ ”*
“wonder what he meant by that?” Rachel asked.
“I don’t know, but I tell you what. I wouldn’t want to be that man from Nazareth. Those priests were furious. He’s in big trouble!”
~~~
A man came among them, speaking with authority, teaching and preaching. He was the talk of the town, of every town he entered.
Who is this man from Nazareth?
Some say a preacher, a teacher, a Rabbi. Some say a prophet.
Who is this man from Nazareth?
He speaks like no other. His words open our ears, touch our hearts, soothe our souls like sweet honey. Miracles flow from his fingertips. Kindness comes from his lips. And his eyes, his eyes are full of compassion.
There is something about him that is indescribable, inescapable. Have we not seen this? Have we not felt this deep within our souls? Men an women drop everything, abandoning their homes, their work, their families to follow him. They long to remain in his presence.
Have we not seen him perform miracle upon miracle? Have we not seen this with our very own eyes?
He has turned water into wine, healed the sick, the lame, the blind. He has raised the dead to life.
Who is this man from Nazareth?
Could he be the Messiah? Could he be the promised King of the Jews?
Who is this man from Nazareth?
He has a name.
His name is Jesus.
PRAYER
O Lord Jesus, You came down and walked among us, teaching and preaching, but we didn’t know who you were. You healed the sick, opened the ears of the deaf, restored sight to the blind. Because of You, the lame walked again, and the dead were raised to life. You offered miracle upon miracle, and still we didn’t understand, didn’t completely see who You were. Even Your disciples couldn’t fully fathom Your divinity, Your Holiness, though they tried. Still, You came, and You taught, and You healed, and You loved. Then, in a final act of grace, You suffered the cross, paid the price, sacrificed Yourself to set us free. You became the ransom for many, opening the door to eternity to all who would believe.
Lord Jesus, You are worthy, worthy of that sacrifice, worthy of all honor, all glory, all majesty, all praise. We fall down in gratitude at Your feet, overwhelmed by Your goodness, humbled by Your grace, awestruck by Your Glory.
Jesus, your Name is the greatest. Your Name is the highest. Your Name stands above all names. Let the angels sing. Let all of creation cry out. Let every knee bow down and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. For You, Lord Jesus, are Holy, Holy Forever.
In Your Name, we pray
Amen
Holy Week Blessings,
Anita
*Story based on Luke 19:45-46, NRSV
-APS 4/14/2025
Faith Beyond Sight 