As we celebrate the Holy week this week and the main events in Jesus' life let us move to Tuesday. Here is what happened:
A very important teaching of Jesus happened this day, a lesson on faith!
Matthew 21:18-22
The Fig Tree Withered
18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.
The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”
21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, 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 also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Our faith in Jesus and through the Holy Spirit gives us an enormous amount of power through the Holy Spirit. What Jesus is saying here is not whatever we want He will give us, but whatever we do according to His Word will be done such as providing everything needed to share the gospel! How strong is your faith?
Jesus as it seemed was always the case also had His authority questioned this day:
Matthew 21:23-37
Jesus’ Authority Questioned
23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”
24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: 25 The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.”
And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
While He confounded the chief priests here he did tell ultimately reveal where His authority comes from:
John 17:1-3
17 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
Jesus and the Father are one, He has always had authority and always will!
Jesus gave on this day what is known as the Mount of Olives discourse: you can read this in Matthew 24:1-25:46
Main points here are:
*Prediction of temple destruction
*Signs of end of times
*persecution will happen to believers
*Jesus predicts tribulation, false christs, and prophets
* Jesus tells HE IS COMING BACK to gather believers!
*Jesus tells His Words last forever.
*Jesus reveals no one knows the hour of His return except God the Father.
*Jesus reveals when he returns He will judge and separate the goats from the sheep!
Read over these...very important teachings from our Lord!
To close this day out, bad news:
The plot to kill Jesus:
Matthew 26:3-5
3 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. 5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
And Judas betrays our King:
Matthew 26:14-16
14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. 16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.That still hurts me every time I read it even though I know it had to happen!
So this ends Tuesday of our Holy Week.
Tom
