On Tuesday of Holy Week, Jesus returned to Jerusalem, passed the withered fig tree and used it as an illustration of the power of placing our faith in God. When they returned to the Temple, religious leaders publicly challenged him, asking “By what authority are you doing these (miracles)? And who gave you this authority?” (Matthew 21:23). That conversation did not go well for the leaders, as Jesus called them “blind guides…whitewashed tombs full of dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity, filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness…” (23:24-33). Notice, He did not try to defend himself nor give credence to his critics. There is probably a lesson there for us today. A little while later that day, Judas negotiated with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16).
In the afternoon Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives and gave a prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem at the end of the age, His Second Coming and the final judgment. He was drawing the attention of his followers away from the drama and nonsense from unbelievers, to the plans God had in store for their future. I believe Jesus himself was looking past the agonizing events of the coming days, to the joy that was just around the corner.
In the evening, Jesus and the disciples returned to Bethany to spend the night.
Oh beloved, please don’t be preoccupied with the challenges of today. Don’t get lured into the fear and doubt that is so prevalent in our culture. Devour the word of God and keep your focus on His promises. Isaiah 26:3 reads “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.”(AMP). God is faithful and His words are true. In the words of our Lord, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
Let’s sing: “This world is not my home, I’m only passing through; my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore…”
Scripture reading for Tuesday: Matthew 21:23–24:51, Mark 11:20–13:37, Luke 20:1–21:36, and John 12:20–38