Saturday
Day of Anointing
Mary in Bethany
References: Bible Dictionary (BD) p. 621, John 12, Talmage p. 511ff, McConkie p. 333ff.
Jesus arrived at the small village of Bethany to the home of his dear friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead after three days. On the Saturday evening of the Sabbath Martha and Mary prepared the meal for the Sabbath before Passover. After the meal apparently a crowd had gathered hoping to see the Christ whom they had heard much of his healings and speakings. Onlookers at a meal was not unheard of in that day and place.
After the meal Mary brought to the Savior an alabaster cruse of costly spikenard ointment. Alabaster is a beautiful rock that can be carved for architectural detail as well as containers and statuary. It has an opaque yet translucent appearance--white oftimes with yellowish streaks. Talmage in 1915 gave the cost of the ointment to be about $15. I suppose that today at the value of the dollar would make it about $250.
Though it was not unusual to anoint the head of an honored guest with ordinary oil, to anoint both the head and feet with spiknerd in such abundance “was to show unusual and signal regard. . . . Mary’s act was an expression of adoration; it was the fragrant outwelling of a heart overflowing with worship and affection” (Talmage).
Note the concern of Judas for the monetary value of the ointment that it could have been put in the treasurer’s purse to use for the poor. In retrospect of knowing that Judas had likely already made his deal for the life of Christ for far less than the value of the ointment Mary’s choice is indeed a contrast.
Sunday
Day of Popularity/Palm Sunday
Enters Jerusalem from Bethany
References: Matt 21:6-11, Mark 11;1-6, Luke 19:28-34. Talmage p. 513ff, McConkie p. 337ff.
Jesus prior to the trip down the hill at the side of the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem asked two of his disciples to go to a certain place where they would find a foal (with its mother) and to bring it to him. They were to simply say that the Lord had need of it if they were stopped. When they brought the colt they laid their coats across its back for the Lord to sit upon.
Many people had gathered in anticipation of his known coming to Jerusalem. The Romans were not concerned as he was riding on only a slow donkey not a mighty horse. They didn’t considered him a threat and the crowd was not unruly. The crowd laid palm fronds, myrtle twigs and other foliage in his path in great adoration for his fame as healer and teacher. Likely, some sensed his singular greatness as the Messiah. Greeks had come the great distance as they had also heard of him and his doings.
Jesus, when he approached the great temple where 220,000 people could gather on its precincts, wept. He knew all that the city and its population could have been but they would not. In the main they recognized him only as a man from Galilee come to Judea the greater city. He knew that shortly the great city would be destroyed.
“If thou hadst known, even thus, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thy enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”
The Pharisee’s in concern of the crowds asked him to rebuke his disciples. He answered them, “I tell you that if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” The Pharisees couldn’t see what so many knew from within.
The Old Testament prophet, Zechariah had known: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”
Monday
Day of Authority
The fig tree, Cleansing of the Temple
References: Matthew 21:12ff, Mark 11:12ff, Luke 13:6ff, Talmage p. 524ff, McConkie p. 345, 348ff., BDC.
Setting off early again for Jerusalem the next day Jesus with his disciples saw a fig tree in leaf. A fig tree in leaf gave them the assurity that there would be fruit for their nourishment and enjoyment on its branches. Arriving at the tree they were disappointed to see they were deceived. There was no fruit. “It was a showy fruitless, barren tree . . . destitute even of [dried] fruit from the preceding season.” Jesus cursed the tree for its hypocrisy. The next morning they observed that it had withered from its roots up. He taught them, “Have faith in God.” Teaching that with faith even mountains could be removed, should there be a need--the great possibilities of faith and prayer.
The miracle was proof of his power to destroy by a word that which was barren and worthless. He had the power that he could have saved himself from his impending death and suffering.
Entering the temple he routed the merchandisers with their goods, the money changers at their tables, the defilers of the temple, calling it now “My house.” not only My Father’s house as formerly designated.
He then proceeded to heal those in need of healing. Children saw his healing acts and sang in praise and worship, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” To the objecting priests he said, “Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou has perfected praise?”
Tuesday
Day of Conflict
Teaches in the Temple, and at Mount of Olives
References: Matthew 21, 24, 26, Mark 11- 14, Luke 20. Talmage p. 530-563, and 569, 586ff, McConkie p. 357-420, and 421-476. (Parables taught at end of public ministry and prophecies on the Mount of Olives with his disciples.)
Wednesday
Day of Rest
Probably in Bethany
Thursday
Day of Fellowship. Passover/Seder
Last Supper, Betrayed, Great Teachings
Friday
Day of Suffering
At sunrise taken to Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin
6 a.m. to Pilate
Then to Herod
Back to Pilate
A crown of thorns
Carries his cross with assistance to Calvary
Soldiers part his garments
Noon to 3, darkness
Dies
Spear in his side
Buried in the borrowed tomb
Saturday
Day of Silence
The guards flee
Sunday
Day of Triumph
He rises
Mary, “He is not here.”
I saw this beautiful and inspiring painting recently:
I often reflect on Dad's thoughts as he sat at the garden tomb with his colleagues and looked upon the open and empty tomb while partaking of the sacrament that had been prepared.
He is Risen!
I also think of my thoughts as I sat on a garden bench alone soon after Dad's death and near the garden tomb.
Because Christ has risen we to shall live together again!
Today, is a good day for me to be in the temple to learn and to think.
Have a wonderful Easter.
Each of you inspires me and is a great blessing.
Love you all.
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