Knowing it was His Last Week

Book Review by Sherrie Courtney

Knowing He had just one week left with His disciples before the crucifixion, what did Jesus talk about?

How is it relevant today?

In his book, And the Angels Were Silent, Max Lucado looks at that last week of Jesus’ life. What did He do and say… what was of utmost importance to Him, and what can we learn from that week, to apply in our lives in these last days of earth’s history, as we endeavour to be Christ’s disciples?

The first story of Jesus final week was also the last story recorded before entering Jerusalem a marked man; the land owner employing workers at different times of the day (Matt 20). The punchline, says Max, is the anger of the workers over the boss’s generosity. But instead Max focuses on the overlooked workers still waiting at 5pm. The unqualified, unskilled, untrained, uneducated… the ones who didn’t deserve to be chosen for whatever reason….

Isn’t that each of us? Who of us actually deserves God’s mercy? But God choses us too. AND it is not too late to accept Him.

From the countryside, Jesus set out, his sights on Jerusalem. Fully aware, He told His followers quite clearly what was going to go down and how, and intentionally started that journey. “The way Jesus marched to His death leaves no doubt He had come to earth for this moment”(p12). Peter later explained this had been God’s plan from the beginning. (Acts 2:23) Jesus set out carrying His father’s plan in His heart.

What better way is there to face today’s Jerusalems, than with God’s word in our hearts?

In Matthew 20:28, Jesus referred to Himself as the Son of Man coming to serve and to give His life for many. Earlier He had said the Son of Man would be killed, but would rise again. Max says that the Jews knew about the Son of Man. It was a symbol of triumph: of a king, roaring from Heaven on a fiery chariot to avenge God’s oppressed people. So when Jesus said the Son of Man would sit at God’s right hand, or would come on clouds of Heaven with authority and power, His listeners could picture it. But when He spoke of the Son of Man’s suffering and death, no wonder Mark records Jesus’ followers not understanding.

Of all the terms Jesus could have used, He chose the Son of Man, because He was the general, taking responsibility for the actions of his soldiers; the master, putting himself in the crossfire to save his servant. Jesus came to serve and give His life for you.

Matthew records an incident on the way to Jerusalem, where His followers tried to hush some grubby beggars vying for the Master’s attention. But the Master had His face set toward Jerusalem. No one was to interrupt. To distract. To slow The Son of Man down on His way to His throne. The blind beggars were not discouraged though – it made them cry all the louder and Jesus heard and stopped. He took the time.

And He still does. God always hears those who are searching for Him.

The Sabbath, says Max, is the day that work comes to a screeching halt. A weekly reminder to slow down. So, suggests Max, let’s look at what Christ did on this, His last Sabbath with His disciples. Take a look yourself. You will find that none of the gospels even mention this day. Not a word. And all we can imply from that, is that on this last Sabbath before His death, nothing was more important than observing the Sabbath and worshipping God. “For such is the purpose of the Sabbath. And such was the practice of Jesus” (p 28).

On the Sunday, Jesus sent for a donkey and Max focuses on the donkey’s owner. Jesus asked. The owner didn’t reply ‘What for?’ He just gave. No hesitation.

How often do we fail to share our ‘donkeys’ because we are unsure it is God asking for them, or simply don’t want to give them away? The donkey owner’s gift is still retold 2000 years later.

Who knows the impact your response to Christ’s requests may have?

The first place Jesus went, after being escorted along the road like royalty, was to the temple. He returned the next morning, and regarding the subsequent scene in the temple, Max asks “Want to anger God? Get in the way of people who want to see Him.” (pg 45).

On the way to Jerusalem that morning, Jesus had cursed the fig tree with all the makings of a tree laden with fruit, but on closer inspection, was barren - just what Jesus had seen the night before and was about to confront at the temple. The next day, the disciples saw the same tree, dead.

Max sees a further warning in the fate of the tree full of promise but with no performance. God has no tolerance for empty religion. And when Jesus was saying that if the disciples have faith in God, they will be able to do even more – perhaps at this point he was looking up the valley toward the temple mount – He was saying that when empty religion cages you in, you can tell it to go jump in the lake…

God’s greatest creation is not the flung stars or the gorged canyons; it’s His eternal plan to reach His children” (pg 58), and Jesus did not stop trying to reach those who would not hear, even at this late stage.

Matthew 21 and 22 record stories Jesus told that day. Stories with urgent invitations, stories of invitations repeatedly ignored. God issues His invitation repeatedly, but He will never force acceptance. That is up to us. Our choice. The religious leaders knew Jesus was appealing to them but they made their choice, turning their backs to made plans to trap Him. How Jesus’ heart must have hurt as He watched them go. As it does when He sees us today, choose the world over Him.

In Matthew 22, Jesus asks the disciples whose son He is. He didn’t ask about his teachings or his miracles. After three years of ministry, He asked ‘who’. He wanted them to think, not about what He had done, but who He was. Because, knowing what was to come, knowing who was really sacrificing so much for them, would make all the difference - for them then, and for us now.

The religious leaders were trying to make themselves righteous without God, and it made Jesus so furious that His last sermon for them was about phony faith and hollow hearts (Matt 23;13-33.

“How are you going to escape God’s judgement?” He demanded. Not through what they could do…what we can do… But what He did.

Matthew 24 describes a cataclysmic future. Max also sees in this discourse a manual of survival for lives under siege.

Following in Christ’s footsteps does not guarantee a smooth journey. In fact quite the opposite. But Jesus gave three certainties. Assurance of victory (Matt 24:13). Assurance that His plan would be achieved (Matt 24:14). And assurance that the end would come (Matt 24:14).

During this week, Jesus took time to tell His listeners to prepare for the end.

Continued on Pg 37

as rabbi as he guided the disciples through the dinner. And His role as servant, by washing their feet. He fulfilled his role as Saviour, by granting forgiveness. He was in control then. And He still is in control now. And when He prayed for His disciples that night, He was praying for us today, too. Think of that, next time you ‘sit’ at the Lord’s table.

As Jesus and His followers left the upper room, Jesus was well aware the battle between God and Satan was intensifying. He knew that apparent defeat would come before victory. He knew He was about to be betrayed, not just by Judas, but by all His disciples.

What did He do? He chose prayer. He prayed for His followers, and He prayed for us. For you.

“His humanity begged to be delivered from what His divinity could see… Jesus, the man, peers into the dark pit and begs, “Cant there be another way?”” (pg 135). But God said “No.” And Jesus submitted. The battle was won. He would (and did) go to the cross. For you.

What will you do for Him, in these last days?