Palm Sunday
The week began with an exciting Palm Sunday. We (along with 1000s of Christians from all over the world) hiked up the Mt. of Olives to join in the "triumphal entry" walk back down it into the Old City. It was a really fun celebration! Palm branches, flags, singing, dancing, & music placed us in an atmosphere that must have been similar to the excitement and anticipation that the people felt when Jesus rode on a donkey on that same route 2,000 years ago. Although the people of His day were hoping He would be their earthy King to "save us now" (literal translation of "Hosanna!") from the Romans, we can celebrate even more in the fact that Jesus' death and resurrection means salvation from eternal separation from Him!
"A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!""
{Matthew 21:8-9}
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| Walking down the Mt. of Olives into the Old City |
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| Joining in the fun! |
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| 15 minutes of fame: Matt's head (and our friends Vadim & Natalya) made international news! Such a funny picture to choose for a news headline:) |
Hosanna!
Good Friday (Pesach/Passover)
Friday for Christians is the day we remember Jesus' death on the cross. For Jews, they remember this day (Pesach/Passover) as the time God redeemed His people from slavery in Egypt. It was neat to experience both of these celebrations together this year.
We participated in a Triclinium Meal (similar to what the Last Supper would have been like) at JUC. Matt spent the day with his classmates setting up and recreating a 1st century atmosphere complete with a u-shaped table, cushions on the floors (yep, we laid down to eat), and a foot washing station. Our host and much loved professor, Dr. Wright, led the evening through the retelling of the Good Friday story (John 11-19) as we ate and reflected on the meaning of this huge sacrifice.
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| John 13:4-5; 12-15: “So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him….When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” |
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| Luke 22:14: “When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.” |
After the Triclinium Meal, we headed home to a Seder service! To give a better idea of what Pesach is all about, here's a write up from our latest JUC Friday Am newsletter:
"Pesach, the most widely observed Jewish holiday, celebrates
both God’s freeing of the Israelite slaves from Egypt and the beginning of the
Nation of Israel. The Passover Seder
includes the reading of the Haggadah, the story of God’s
liberation. This year Passover is
celebrated tonight, 6 April (Erev Pesach with the Seder) through 14
April. The first and last days of
the holiday are chags and businesses, busses, etc. in West Jerusalem
will be on holiday.
For the seven days of Pesach, all leaven
products are forbidden, nor are they available in Jewish grocery stores. In the weeks preceding Passover, houses
are systematically cleaned and all leavened products (khametz) are
removed. Special plates and
silverware are used – a very busy time for housewives."
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| The Haggadah (a Jewish liturgy book) summarizing the Exodus story & God's redemption of the Israelites from slavery. |
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| Seder plate - matzah, horseradish (bitter herbs), parsley, hard boiled egg, lamb shank, harasot (a mix with apples, nuts, honey, & cinnamon), and wine |
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| Tasting the bitter herbs & reading portions of the Haggadah |
Easter
Easter morning Matt got up really early to enjoy a sunrise service overlooking the desert (Jeannette was sick and stayed in bed for awhile). Later in the afternoon, we enjoyed a BBQ lunch at JUC with other families and students. It was great to fellowship with other believers on this special day! |
| joining in the Easter egg hunt in the JUC cemetary |
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| beautiful roses in the JUC garden! |
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| Matt joining in the games! |
What an amazing Easter week...We are so blessed to be able to know that we have purpose in this life because of what Christ did on the cross! May you also be joyful in Him and the free gift of salvation offered to us all!
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him."
{John 3:16-17}
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