Holy Week Day 3

Faith, the Future, and Our Duty to Our Fellow Men, Women and Children

Mark 11:20, 22-25 ESV
“As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

On Tuesday morning, Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem. They passed the withered fig tree on their way, and Jesus spoke to his disciples about the importance of faith and how it intertwines with forgiveness!

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. (Matthew 23:24-33)

Later that afternoon Jesus went with his disciples to the Mount of Olives. 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. (Matthew 25)

Matthew 25:34-36, 40 ESV
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’  And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”

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

After a day of teaching, confrontation and warnings about the future, Jesus and the disciples returned to Bethany to stay the night. It is amazing that are Savior had such a presence of mind that He could teach, train, rebuked, and evade danger just a matter of days before His brutal death.

Yes He is God, but He is also fully man, feeling, knowing and comprehending the absolute horror that He was about to go through, but still being our loving Savior. What a Savior He is!!!

Prayer:
Lord, I am humbled by Your ability to set aside the fact that You know that You were about to be brutally murdered and hung on the cross and die, so you could teach more about the people that we are supposed to be in this life. Thank You is not enough, we owe You our lives, but thank you for Your sacrifice! Amen!