The Triumphal Entry was a celebration for those that loved Him; that His life, His message, His miracles and His teaching must be impacting the crowds like it did them. Jesus is getting the glory He deserves. The crowds must understand what we have come to know, that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah of God. They are beginning to love the Jesus that we love and to see how He loves us! What joy! Hear the shouts and praises! That was Palm Sunday.
And then it just absolutely unravels. Can you imagine watching Palm Sunday as one of the men and women who love and follow Jesus, and then watching, absolutely stunned and terrified, as one thing after another unravels; a mock trial, a miscarriage of justice, not just accusing Jesus but beating and flogging Him nearly to death. Jesus, once triumphant, now bloodied and seemingly defeated. And they all find themselves at the foot of a cross, watching Jesus die and hearing His cries of agony to His Father. The text records that those who loved Jesus had no words; they get no speaking parts. The only voices initially are from those who hate Him. Pride always seems to have the words while grief remains speechless. And eventually Jesus breaths his last and cries out, “It is finished.” The road I came to make for you back to God is complete; My blood will now cover you and make you clean. This little movement of disciples that Jesus had started just stands there and watches their hope literally die in front of them. So what do they do now? What should they do next? What really is there to do when the Lord of life is dead? And that is the text we focus on this morning. As we read it, try to catch what it is that the women do after they have watched Jesus die.
