101 - The Apostles Holy Week

101 - The Apostles Holy Week

This episode is a heartfelt reflection on the events of Holy Week—from the cheering crowds on Palm Sunday to the quiet shock of Holy Saturday and the joy of Easter morning. I walk through each day, imagining what it must have felt like for the apostles and others around Jesus during that final week. It’s a story full of hope, confusion, love, and transformation, and I explore what each moment means for life today.

The Misunderstood Triumph of Palm Sunday
The week begins with celebration, but the kind of king people expected isn’t the kind of king Jesus came to be. There’s so much in that tension—between what we want and what God actually gives. It’s a reminder to let go of my assumptions and ask what kind of kingdom I’m really looking for.

The Temple Cleansing and a Deeper Challenge
Jesus flipping tables wasn’t just about corruption—it was about the message the religious system was sending to everyone, especially outsiders. That makes me think: what does my life say about the God I follow? Am I reflecting His heart or something else?

Moments of Tension and the Betrayal Midweek
As Jesus teaches and confronts religious leaders, everything starts escalating. Judas’s betrayal didn’t come out of nowhere, and I wrestle with the complexity of his motives. It’s easy to judge, but sometimes I see shadows of my own doubts in his story.

The Last Supper and Jesus’ Servant Leadership
When Jesus washed His disciples’ feet and shared the bread and wine, He was showing love in its rawest, most personal form. It challenges me deeply—how do I serve others when I’m facing my own fears and limitations?

Good Friday’s Heartbreak and Hope
Jesus’ death was brutal, unjust, and totally disorienting for His followers. But even in that darkness, there were flickers of hope—words of forgiveness, fulfilled promises, and a radical kind of love. This day forces me to look at suffering differently, and to see the cross not as defeat, but redemption.

Living in the Silence of Saturday
That in-between day—what I’ve called “Wigged Out Saturday”—feels all too familiar. It’s the waiting, the fear, the not knowing. It reminds me that faith isn’t just about the highs; it’s about holding on when nothing makes sense.

The Surprise and Joy of Easter Morning
Then everything shifts. The tomb is empty. The message comes through witnesses no one expected. Jesus is alive, and that changes everything. Easter doesn’t just wrap up the story—it launches something new. It reminds me that no matter how dark things seem, hope is real and alive.

Takeaways:
Holy Week isn’t just a story I revisit once a year. It’s a window into the heart of the gospel—where grace shows up in the middle of confusion, and love breaks through in unexpected ways. I’m reminded that faith doesn’t mean I always understand what’s happening, but that I trust the One who does. And even when I feel scattered, overwhelmed, or unsure, there’s always an empty tomb waiting to surprise me with joy.

https://smallstepswithgod.com/101-the-apostles-holy-week/

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