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!"

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."

Augustine on Christmas

One church father named Augustine spoke such eloquent words about the glory of this time of year:

"The Maker of man became man that He, Ruler of the stars, might be [weaned as an infant]; that He, the Bread, might be hungry; that He, the Fountain, might thirst; that He, the Light, might sleep; that He, the Way, might be wearied by the journey; that He, the Truth, might be accused by false witnesses; that He, the Judge of the living and the dead, might be brought to trial by a mortal judge; that He, Justice, might be condemned by the unjust; that He, Discipline, might be scourged with whips; that He, the Foundation, might be suspended upon a cross; . . . that [He, the] Life might die."

One Thing

Our Winter Camp topic this year is "One Thing." Consider for a moment:

What is the one thing you seek in life?
What is the one thing you desire above all others?
What is the one thing you are after?
What is the one thing you won't stop until you get?
What is the one thing that controls your affections?
What is the one thing you feel most passionately about?
What is the one thing that gives you satisfaction?
What is the one thing that completes you?
What is the one thing you believe is worth dying for?
What is the one thing that defines who you are?
What is the one thing you speak most about?
What is the one thing that brings you the most joy?
What is the one thing you think most about?
What is the one thing you treasure above all else?
What is the one thing you want to experience?
What is the one thing you are most concerned about in life?
What is the one thing for which you live your life?
What is the one thing you hope will come after this life?
What is the one thing you desire most for others to know?
What is the one thing that you want to see?
What is the one thing that drives you each day?
What is the one thing you would receive from the Lord?
What is that one thing?

Our answers to questions like these may range from things as small as our new smartphone to things as seismic as the God of Creation Himself. That is because the human heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jer 17:9). No man can know his heart like the Lord (17:10). And there is no more important thing to guard than the heart (Prov 4:23). Above all other commandments, we are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our heart (Deut 6:5; Matt 22:37). So questions like these above can tell us a lot about where our heart is, where it has been, what it is after, what it prizes, what it protects, what it desires, what it seeks.

This winter, the College and Career groups will spend precious time pouring over one verse:

Psalms 27:4    One thing have I asked of the LORD,

that will I seek after:

that I may  dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon  the beauty of the LORD

and to inquire  in his temple. 

Lord willing, our generation of young adults will stand as one in the grace and glory of Jesus Christ who Himself has brought to us the dwelling place of God. Please begin to pray with us now that God will unite our hearts to engage in the highest activity of the human soul, which is, coming into the presence of the Holy, living, triune God.

How Long, O Simple Ones?

The Hebrew word for "the simple" (Proverbs 1:4, 22, 32) is peti. Peti, according to Derek Kidner in his Proverbs commentary, means 'to fool' or to deceive or seduce. It literally means 'open,' which interestingly enough refers to the simple's mentality in life, open. He is open to what anyone tells him. He is open to good and open to evil. Open to the what might be the right way and open to harm's way. He is dangerously open-minded (not a positive quality here). It captures the sense of the one who is gullible, easily led, naive, and irresponsible.

Some might laugh at the thought of being gullible or having a friend who is easy to joke around with and take advantage of (by the way, the word 'gullible' was recently taken out of the dictionary). But the sad thing is, "the simple acquire folly" (Prov 14:18). If the simple does not turn at wisdom's reproof and heed her counsel, then he graduates to a more serious condition. Again, Kidner: "a man who is emptyheaded will end up wrongheaded."

College can be a time when you don't really have an aim in life, you don't have a whole lot of experience being a believer, and the drift towards temptation seems so easy. Well, there is a hope and a warning for such a one. Hope: turn, and wisdom will pour out her spirit to you (1:23). Warning: the simple are killed by their turning away (1:32). 

It's all in how you turn (Heb suv). God is loud and clear through His Word: turn away from sin and turn toward Wisdom (aka Christ, "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" Col 2:3) alone for salvation.

Psalm 19:7 "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple (peti)."

2 Timothy 3:15 "and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

Don't delay another day. Go to God in prayer. Confess your love for being simple. Acknowledge that you've been in the wrong and He has been right all along. Pray for a healthy fear of God to guide you along in life (1:7; 9:10). Commit your life to a consistently biblical worldview that will bring honor and glory to God.

Delay another day, however, in your simple ways and you may lose the chance to call out to God for life. "For the simple are killed by their turning away, the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster" (Prov 1:32, 33).

Bear Much Fruit

Christ promises, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (John 15:7).

When you first read "ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you," you can kind of tense up with a mental knee-jerk reaction, "Well, not WHATEVER you wish, of course." But if you understand the context of John 15, there should be no discomfort from Christ's promise to do for you whatever you wish, if you abide in Him and He in you. Let me explain:

John 15:5 says, "Whoever abides (remains) in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit." And not too much later, John 15:8 says, "By this the Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples."

John teaches us here that God is glorified in the lives of His disciples when they bear much fruit. And the only way to bear much fruit is to abide in Christ and He in us. So logically, the more Christ is seen in and through us, the more God is glorified. The reason for this is that there is no one or no thing that brings God more pleasure than His Son (Mark 1:11 "And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.'").

So if you have trusted in Christ and been united with Him, what do you think God would desire to do most with your life? Well, His primary concern would be to do whatever would bring Him most glory, because he alone is worthy (Psalm 29:2). And the means by which He brings glory to Himself through your life is by the flourishing of the character of Christ in you. Our lives become a conduit, or channel, or "branch" through which the Father achieves His ultimate end of glorifying Himself by bringing His divine life through His Son, "the true vine," to bear much fruit in us.

Return now to the promise in verse 7: "ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." If your will is completely subject to God's as you abide in Christ, then you will only be asking God for things that bring glory to Him; things that enable you to bear much fruit, and so feature the life of Christ.

In the words of the psalmist: "Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4).

Delighting yourself in the LORD = abiding in Christ

Kindly Led to Repentance

How does God draw sinners to repentance? What approach does He take to breaking down the walls of unbelief? How exactly are faith and repentance born for the first time in the soul of man? What does God use? Who does God use?

Many times you find yourself discussing spiritual things with an unbeliever and they are as hard-hearted as they come. You share all the right answers--to the best of your ability--from the Scriptures, and they stand unmoved. You plead with them to heed the words of Christ to enter His rest and stop attempting to work for their own salvation, and they work harder to justify their thinking. You warn them that if they do not repent of their sins and trust in the righteousness of Christ alone for salvation, then they will not enter the kingdom of heaven, but they take offense.

There are two passages that have come to my mind lately regarding this seemingly "stuck" situation that only God can free the lost soul from. The first is Psalm 7:12 and 13, which says:

If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow; he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.

God feels a righteous and just indignation towards sin. He burns inside with a fury of wrath because sin is so entirely opposed to His character and His ways. And it is right for God to plan to punish sin because He is holy and just judgment is required for every sin, little and large. The unrepentant sinner unknowingly lies his stiff neck right down in front of the swinging sword of God.

BUT, the sinner might respond to these verses and say, "Well I don't know if it makes sense for God to scare people into believing; it doesn't seem to fit who I know God to be. I mean, seriously, does God really use 'scare tactics'?"

It is to this objection that the second passage comes savingly in to play. Romans 2:4 says:

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Ah ha! There is your answer! There is the Gospel of God's grace and kindness! There is the most compelling thought to cross an unrepentant sinner's mind to get him to repent! Just two verses before this, in Romans 2:2 and 3, Paul affirms the Psalmist's words saying:

We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who do such things. Do you suppose, O man...that you will escape the judgment of God?

So because of the holiness, righteousness, and justice of God, the sword of execution is being sharpened and the bow is bent and the fiery arrows are readied for release into the sinner's wicked heart. BUT, at the cross, the Shepherd of the sheep (Mark 14:27) was struck by that drawn sword of wrath. The diamond-sharp arrowhead of God's judgment for our sin was sunk into the heart of His Beloved and only Son. The death penalty for sin (Rom 6:23) has been carried out on the cross of Christ so that the free gift of God, eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, may be given.

May the cross of Christ always stand as the crosshairs of the arsenal of God. And may sinners not take another breath before tasting of the goodness and kindness of God that leads to repentance.