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Holy Week - Tuesday
[NOTE: The information on the events of Holy Week that occurred on Tuesday were posted by Joshua Claybourn on his blog -- www.joshclaybourn.com/blog]

On this day of the Holy Week, Tuesday, a number of events took place. First, Jesus' authority was challenged in the temple (Mark 11:27-33). This, and the general rejection by Hebrews, fulfilled the ancient prophecy that He would be rejected by his own people (Isiah 53:1,3; Psalm 41:19).

Secondly, Jesus taught in stories and confronted the Jewish leaders (Matthew 21:28-23:36). Then, after the Greeks asked to see Jesus (John 12:20-26), He delivered the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24).

Finally, the big moment came - Judas agreed to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16):

Then one of the Twelve - the one called Judas Iscariot - went to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
Matthew is the only one to record the amount Judas was offered, but its significance is profound. 30 silver coins was the price of a slave (Exodus 21:32). Later, when Judas would betray him, he would fulfill yet another ancient prophecy, this one found in Psalm 41:9.

Today is also the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover, which actually began last night at sunset. The alignment of Passover and Jesus' execution is no coincidence, and as the week unfolds we'll see more of why that is so.

Passover marks the freeing of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage under the rule of the Pharaoh Ramses II. Moses was instructed by G-d to demand the freedom of his people from Pharaoh. Moses warned the Pharaoh that G-d would send severe punishments to the people of Egypt if they were not freed. Again the Pharaoh ignored Moses' request and in response G-d unleashed a series of 10 terrible plagues on Egypt.

The holiday's name of Pesach, meaning "passing over" or "protection" in Hebrew, is derived from the instructions given to Moses by G-d . In order to encourage the Pharaoh to free the Israelites, G-d intended to kill the first-born ("first fruit") of both man and animal (this was the tenth plague). To protect themselves, the Israelites were told to mark their dwellings with lamb's blood so that G-d could identify and "pass over" their homes. Yeshua (Jesus), the Messiah, is the First Fruit whom G-d raised from the dead.

Of course there is much, much more to Passover, such as the Hebrews' exile in the desert, the parting of the Red Sea, and the practice of not eating leavened foods to commemorate the Jews fleeing Egypt who did not have time to let their bread rise. It is also a symbolic way of removing the "puffiness" (arrogance, pride) from our souls. And then there is the all-important feast called the "Seder." The word "Seder" means "order" and refers to the order of historical events recalled in the Passover meal.

Posted by Joshua Claybourn