Posted By: Steve
Happy Tuesday friends and family,
As always, I hope that this is finding you well! Our devotions today bring us to Tuesday of Passion week. Today is known as the “busy day.” As we look at the happenings over the last few days, we celebrated Palm Sunday, and Pastor Rob talked about “keeping our temple’s clean,” in connection with Jesus cleaning out the Temple in Jerusalem of the money changers, etc. (If you missed that it was a video that he did; here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aem3fE9d2S8 or you can go to our Anchor Point Bible Church YouTube channel to check it out!)
Luke 21:37-38-
And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.
If you knew that you were going to die at the end of the week, how would you be spending your time? Sensitive question I know. But also, a serious question. Again, if you knew that you were going to die at the end of the week, how would you spend your time?
As you read that verse from Luke that I put above, I want you to pay close attention to what Jesus was doing. He knew that in just a few short days he was going to be hung on a cross left to die. And he was going to be put on that cross by the hands of the very people, who just 2 days earlier praised him as he entered the city. They yelled in their loudest voices, “HOSANNA, HOSANNA! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
If you’re following along with the Scripture readings that Pastor Rob emailed on Sunday for Passion week, then maybe you have already read these scripture passages. If not, I encourage you to read them. Here’s a timeline for Holy Monday and Tuesday. The horizontal axis is a timeline; the vertical axis represents the proximity of specific individuals and groups of people who played an important role in the Easter story and the verses associated with each.
Graphic courtesy of Bible gateway
As you can see Jesus was busy. He was busy with constant teaching. Above you can see all the people that Jesus interacted with on this day. There were thousands, as the people came to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. And as Jesus was preparing for his death, He was thinking about everyone but himself. He wasn’t feeling sorry for himself.
As He and the disciples walked into town that morning Peter said, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God!” (Mark 11:20-25) Here was a teaching moment for the disciples.
Then when they reached the temple Jesus had debates with the religious leaders. They were trying trap Jesus, to get Him to say something that would incriminate Himself hopefully revealing the phony they thought He was. But instead, Jesus flipped the script, and taught others how to live as true believer’s in Christ, the Son of God. Jesus in Matthew 23 called the religious leaders BLIND GUIDES! He tells the crowds and his disciples- “Do what they say, but not what they do, for they preach but do not practice.” (Matt. 23)
Later when Jesus left, his disciples came to him and they talked privately on the Mount of Olives and talked about the ends of the earth and his return. And, again, Jesus just kept teaching.
Jesus, knowing that in just a few short days He would be hung on that cross, spent His time teaching. What a selfless act of love. Looking out for others, offering his loving forgiveness to all those around Him. What an awesome thought. Even though we don’t know when Christ will return, we can be confident in it, and that one day those who put their trust in Jesus Christ, will spend eternity with Him. All because of the work Jesus was accomplishing during Holy week!
Let me ask you again. If you knew that you were going to die at the end of this week, how would you be spending your time? Would you be telling others about Jesus? Sharing your story and what His death and resurrection mean to you?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you. Thank you for your son Jesus. Who so selflessly looked to the needs of others. Thank you for His teachings, and for His humility, for His life, that is an example, that we as believers can follow. May we continue to share your love with others in love and humility no matter what our circumstances. Thank you.
In Your Son’s name, Christ Jesus, Amen
