How would we have held up in the seven days before Jesus’ death?

Good morning, friends,

Today’s readings reveal the willful blindness of unbelief and the steady faithfulness of God’s servants. Jeremiah suffers for speaking God’s truth, yet he continues to proclaim God’s word. His lament echoes Jesus’ own experience in the days leading to the cross—mocked, opposed, and rejected by religious leaders. Both Jeremiah and Jesus show us that God’s purposes will prevail, even when His people face hostility. In a world full of lies and doubt, we too must choose how we respond. We can deny Christ or trust Him. We can complain or cling to Him. In the final week of Jesus’ life, the Gospels slow down. The pace becomes deliberate, almost uncomfortably so. Every conversation, every confrontation, every quiet moment is recorded with a kind of holy intensity. Scripture is inviting us not simply to observe Jesus but to locate ourselves in the story. And that raises a searching question. As disciples, we must ask: How would we have held up in the seven days before Jesus’ death?

Summary of the Scripture Readings

Jeremiah 20:10–13

Jeremiah is surrounded by enemies who want him silenced, yet he declares that the Lord is with him like a mighty warrior. He entrusts his cause to God and ends with praise for God’s deliverance.

John 10:31–42

The Jewish leaders attempt to stone Jesus for claiming to be God’s Son. Jesus defends His identity by appealing to Scripture and His works. Though rejected by many, others believe in Him.

John 18:5–6

When the arresting party asks for Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus answers, “I am he,” and the sheer authority of His identity causes them to fall back.

Psalm 82

God rebukes unjust leaders (“gods”) who fail to defend the weak. He declares that though they hold authority, they will die like mortals. The psalm ends with a plea for God to judge the earth.

Psalm 18:2–7

David praises God as his refuge and deliverer. In distress he cries out, and God responds with powerful, earth-shaking intervention.

Message: In John 10, Jesus has healed a blind man, yet the religious leaders still refuse to believe He is the Messiah. They accuse Him of blasphemy because He calls Himself the Son of God. Jesus responds first by quoting Psalm 82—showing that Scripture itself uses the term “gods” for those entrusted with God’s message. Then He points to His works, which clearly reveal the Father’s presence in Him. Still, they try to stone Him. Jeremiah’s lament stands beside this scene. He is imprisoned and overwhelmed, yet he ultimately affirms that God is with him “like a dread warrior.” The contrast highlights Jesus’ perfect trust. Though fully human and capable of feeling vexed or weary, He never blames the Father. He endures rejection for the sake of God’s plan. The disciples feel the pressure too. The more Jesus reveals His divine identity, the more dangerous it becomes for them. Yet Jesus understands that all of this is part of the Father’s saving purpose. The unbelief of some becomes the doorway for salvation to reach others. Like Jeremiah, we may feel abandoned. Like the disciples, we may feel confused. But like Jesus, we are invited to trust the Father’s plan even when we cannot see it. Jeremiah emerges from his ordeal singing praise. Jesus emerges from His suffering in resurrection glory. Their stories call us to trust God in our own dark nights of the soul.Most of us instinctively imagine we would have been faithful. We would have stood with Him. We would have understood. But the disciples—who had front‑row seats to His miracles, His compassion, His authority—did not. They were confused, afraid, and spiritually fragile. And if we’re honest, their weakness looks a lot like ours. As the cross drew near, Jesus’ followers felt the rising hostility. The crowds grew unpredictable. The religious leaders became openly aggressive. The air thickened with danger. And under pressure, the disciples’ confidence evaporated. Pressure always reveals what we truly trust. Not what we say we trust. Not what we wish we trusted. But what our hearts actually rest on. When Jesus spoke of suffering, the disciples resisted. When He spoke of betrayal, they denied it. When He prayed in agony, they slept. Their instincts were not shaped by the cross but by self‑preservation. And so are ours. We want a Messiah who strengthens our plans, not one who overturns them. A Messiah who conquers by power, not by surrender. A Messiah who rescues us from suffering, not one who calls us to follow Him through it. This is why the disciples stumbled. This is why the crowds turned. This is why the religious leaders hardened. A crucified Messiah confronts every false foundation we build our lives on. But here is the good news: It is Jesus’ faith not ours that makes the difference. The Gospels do not spotlight the disciples’ failures to shame them—or us. They highlight Jesus’ unwavering obedience in the face of universal human weakness. Everyone else falls asleep; Jesus stays awake. Everyone else runs; Jesus steps forward. Everyone else denies; Jesus declares, “I am He.” The story of Holy Week is not ultimately about the disciples’ collapse but about Christ’s steadfastness. Our salvation rests not on how we would have held up, but on how He held up. 

And So how would we have held up in those seven days? Probably no better than Peter or John or the others. But that realization is not meant to crush us—it is meant to free us. Because the gospel is not “Be strong for Jesus.” The gospel is “Jesus was strong for you.” When we see our weakness, we are finally ready to receive His strength. When we admit our fear, we are finally ready to rest in His courage. When we confess our doubt, we are finally ready to trust His faithfulness. During this season, let this question do its deeper work. Not to condemn, but to awaken. Not to shame, but to draw you nearer to the One who walked the final seven days with perfect love.Let the question lead to Grace. He held up for you. He endured for you. He prevailed for you. And now He invites you to follow Him—not in your strength, but in His.

Pray that we believe. Pray that we persevere when things get hard. Pray that the works of Jesus strengthen our faith. Pray for courage, trust, and endurance. Pray that we bring our fears and doubts to God. Pray that we see as God sees. Pray that we glorify Christ in our suffering. Pray that we remember we are children of God. Pray that we trust the Father through the Spirit.

Blessings,

John Lawson