In schools across the nation  there is a phenomenon that takes place at certain times during the year called SPIRIT WEEK.   What is Spirit Week?   It is a time to show school spirit, an emotional support for one’s school.   “We’ve Got Spirit” becomes a slogan showed enthusiastically in a variety of ways:  clothing, posters, pep assemblies, theme days, and cheers.   Spirit Week’s purpose is to spark an upsurge in school spirit.  The goal is to create an emotional attachment that is ongoing and builds a positive attitude toward a person’s school, sharing pride with  those around you.

However, the “We’ve Got Spirit” slogan is not only for schools, but also for something else that requires an emotional attachment.   “We’ve Got Spirit” means a person is spirited, has a specified character or outlook on their life or mood, and is enthusiastic about something that is dear to their heart.

Our Lord and Savior was certainly spirited with a specified character and enthusiastic about what was dear to his heart.     This is clearly demonstrated in John 13:1 “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”   Who was dear to his heart?   The answer was obvious to the Apostle John, which is clearly defined in this Gospel.  Jesus, while knowing His time was coming to be crucified, demonstrated He loved His disciples to the bitter end.  The reason this was so obvious to John was because he was a recipient of this incredible love.  Not only did  Jesus prove His love to His disciples that He had taught, but to all people: YOU and me.

Jesus often demonstrated His emotional attachment.  An example is found in  Luke 13:34    “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not”.

     What a tender thought!  The Lord wanting to gather the Jews of Jerusalem under His wings of protection.   Who would not want to be under the tender protection of Jesus Christ?  Jesus certainly wants to gather up all people, cover them with His love and cleanse them with His blood.   Jesus, without a doubt, displayed a spirited

attitude for people.

Did Jesus participate in a SPIRIT WEEK?   Without reservation the answer is YES.  Some would call it Passion Week, the week before his crucifixion.  It began with Jesus entering Jerusalem.   In Matt.21:7-11 we read:

7They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Jesus rode into Jerusalem knowing this was the beginning of the last week of His life, and crowds  displayed great spirit by their words and actions.  The whole city was stirred up!   Some said “who is this”, while others shouted “Hosanna in the highest”.  Hosanna  means “save, we pray”.  

Also In John 12:13  it says “So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!    

Many of the people were spirited, showing great enthusiasm for Jesus.  They spread coats and palm branches on the ground as He passed and with great joy shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of Lord”.    They had spirit!   The spreading of palm leaves was a customary greeting of popular heroes in the Greek culture and a sign of victory.

This Spirit Week began by Jesus, ended in His ultimate act of love; His crucifixion.   What should be our response to show our spirit, to be able to say “we’ve got spirit”?   Remember that Jesus is our Hosanna, and His life was victorious.  His death proved His love for all of us.   This leads to a life that is lived for Jesus.

Do you want to live triumphantly in Jesus Christ?

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Dave