Passion Week: Tuesday

So what happened on Tuesday of Passion Week?

1. Jesus Taught the Disciples a Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree

Read Mark 11:20–25 to get the most detailed chronological account. Matthew 21:20–22 treats the two events around the fig tree as one because of his topical approach. Luke and John are silent on this account.

Tuesday morning, the disciples pass by the fruitless fig tree, that Christ had just cursed the day before, and it was already withered to its roots! Peter, representing the Twelve, remembers and bursts out with observation. Jesus takes a teachable moment here, not just to speak of how the Temple worship system was corrupt and coming to a close, but that the thing that they need to learn is this: "have faith in God." Israel lacked faith in God.

Faith, when it is not mingled with doubt, accomplishes much. This kind of bold, expectant faith must be present in the disciples' prayers. And when they stand praying in faith, they should be forgiving others if they have anything against anyone. This kind of willingness to forgive others their offenses is proof that God has forgiven them of their own offenses.

2. The Jewish Leaders Confront Jesus

Mark 11:27–12:44 accounts for these tense confrontations in the Temple between Christ and the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Council. Matthew 21:23–23:39 also captures these Temple exchanges. Unique portions to Matthew, that are not found in Mark, are the Parable of the Two Sons (21:28–32), the Parable of the Tenants (21:33–45), the Parable of the Wedding Feast (22:1–14), and the seven woes pronounced by Christ on the scribes and Pharisees (23:1–36). Luke 20:1–21:4 generally captures the essence of what Matthew and Mark record, with few additions and omissions.

The Jewish leaders asked Christ who had returned to the Temple that He had cleansed the day before, "By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?" He answered that the Source of His authority comes from heaven.

He shared with the religious leaders a Parable of the Tenants that they perceived was being told against them. From that point they sought to arrest Him, but because of their fear of the masses of people around them at this time (Passover), they retreated until another time.

The Sanhedrin began to send experts in certain fields to try to trap Christ up in His talk. They asked a hard question about allegiances, about marriage and heaven, and about the most important commandment. With each answer and interaction, Christ handled Himself with Spirit-filled composure and divinely-enabled wisdom and power. After He alluded these traps, Christ engaged them all about the identity of the Messiah being David's son and his Lord and how that was possible.

Finally, Jesus accused them of stealing from widows, binding heavy burdens on others, performing all their righteous deeds to be seen by others, leading people away from the kingdom of God rather than towards it, stoning the prophets sent to them, and neglecting the weightier matters of the Law. For these reasons, and so many more, Jesus lamented deeply over Jerusalem. They were not willing to gather under God. For this, there house would be left to them desolate.

3. Jesus Delivers His Olivet Discourse

The Olivet Discourse is found at greatest length in Matthew 24:1–25:46. Mark 13:1–37 and Luke 21:5–36 is also an account of this lengthy message given on the disciples' way out of Jerusalem and up the Mount of Olives.

As Jesus sat down opposite the Temple, He spoke to the disciples of the timing of the close of the age. Before Jesus will set up His kingdom in Jerusalem, before peace is restored to Israel as a nation, before Jesus will be worshiped as King on the earth, there will be unmistakable signs. These signs will be seen most evidently in the second half of the Tribulation Period. The earth will go through excruciating, rhythmic labor pains culminating in the arrival of the long-awaited kingdom of God. And because no one knows the day or the hour of the beginning of the end of time, Christ's disciples must be ready!

Christ gave two parables to the disciples to illustrate that there will be some people who will be ready and some who will not. Whether they are ready or not, Judgment Day will come with the Return of Jesus Christ. Those who are alive during the Tribulation who believe in the Gospel and follow Christ through persecution will enter into the Millennial Kingdom on earth and those who did not believe in the Gospel will be cast away into eternal punishment.

Tuesday's Prayer:
"Lord, we pray, increase our faith. Help our unbelief. May our faith be our filled with expectation that You will answer our prayers, so long as we pray according to your will. Please forgive us our sins and please forgive those who have sinned against us. Let the forgiveness that You have shown to us be shown in and through us.

We are in awe of your unparalleled authority. You speak Truth and no one can mess with You. You have come down from heaven to earth in order to accomplish Your heavenly Father's mission and to give Your life as a ransom for many. We love You, Lord. With all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, we love You. Unlike the religious leaders in that day, make us doers of your Word. Keep us humble. May our lives be examples to others.

Lord, make us a people who are ready. Ready to receive Jesus as the Christ. Ready to trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Ready to worship Jesus as King over all. Ready to face You in the end with the assurance of our salvation. Allow us to stake away spiritually so we are not caught off guard. Come soon, Lord Jesus! Restore your Kingdom to the earth soon! Rescue us from our various trials and tribulations!"