August 16-20, 2010

Go into the village opposite you, in which as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it, and bring it here. And if anyone askes you, 'Why are you untying it?' thus shall you speak, 'The Lord has need of it ' " Luke 19:30-31

Monday did you find yourself giving a bit of an exasperated sigh as you walked with Jesus and His disciples as they headed for Jerusalem? Jesus is doing all He can to prepare His disciples for the horror that lays ahead. “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed, sentenced to die, mocked, crucified and then He will rise on the third day.” What is it about betrayal, condemned, mocked, crucified and rising from the dead that they didn’t get? It’s got to be another parable because the Son of Man is going to set up His kingdom; at least that’s what they thought. We know that by what James and John request from Jesus. “Grant that we may sit in Your glory, one on Your right, and the other on Your left.” They even got their mother involved to add a little more persuasion. I mean, who could resist such a request from a sweet Jewish mother whose sons had sacrificed everything to follow the Master? Of course they could drink of the cup that the Lord was about to drink!?!?! It’s easy to think you are able to pay the price when you don’t have the foggiest notion of what you are buying into! Although they were all walking the same road together, Jesus was on a different journey then everyone else. Jesus had put the roadmap in their hands, but they were so sure they knew where this road was going, that they failed to look at it. I’d like to point fingers at them, but I’m afraid that I’ve misinterpreted what Jesus has said to me on more than one occasion. I’ve heard His words and interpreted them according to how I wanted it to be, and not by what He had planned. So I find myself sighing a deeper sigh as I look at it from my own life.

Jesus followed the normal route of the pilgrims. If you’ve been to Israel, you are already familiar with the fact that Jericho was the normal route taken on your way up to Jerusalem. You also quickly learn that no matter which direction you take to Jerusalem, your journey will be “up” to get there. No matter where Jesus went, He left a path of healing and restoration in His wake. Blind men found mercy, and outcasts found acceptance. And by this time in Jesus ministry, His presence always drew a crowd.

As Jesus neared Jerusalem, he began to tell a very interesting story about ten servants. Aware of what His disciples were thinking concerning their desire to see the Kingdom immediately established, Jesus teaches a story of the Kingdom. There is more to this story than meets the preconceived eye! Jesus makes it clear that there’s going to be time between the nobleman’s going away, and his return. He also lets them know that the nobleman who was going away to be crowned king was leaving with expectations of them. Did you notice the three categories of servants when he returns? 1. You have those who didn’t want him to be their king and were considered his enemies. 2. You have those who accepted him as their king and use wisely what he has entrusted them with. 3. And you have those who want him to be their king, but do nothing with what they were given. That part of the story is not too difficult to put together, but each category receives a different outcome when they were called to give an account. What did Jesus say to each one? What does that really mean when someday we have to stand and give an account? What does Jesus mean when He says, “Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten pounds”? In eternity, what will it matter if one ends up with no pounds and the other ends up with eleven? What is taken away from the man who accepted the king, but did nothing with what he received? Thankfully, he didn’t get the same judgment as the ones who refused to accept Him as their king and were considered the His enemies. Do we have a tendency to just hear the words without understanding their meaning? Perhaps we are more like the disciples who heard Jesus’ words, and when they failed to understand them, they simply attached their own logical preconceived explanations. Sigh!!!

At the beginning of the week of Passion, we find ourselves back in Bethany at the home of Simon who had been a leper. As we piece together the different accounts, we quickly find that Simon was a close friend with Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Martha is busy doing what Martha does so well – serving everyone. Mary is focused on what she is always focused on – serving the Master. And Lazarus is just enjoying being alive! Each of their lives has been made richer. Martha serves without complaint, Mary gives the best that she has, and Lazarus testifies of the power of the Lord with every breath he takes! Did Mary understand what she was doing or did Jesus’ words take on meaning only after He was crucified? Whatever the case may have been, that event began an incredible, Scripture fulfilling week!

SUNDAY

Why did Jesus go to Jerusalem riding on a donkey that day? Why did the procession end at the Temple, and why did Jesus throw the merchants out of the Temple – AGAIN? This was not just any normal Sunday. This was the Sunday before Passover! This was the day when the fathers went and brought the lamb into the house that, in just a few days, would become the Passover sacrifice. This was the day the Father of all fathers brought His Lamb into His house knowing that He would become the sacrifice for His household! During the days before Passover, one of the preparations was to clean out all leaven in the house. Every corner, dish, nook and cranny had to be washed and cleansed. The Father’s house was no exception; it was also being cleansed!

While Jesus stood in the Temple teaching and healing, the people hung on every word. The scribes and Pharisees’ challenges only demonstrated to the people that Jesus spoke with an authority they didn’t have. And while Jesus was in the Temple speaking words of life, the priests were hiding behind close doors, plotting His death.

MONDAY

Jesus got up in the morning, and before He had breakfast, He headed back to His Father’s house. If He had been in Galilee, He’d have headed down to the beach and cooked up some nice fish, but since He was in Jerusalem, He was hoping to have some nice fresh figs. Although it was a bit early for figs to ripen, the tree had the appearance of fruitfulness. When Jesus looked at the fig tree, was He reminded of Hosea 9:10?

I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first season. BUT they came to Baa-peor and devoted themselves to shame. And they became as detestable as that which they loved.

Did He think about the parable He had taught concerning the fig tree that the man planted in his vineyard? For three years he came looking for fruit, but there wasn’t any. At this time, Jesus had been ministering for about three years? Did the tree remind Him of the religious leaders in Jerusalem – they looked like they should be bearing fruit, but instead they were barren. Obviously, the fig tree weighed heavily on His mind because later in the Temple He tells the people to learn the parable of the fig tree:

When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; even so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. (Matthew 24:32-33)

Just coincidence? Certainly not!!! What was Jesus telling them? Israel as a nation was about to quickly wither and die. It had taken on the appearance of fruitfulness, but they had become as unbelieving as their forefathers and devoted themselves to shame. But there would come a day near the end of time when the fig tree would once again become tender and green. Jesus encouraged them to recognize this event and know that when you see this happen, He is getting ready to return!!! We have had the amazing privilege of seeing the fig tree’s branch become tender. What an exciting day to be alive. May we listen carefully to the Master as He teaches us throughout this week. His words during the week of Passion were meant for us today. God, help us not to walk with the same lack of understanding as the disciples who walked with Him. These are crucial days and we need to walk in discernment of what Jesus is saying. He is standing at the door and I don’t want to miss a thing!!!!!