The Week Before

Luke 19:1-10

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Mark 10:46-52

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

John 12:1-11

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.

Forgiveness, healing, and a dinner. The few days before Jesus’ entered Jerusalem on a donkey were packed full. Before heading to Jerusalem, he goes to Zacchaeus’ house. There, the tax collector repents of his old life of thievery and trusts in Jesus for forgiveness. On his way out of Jerusalem, Jesus heals the blind man Bartimaeus. He attends a dinner in his honor at the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. All this time, he is still teaching, still healing, still preaching forgiveness.

 Would we fault Jesus if he wanted some alone time before he went to the cross? Probably not. But instead of retreating inward as Calvary quickly approaches, he continues to spend time among the people, calling souls to repentance, forgiving their sins, and healing their afflictions.

 The week before Holy Week, we still see the completely unselfish nature of our Savior. Every human has their limits to how much they can give. But not Jesus. The week before he gives himself for all people, he still gives himself to the people. The weeks and years, centuries and millennia since, he continues to give himself to us, working tirelessly on our behalf to bring us the forgiveness of sins. He has not retired from his work. He still rules on our behalf with the goal of bringing us to heaven.

 Rest in the untiring Jesus. “He will not grow tired or weary” (Isaiah 40:28).

 Hope in the self-giving Jesus. “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

 Trust in the sins-forgiving Jesus. “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame” (Romans 10:11).