Archive | April 2023

Holy Week – Tuesday

Apr4

The withered fig tree:

As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. Being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God.
Mark 11:20‭-‬22 NASB

And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Matthew 21:21‭-‬22 NASB

Confrontation with the religious elite:

They came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him, and began saying to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?” And Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question, and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? Answer Me.”
Answering Jesus, they *said, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Mark 11:27‭-‬30‭, ‬33 NASB

Jesus follows up with several parables in Mark 12

Judas . . . . The Plot

The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people. And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them. They were glad and agreed to give him money. So he consented, and began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them apart from the crowd.
Luke 22:2‭-‬6 NASB

Back to Jesus . . .

As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples *said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.”
As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?” And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.
Mark 13:1‭-‬5 NASB
Jesus continues in Mark 13:6-37

🌹Jesus spent three years building a relationship with His disciples, especially with those closest to Him. Do you wonder how Jesus felt in leaving them? As yet I don’t think the reality of Jesus dying was even on the disciples radar. But Jesus knew what was coming for each one of them. I can’t help but believe Jesus was heartbroken over what was about to happen to His disciples’ world – their confusion, desperation, doubt, brokenness and hopelessness over what was about to take place. Not only was Jesus carrying His own burden and anguish but also the same for His disciples. And soon Jesus was to carry the burden of sin for all mankind.

Lord Jesus, thank You for loving Your creation so much that You feel our pain, our anguish, and understand. I pray we would keep our eye on the Lamb, staying focused, and remembering and trusting Your teachings, Your word. Amen.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Holy Week – Monday

Apr3

Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly. . .


On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.
Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves; and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.” The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching. When evening came, they would go out of the city.
Mark 11:12‭-‬19 NASB

The Temple. A place to commune with God. A sacred holy place of worship. What had happened? Commercialism. Neglect. No longer a house of prayer, a place to commune and worship God. It had become a “den of theives”. A money-making place of business.
The Temple. Where God resides, takes up residence. Today, we believers are the Temple of God. What condition is your house in?

🌹God, today, as we observe Holy Monday, may our hearts turn to the worship of Jesus, our Savior. Forgive us for the condition of Your Temple as we repent of any dishonor to You, that is going on in us, Your Temple. Amen

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon