The Third day of Passion Week

The Third day of  Passion Week (Author: MC, Translator: HL)

Introduction:
Tuesday was a busy day for Jesus.  On the morning, Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem. They passed the withered fig tree on their way, and Jesus taught them about faith. At the Temple, the religious leaders aggressively challenged Jesus' authority, attempting to ambush Him and create an opportunity for his arrest. But Jesus evaded their traps and pronounced harsh judgment on them.

In the afternoon Jesus left the city and went with his disciples to the Mount of Olives, which overlooks Jerusalem, due east of the Temple. Here Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse, an elaborate prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem, and the end of the age. He taught in parables using symbolic language, about end times events including His Second Coming, and the final judgment.
Scripture also indicates that Tuesday was the day Judas negotiated with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus.

After a tiring day of confrontation and warnings about the future, once again Jesus and the disciples stayed the night in Bethany.

Key Events:

Events/Facts	Location	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
1 Jesus talked about the effectiveness of faith	On the way to Jerusalem	21:20‐22	11:20‐26
2 Jesus talked about His authority	Jerusalem	21:23‐22:
answer the question of the chief priests the parable of the two sons receiving their father’s order the parable of the wicked vinedressers the parable of the Wedding Feast		21:23‐27, 21:28‐32, 21:33‐46, 22:1‐14	11:27‐33 12:1‐12	20:1‐8, 9‐19
3. Jesus talked about paying taxes	Jerusalem	22:15‐22	12:13‐17	20:20‐26
4. Jesus talked about the Resurrection	Jerusalem	22:23‐33	12:18‐27	20:27‐38
5. Jesus talked about the first commandment of all.	Jerusalem	22:34‐40	12:28‐34	20:39‐40
6. Jesus talked about the relationship between Christ and David	Jerusalem	22:41‐46	12:35‐37	20:41‐44
7. Jesus talked about the situation of the hypocrites	Jerusalem	23:1‐36	12:38‐40	20:45‐47
8. Jesus lamented over Jerusalem	Jerusalem	23:37‐39
6. Jesus commended on the widow’s two mites	Jerusalem		12:41‐44	21:1‐4
10 Greeks came to see Jesus	Jerusalem				12:20‐36
11 The last public talk of Jesus	Jerusalem				12:37‐50
12 Jesus talked about the things to come	The Mount of Olives	24:1‐25:46	13:1‐37	21:5‐36
a. Jesus predicted the destruction of the Temple b. the signs of His second coming c. exhortation on being alert d. the Parable of the wise and foolish virgins e. the Parable of the talents f. the Parable of separating the sheep and the goats.		24:1‐14, 24:15‐31, 24:32‐51, 25:1‐13, 25:14‐30, 25:31‐46	13:1‐13, 13:14‐27, 13:28‐37	21:5‐19, 21:20‐28, 21:29‐36
13 Jesus mentioned His death for the fourth time	Jerusalem	26:1‐2
14 The chief priests and others plotted to arrest Jesus	Jerusalem	26:3‐5	14:1‐2	22:1‐2
15 Judah agreed to betray Jesus		26:14‐16	14:10‐11	22:3‐6

Key Verses:
John 12:20–26
20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Meditation:
Tuesday was Jesus' last public ministry in Jerusalem. Jesus had the opportunity to answer many people, but Jesus’ response to the requests of several Greeks can particularly remind us how to follow Jesus, today. Facing the coming crucifixion, Jesus said it was “the time for the Son of Man to be glorified”, because Jesus knew that "unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." Today, you and I are all righteous because of the propitiation (or sacrifice)  of Jesus Christ!

However, God's salvation never stopped at the forgiveness of our sins. He intended that we would deny ourselves and take our own cross and follow Him! He promised us that when we do this, the Father will honor us because Jesus' life is manifested in us.

Today, if someone wants to see Jesus like those first Greeks, can they see the beauty of Jesus within us?

Hymn: Servant King