You are an actor in a story. The story tells about Jesus’ week leading up to His death, burial, and resurrection. What role do you play? What character would you consider the prime part? Which part would you never want to take on?

The Roman Soldier? Mary, the mother of Jesus? The vendors in the temple? A member of the crowd that celebrated Jesus one day but quickly turned? One of the twelve?

We often see these characteristics as being part of Jesus’ story. This week as part of my Bible class, we have been working through the different days found in Holy Week(the week leading up to Jesus’ death). We have met many of the characters to which we have grown accustomed and asked the same questions that have crossed many of our minds during the Easter season.

Judas– How could he have sold out the Savior for a mere 30 coins?

Vendors in the temple- How could they ever consider taking advantage of the people coming to celebrate the Passover?

The Crowd- How could they ever be so fickle?

Peter– How could he verbally deny knowing Jesus? Not only once…but three times.

What a story. These characters help us to understand the difficulty Jesus faced during his last week here on earth as a man.

Like I did with my students, I would like to interrupt your story for a moment and ask you to join. No, not as one of the characters, but as yourself. God chooses throughout scripture to introduce us to characters that share the same traits we tend to have. He shares characters that are like us. This is not done just so we have an interesting story to follow. It is done to help us find ourselves in the story of scripture and to learn from these characters.

Following a small part of Jesus’ week, let’s take some time to see this as our story.

The week began with the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead and His “fickle” followers were throwing a party. Laying their cloaks and palm branches down with chants of hosanna.

What amazing work had God done in your life that deserves this type of celebration? A party with your praise and hosanna?

Jesus overthrew the money changers tables in the temple. They were taking advantage of the people arriving to celebrate Passover and making some side cash at the expense of others.

When have you used your position to make a gain at the expense of others?

The Pharisees found it necessary on this day to question Jesus looking for holes in his answers and trying to discredit him in some way. The resurrecting of Lazarus was pretty much the last straw and they needed a way to lessen the influence Jesus now had.

Think of a time that you have questioned Jesus? Challenged His authority?

Judas makes the decision to betray Jesus. Understanding the value of money and coming to the realization that Jesus did not come to set up an earthly kingdom, Judas decides to sell Him out for 30 pieces of silver.

Give an example of a time that you were willing to sell Jesus out? Maybe you realized that His plan was not what you were hoping? 

Peter declares his commitment to the Father but later denies him three times. While Peter experienced a verbal denial, there are many ways that denial can happen in the life of a person.

Think of a time that you have denied God in some way. Have you ever denied Him full control of your life? Denied Him the right to influence your decisions? Denied Him access to your gifts and talents?

The crowd begins the week praising Jesus and ends the week by claiming the need for His crucifixion. Jesus did not fulfill the plans that many in the crowd had hoped. They were looking for an earthly ruler and king. This is not why Jesus came.

When have you been fickle in your faith? When God does not act as we wish He would? When He does not change the circumstance that we want Him to change? Do we then change how we view Him?

If honest, we will see that this is our story. We can find ourselves in every character.

Which character do you want to play now? Which character needs your attention the most? Which character needs to experience the love and grace of a Savior? That is the beauty of this story. Jesus still loved each person mentioned above and endured a horrific death on a cross so that they could experience His salvation. This love is also meant for you. He carried every “sell out”, every fickle moment, every questioning moment and every denial to that cross.  The most amazing part- HE LEFT THEM THERE! He overcame the power that sin has on our lives.

I would encourage you to take some time to let go of those moments when your part in this story was less than worthy of a Savior and embrace the grace given from a Savior that took it all. The gaining of what we do not deserve. Oh, what a Savior!

“The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely, this was a righteous man.”- Luke 23:47(NIV)