Last day of Rest????

Possibly last day of rest for Jesus during this Holy Week as He prepares for the cross.

Day 4: Holy Wednesday

Tomb of Lazarus, Bethany (c. 1900).

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The Bible doesn't say what the Lord did on the Wednesday of Passion Week. Scholars speculate that after two exhausting days in Jerusalem, Jesus and his disciples spent this day resting in Bethany in anticipation of Passover.

Just a short time previously, Jesus had revealed to the disciples, and the world, that he had power over death by raising Lazarus from the grave. After seeing this incredible miracle, many people in Bethany believed that Jesus was the Son of God and put their faith in him. Also in Bethany just a few nights earlier, Lazarus' sister Mary had lovingly anointed the feet of Jesus with expensive perfume.

Holy Week Events-Tuesday

Think deeply on what Jesus did for you!

Day 3: On Tuesday, Jesus Goes to the Mount of Olives

The Mount of Olives.

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On Tuesday morning, Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem. They passed the withered fig tree on their way, and Jesus spoke to his companions about the importance of faith.

Back at the Temple, religious leaders were upset at Jesus for establishing himself as a spiritual authority. They organized an ambush with the intent to place him under arrest. But Jesus evaded their traps and pronounced harsh judgment on them, saying: 

"Blind guides!...For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness...Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?" (Matthew 23:24-33)

Later that afternoon, Jesus left the city and went with his disciples to the Mount of Olives, which sits due east of the Temple and overlooks Jerusalem. Here Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse, an elaborate prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age. He speaks, as usual, in parables, using symbolic language about the end times events, including His Second Coming and the final judgment.

Scripture indicates that this Tuesday was also the day Judas Iscariot negotiated with the Sanhedrin, the rabbinical court of ancient Israel, to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16).

After a tiring day of confrontation and warnings about the future, once again, Jesus and the disciples returned to Bethany to stay the night.

The tumultuous events of Tuesday and the Olivet Discourse are recorded in Matthew 21:23–24:51, Mark 11:20–13:37, Luke 20:1–21:36, and John 12:20–38.

Holy Week Events-Sunday and Monday

Think deeply on what Jesus did for you!

Day 1: Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday

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On the Sunday before his death, Jesus began his trip to Jerusalem, knowing that soon he would lay down his life for our sins. Nearing the village of Bethphage, he sent two of his disciples ahead, telling them to look for a donkey and its unbroken colt. The disciples were instructed to untie the animals and bring them to him.

Then Jesus sat on the young donkey and slowly, humbly, made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, fulfilling the ancient prophecy in Zechariah 9:9:

"Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

The crowds welcomed him by waving palm branches in the air and shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

On Palm Sunday, Jesus and his disciples spent the night in Bethany, a town about two miles east of Jerusalem. This is where Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead, and his two sisters, Mary and Martha, lived. They were close friends of Jesus, and probably hosted Him and His disciples during their final days in Jerusalem.

Jesus' triumphal entry is recorded in Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19.

Day 2: On Monday, Jesus Clears the Temple

Painting by Carl Bloch: "Casting Out the Money Changers".

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The following morning, Jesus returned with his disciples to Jerusalem. Along the way, he cursed a fig tree because it had failed to bear fruit. Some scholars believe this cursing of the fig tree represented God's judgment on the spiritually dead religious leaders of Israel. Others believe the symbolism extended to all believers, demonstrating that genuine faith is more than just outward religiosity; true, living faith must bear spiritual fruit in a person's life.

When Jesus arrived at the Temple, he found the courts full of corrupt money changers. He began overturning their tables and clearing the Temple, saying, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves" (Luke 19:46).

On Monday evening Jesus stayed in Bethany again, probably in the home of his friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. 

Monday's events are recorded in Matthew 21:12–22, Mark 11:15–19, Luke 19:45-48, and John 2:13-17.

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I pray your soul is well with God by the blood of Jesus.

What ya thinking?

What you think or dwell on has important realities in each person's life. Read this verse:

Proverbs 23:7a 

7a For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

God says what we think on or dwell on deep in our hearts is who we are! So what are you thinking? Do you think on things of God? Love, mercy, forgiveness, sharing the gospel? Or do you think about revenge, greed, covetousness, hate, self????

What ever we dwell on in our hearts reveals our relationship with God. For God tells us when we become followers of Jesus we become new creations! We change over time! We become more like Jesus. If since you say you became a follower of Jesus nothing has changed in your heart and the way you think, you have not been saved and are not a follower of Jesus. Talk with someone you know is a follower and let them help you in this! I would be glad too! Just contact me anytime!

For those that are saved remember transforming to be like Jesus is a process for the rest of your life! You should see changes but we always have more work to do to be like Jesus!!!

So what ya thinking?????

Tom

No matter what comes our way!

My Lord, no matter what comes my way:

“But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hand...”. (Psalm 31:14-15a)

Take the time to voice these truths to our Lord:

1. I trust you Lord.
2. You are my God.
3. My life(times) are in your hand.

Brothers and sisters God is in control. We have nothing to worry about and nothing to fear. God has everything planned out and in his timing all will come to pass. As for me and my house we will trust Him for we know that He loves us!

Tom