Palm Sunday marks Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He cleanses the Temple of corrupt traders. At the Last Supper, Jesus predicts his betrayal and sacrifice. In Gethsemane Garden, Jesus prays alone as Judas arrives to betray him. Jesus is then tried, mocked, and crucified, but rises from death on the third day.

1. Holy Week - overview
● Palm Sunday
● Cleansing of the Temple
● The Last Supper
● Prayer and Betrayal in Gethsamane
● Trial and mockery
● Crucifixion
● Resurrection

2. Jerusalem
● capital of the Jewish state, and holy city of the Jews
● site of the Hebrew temple and council of Jewish priests and leaders
● under Roman rule
in J’s time

3. Palm Sunday — Jesus’ triumphal entry
● J. arrives in Jerusalem, knowing he will be killed
● arrives on a donkey — humble and peaceful, not proud and war-like
● crowds cheer, hail him as the Messiah (chosen leader)
● palms and cloaks thrown down for him to ride on

4. Jesus cleanses the Temple — Mark 11:15-19
1. What happens?
○ throws out corrupt, greedy
traders
2. Why might it be important?
○ reforming the religion - Israel has
lost its way
○ moral challenge to religious
leaders
○ shows J. angry
Caravaggio, 1610; Source

5. The Last Supper — Mark 14:12-25
1. What happens?
○ farewell to friends
○ foretells J’s betrayal by Judas
○ foretells his sacrifice
○ uses symbols - bread and wine
2. Why might it be important?
○ food - essential to life
○ the completeness of J’s sacrifice for us
○ J’s acceptance of his betrayal
Leonardo da Vinci, 1520; Source

6. Prayer & Betrayal in Gethsemane - Mark 14:32-50
1. What happens?
○ J. and disciples pray in garden
○ disciples sleep - J. confronts his
future suffering
○ Judas and soldiers arrive, J
arrested
2. Why might it be important?
○ shows J. deeply human - afraid
and alone
○ weakness of disciples - sleep
○ J doesn’t fight
Veronese, 1584; Source

7. Jesus’ trial and mockery - Mark 14:53-65; 15:1-20
1. What happens?
○ J. interrogated by council of Jewish priests
○ J. accused of the worst blasphemy (saying something that is
intolerable in a religion) — demand crucifixion
○ Roman governor, Pilate, tries to understand why priests want J.
executed (rather than Barabas, a murderer) — can’t.
○ Pilate keeps the crowd happy — ‘washes his hands’ of the matter
○ mocked, humiliated, beaten
2. Why is it important?
○ J. does not try to persuade, or back down - courage, dignity
○ J’s suffering — God has experienced what we experience
Grunewald, 1505; Source

8. Jesus’ crucifixion
1. What happens?
○ J. carries cross through city to Golgotha
○ nailed to cross, mocked by crowd
○ dialogue with crucified thieves
○ dies - earthquake, darkness, temple veil
torn
2. Why is it important?