by Pastor
Tuesday of the Passion Week
Read Mark 11:27-12:44
There are some people who ask questions to which they truly desire an answer. However, there are others who seek only to stir up trouble by their questioning, and try to discredit the person they are asking. In this passage (11:27-12:44), Mark reveals the hostility that Jesus encountered from the influential leaders of Israel. Certainly Jesus had laid down the gauntlet when He cleansed the temple. And here we see the religious elites fighting back, not physically, but by questioning Jesus’ authority. Despite their attempts, our Lord not only did not fall into their traps, but He discredited their authority in the process! In the midst of their failed attempts in questioning Jesus, the religious leaders became increasingly afraid and began seeking ways to destroy Jesus.
- What do you think are some of the motives behind the questions which are asked throughout this passage?
- In what ways are the religious leaders about to fulfill the Scripture cited in 12:10-11?
- In what ways do people today question the authority of Jesus? Do you ever question the authority of Jesus? How?
- Take time to ask the Father to help you follow His authority and will.
by Pastor
Monday of the Passion Week
Read Mark 11:11-26
In this challenging story (11:11-14), Mark describes a fig tree which has leaves, but contains no fruit. The presence of leaves, mentioned twice in the account, gives the impression that it should be bearing fruit. When Jesus went to the tree and found that it held no fruit, he cursed it so that no one could ever eat from it again.
The next day (11:20-26), the disciples see that the tree has withered, and Jesus takes the opportunity to teach on faith. The cursing of the tree seems like a strange response from the Lord. However, if we look closer at this chapter, we notice that sandwiched between the two-part story of the fig tree is Jesus cleansing the temple (11:15-19).
The fig tree was used in the Old Testament as a type of Israel (Hosea 9:10; Nahum 3:12). It appears that the cursing of the fig tree was a divine object lesson of the unfruitfulness of Israel, and possibly pointed to the impending doom of the temple. Despite all the “religious” activity in the temple, the temple was no bearing fruit.
- Jesus was looking for fruit in the fig tree. What kind of fruit was Jesus looking for in the people of Israel?
- Many people today think that by being “religious” they will escape the judgment of God. How is this passage a warning to them?
- How does one escape God’s judgment on sin? Can you say that you stand justified (right) before God? Why?
- Take time to thank the Father for His gift of His Son on our behalf.
by Pastor
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel–not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:17- 18
Within these verses we see the heart of Paul’s ministry…to preach the gospel. In his presentation of the gospel, he did not use “words of human wisdom” or in other words with the cleverness of human argumentation. Instead he proclaimed the simple, yet profound “message of the cross.” To those who reject the message, or as Paul describes them, those who are perishing, the message is foolishness. The idea of God taking on human flesh, dying on a cross like a criminal, and then being raised on the third day all done in order to save us from our sins, to them it is moronic, unbelievable, and foolishness. But to us who are saved, we know that it is the message of the cross, the gospel, it is “the power of God for salvation” (Rom. 1:16). When I survey the wondrous cross, I realize that the simple message of the cross preached is the power of God for salvation.
by Pastor
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
Isaiah 53:3-8
These verses concerning the suffering servant are disturbing, yet at the same time they are wonderful. It is disturbing to honestly think about what our Lord went through in order to bring us peace. Disturbing words like “despised,” “smitten,” “afflicted,” “pierced” and “crushed” convey a snapshot of the pain and suffering that Jesus endured. Yet another word jumps out in this passage. A word is used which truly makes these verses wonderful. The word is “our.” Jesus took up “our infirmities” and carried “our sorrows.” He was pierced for “our transgressions” and crushed for “our iniquities.” He experienced the wrath of God for our sins so that we may have peace with God. When I survey the wondrous cross, I see the suffering of my Lord for me.
Toward the cross
Daily readings of the events of the leading up to the cross
Sometime perhaps after midnight:
- Betrayal and Arrest (Matt. 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-50)
- Jewish trial – Jesus appears in three phases in front of:
- Annas (John 18:13-24)
- Caiaphas and partial Sanhedrin (Matt. 26:57-75; Mark 14:53-65)
- Sanhedrin fully assembled (perhaps after sunrise) (Matt. 27:1-2; Mark 15:1)
- Roman trial – Jesus appears in three phases before:
- Pilate (Matt. 27:2-14; Mark 15:2-5)
- Herod Antipas (Luke 23:6-12)
- Pilate (Matt. 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-14)
- Roman trial – Jesus appears in three phases before:
- Crucifixion – approx. 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Matt. 27:27-66; Mark 15:16-39)