Passion Week: Monday

The "Passion" of Christ is a reference to the Latin word (passio) which means "suffering." Suffering was no doubt the culminating characteristic of the final week of Christ's earthly ministry. Since the four Gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) have all devoted so much material to the Passion Week, we have decided to look at the events of each day. So what happened on Monday?

First of all, let's summarize the important events that transpired the day before, on "Palm Sunday":

In Sunday school, we started by reading through Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:11; Luke 19:37-44; and John 12:16-19 to paint as much of the picture as possible of the Triumphal Entry of Christ into Jerusalem. Essentially, Sunday morning Jesus presented Himself as King to Israel. Christ demonstrated masterful knowledge and power, He fulfilled prophecy with uncanny precision, and He caught the attention of the Jewish leaders who were filled with fury. Many in the crowd from Galilee realized Jesus as their King and Messiah while others asked, "Who is this?”

Secondly, we considered John 20:22–26 which is the account of some Greeks that sought Jesus. These inquiring believers said to Philip, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Their request would be granted as Christ would make His way to the cross to be "glorified."

Thirdly, Jesus wept over Jerusalem with a deep, gut-felt compassion, according to Luke 19:41. He had pity on them because He knew they were not ready to receive Him as their king. And because they did not know the time of their visitation, judgment was coming on them as a nation.

Fourthly, to end the day somewhat anti-climacticly, Christ enters Jerusalem and went into the temple just to look around at everything and then return to Bethany.

MONDAY:

1. Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

Start by reading Mark 11:12-14. Matthew 21:12-13 sheds a tad more light on the fig tree cursing. Luke and John do not mention it in their accounts.

The fig tree the disciples passed by had nothing on it but leafs. This frustrated Christ because He was hungry. Even though it was not expected to bear fruit until another month or so, Jesus saw it as an opportunity to refer to this leafy fruitless fig tree as emblematic of the nation of Israel that was not bearing fruit spiritually in a time when it was needed. It looked like a fig tree but it had no real usefulness. So Christ angrily cursed the fig tree, no doubt having in mind the corruption and hypocrisy of Israel.


2. Jesus Cleanses the Temple a Second Time

Again, start by reading Mark 11:15-17. Matthew 21:12-13 and Luke 19:45-46 are nearly identical accounts as well. The first time Jesus had cleansed the Temple was back in John 2:14-16.

After the disciples' trip back into Jerusalem, Jesus enters the Temple where God was to be worshipped, sought in prayer, accessed by converted Gentiles, and attended to by qualified priests. Jesus could not tolerate the corruption of His Father's house, so He drove everyone out who had set up their personal business kiosks. He also would not permit anyone to cross through the Temple Mount as a convenient short cut from one place to another. He addressed everyone, who's attention He surely had caught, and told them forcefully, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers." He quoted Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11 with these words.

3. Jesus Returns to Bethany with the Twelve

Mark 11:19 alone points out that the disciples returned to Mary and Martha's house in Bethany to lodge at the end of the day. It was only 2 miles away from Jerusalem, across the Kidron Valley, and over the Mount of Olives to the East.

Monday's Prayer:
"Lord Jesus, forgive our fruitlessness. Forgive us for quenching and grieving Your Holy Spirit in our sin. We give ourselves up to You, Lord, that you might cause us to bear much fruit. Teach us the severity of the judgment for constant fruitlessness so that we may appreciate You more.

We pray that our religion is not useless to You. We seek to worship You in the splendor of Your holiness and not to let our self-worship contaminate our spiritual lives. Keep us far from arrogant, self-righteousness that can bring down the greatest. May our righteousness be Christ's. May our very lives be daily sacrifices given up to You in light of your great mercy.

May we too burn with heavenly zeal for the purity of worship in Your house, Father. Give us eyes to see what doesn't belong in our lives and help us to desire your will to be done here on earth in our lives as it is in heaven. We are astonished by you, Lord. Let us grow in our submission to Your authority and let us grow in our satisfaction of the Person and work of Christ, our Lord and our God."