For today's scripture, I invite you to read John 12:12-50

After almost twenty years of writing this devotional, there is a series of five that remain the most requested every year. Today is the first of those, all written about holy week. And so once again, I share those now.

It is early morning, and he rolls over and opens his eyes to the sun which is rising in the eastern sky over Jerusalem.  He has slept - fitfully - but slept nonetheless, worn from the previous day.

As always, the first thing he does is speak to His father.  “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.  You have set your glory above the heavens.  From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.  When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him.  You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.”

He sits up and rubs His hand through His hair.  And He wonders if anyone has yet begun to understand how true that last line is or will be by the end of the week.  And then he thinks about yesterday, and He realizes, ‘no they haven’t, not yet.’

Yesterday, his arrival in Jerusalem, even amidst all the pomp and circumstance, had made him sad.  They just did not understand.  They wanted a king who would rule over them, restore Israel, and yet the rule he offered them was denied because they would have to give up control.  They wanted the truth, and yet they turned away from it when it was spoken.  They clung to the old law when the new law offered so much more.  Yesterday they praised him, but he knew that very soon they would mock Him and scorn Him.   They tried at every turn to make him admit who He was, and yet the second He did, they would scream blasphemy.

He unconsciously rubs his tired and worn hands and feet and realizes that it is not a physical tiredness He feels, but simply an emotional exhaustion and frustration.  He has spoken the words of His Father who sent Him, and they were not heard, at least not by the hearts of the listeners.  And those who did hear and believe, they would not admit it.  They were either too scared, or they valued the praise of men more than that of God.  He continues to rub his hands, and he looks at them.  And He knows there is more that lies ahead.

Slowly he closes His eyes again and lays his head back down.  “Stay with me, Father.”  He knows the week has only begun . . .

"Father, Help us to understand, in our hearts, the true meaning of this week.  In Jesus' name, AMEN."