We start Holy Week with Jesus' entry to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Palms were used as a symbol of royalty. Palms were waved as Jesus entered Jerusalem because people knew He was a King and they wanted to show their respect for Him.
As the week progressed - what changed? Why did these same people that welcomed Jesus into town want Him crucified?
This must have been very confusing. The scribes and Pharisees must have been very busy putting doubt into the minds of the people.
By Thursday, Judas had already struck up a deal with them to show them where Jesus would be.
Thursday night, after Jesus and the Apostles had celebrated the Passover Feast and Jesus had instituted the first Eucharist, Judas made his way to the Chief Priests to tell them where to find Jesus to have him arrested. Judas collected his blood money from them and proceeded to the Garden where he knew Jesus would be praying that evening. Judas said that the sign for them to arrest the right person would be a kiss - the "Judas kiss".
Jesus had left the supper room and made his way with the apostles to the garden to pray. He was praying feverishly for our sins and conversions. Taking on ALL sin - past, present and future. He was praying so hard for us that it caused Him to sweat blood.
At that moment as He finished praying and went to awaken His Apostles, He could here the rabble of the crowd coming towards Him.
Judas walked to Jesus and kissed His cheek. Immediately Jesus was being encountered with questions and violence.
Being dragged back to town like an animal, Jesus remained patient and endured His indignity.
Peter denies Jesus and goes to a cave to repent. Jesus is thrown in prison until Friday morning when he will be brought before Pilate.
Pilate doesn't want to condemn such a man as Jesus, but He does. First Pilate brutally has Jesus scourged and allows His crowning with thorns.
Jesus is forced to carry His own cross to Calvary, falling many times on the way - reopening all of His wounds.
Jesus is nailed to the cross to die.
He dies for us.
He is taken from the cross and put into the arms of His loving Mother and then place into a tomb.
