Dispensation Bible Study #16

Approaching Grace - Passion Week - Saturday through Monday

The final week of Jesus’ physical life is recorded in detail in all four Gospels. It began on Saturday, the 10th day of the Jewish month Nisan, with His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and ended the following Sunday, the 18th day of Nisan with the discovery of the empty tomb. Jesus’ death and burial was on Wednesday, the 14th day of Nisan and not on a Friday as commonly believed (see addtional notes). Even though tradition is not accurate as to the time of Jesus’ death, it is interesting to note how close the Passion Week--as it is commonly called--is to our celebration of Easter. We do not celebrate Christmas at the corresponding time of the year because most likely Christ’s birth occurred in warmer weather (Luke 2:8), but Jesus really did die and rise again in the Spring! To really celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection each year at the “correct time” we would have to go to the current Jewish calendar and correspond to the Passover. The exact timing of the celebration should not bother Christians because they should celebrate this beautiful story year around!

Jesus had prophesied before leaving Jerusalem to minister in Perea three months earlier, that He would not return to Jerusalem until He came with people worshipping Him (Luke 13:35). The time of celebration of the Passover is at hand, and approximately two million Jews will be in and around Jerusalem to celebrate, and all have at least heard about this “Jesus who claims to be the Christ.”

Saturday - Day of Demonstration

The Jewish Day began at sunset and ended at the next sunset, so Saturday the 10th of Nisan, actually began with sunset on what to us would seem Friday night the 9th of Nisan. After the supper in Bethany, later that night, Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests to offer to betray Jesus. Judas’ criticism of Mary’s “wasting” the precious ointment showed his true intentions and love.

Matt 26:14-16 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Late that night, which were really the early hours of Saturday, Judas Iscariot met with the chief priests and scribes and agreed to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. This fulfilled the prophecy by the prophet Zechariah years earlier!

Zech 11:12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.

From this time on Judas sought an opportunity to betray His Messiah! Why did he do it? Most likely He assumed that Jesus would deliver Himself and that the Pharisees would never get Roman approval to kill an innocent man. The love of money and greed that had surfaced earlier at Jesus’ anointing by Mary in Bethany reared it’s ugly head in Judas Iscariot’s fulfilling another prophecy that the Messiah would be betrayed by a friend:

Ps 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

By going to the chief priests and agreeing to offer up Jesus, the sacrificial lamb, on Saturday the 10th of Nisan, Judas also fulfilled the Passover law perfectly which stated that the Lamb that was to die was to be selected, purchased, and set aside on the 10th day of the month!

Exod 12:3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:

As we study the last week of Jesus’ earthly life, we will see that He perfectly fulfilled the Passover and truly was the “Lamb of God” which came to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29)!

As daybreak comes, Jesus and His disciples prepare to enter into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. They could do this because Bethany was a Sabbath day’s journey from Jerusalem (Acts 1:12 Luke 24:50).

Matt 21:1-5 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

Jesus sends two of His disciples to get a young donkey for Him to ride. This was a direct fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah that the King of Jerusalem would enter by riding a colt. In those days if a king went to war, he rode a horse. If his mission was one of peace, then it was customary to ride a colt or some kind of donkey. While entering a crowded Jerusalem, Jesus wanted no misconceptions about what He was coming to do: He was not bringing war to the Roman army, but rather peace to their souls! Jesus was not coming to set up an earthly kingdom but a spiritual one!

Luke 19:35-38 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. 36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in

the way. 37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

Jesus’ prophecy was fulfilled even to the sayings of the people! As He began His descent into the city of Jerusalem, many people who believed that Jesus was exactly who He said He was, began to worship Him. Some grabbed branches from the palm trees, some shouted, some sang: the King of Israel was entering Jerusalem!

Luke 19:39-40 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

The Pharisees, of course, did not join in the celebration and called out for Jesus to rebuke His followers for praising Him as a King. Jesus’ answer is clear: He had earlier prophesied that He would be praised when He entered Jerusalem, and if the people did not praise Him, then something would (Luke 13:34-35). Why? Because God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19), and Jesus was God manifest in the Flesh(I Timothy 3:16), and His prophecy would be fulfilled! Either the people of Jerusalem or the rocks of Jerusalem would cry out!

Luke 19:41-44 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

As Jesus catches sight of Jerusalem, He wept for it! Within 4 days the people of this city which He loved so much will crucify Him, thus rejecting Jesus as their King. Jesus goes on to prophesy about what will happen to Jerusalem because they did not know the time of their visitation. For Gentile people, today is the time of our visitation; let us not miss our time and realize that Jesus is wanting us to exalt Him as King and Lord in our life.

Matt 21:10-11 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

Notice that Jesus’ entry “moved” the city. The entire city with it’s millions of visitors now knows that Jesus is here and is waiting to see what He will do next.

Mark 11:11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

The day ends with Jesus entering Jerusalem and the temple just to observe. Jesus and His twelve disciples then return to Bethany to spend the night. Judas Iscariot, thirty pieces of silver richer, was still with Jesus acting like everything was okay!

Sunday - Day of Authority

Mark 11:12-14 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: 13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. 14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

Apparently leaving early in the morning from Bethany without taking the time to eat, Jesus sees from a distance a fig tree having leaves. In Palestine, the fig trees produce fruit before the leaves are fully cultivated so Jesus fully expected to find breakfast. As He came near, however, there were no fruit! Jesus cursed the tree and said that no man would ever eat of this particular tree again. The disciples overheard this peculiar statement.

Mark 11:15-17 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; 16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. 17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

This is the second time that Jesus had cleared the temple of the moneychangers. The people were not sinning in providing sacrifices for the people. They were sinning by charging high prices, reaping huge profits, and greedily selling inside the temple itself! The religious leaders of the day were teaching the Mosaic law that the people were required to offer God a sacrifice, but were also overcharging for the animal to sacrifice. They did not care about pleasing God; only about making money! Despite Jesus only being one person, no one dared challenge His authority as He cast them out. Why not? Because what He taught was true: the temple is “My house.” Jesus was claiming to be the Jehovah God of Israel, the one true living God!

Mark 11:18-19 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. 19 And when even was come, he went out of the city.

Jesus was no longer merely saying and acting like He was God, He was proving that He was God, and the Pharisees “feared him.” So, as Jesus returns to Bethany at the close of Sunday, His enemies begin to finalize their plans to destroy Him.

Monday - Day of Conflict

Mark 11:20-22 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. 22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

Monday morning as Jesus and His twelve disciples are returning to Jerusalem from Bethany, they pass the fig tree that Christ had cursed the morning before. Over night the tree had withered away to nothing. Jesus used this simple miracle to remind the disciples to “have faith in God.” Knowing what the disciples were about to go through, Jesus just wanted one more opportunity to reaffirm their faith. No doubt as they walked about the countryside after Jesus’ death and resurrection, the disciples would see many of the common fig trees and be reminded of His words.

Matt 21:23-27 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? 24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? 26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. 27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

Trying to catch Jesus in something with which they could prosecute, the Chief priests and Jewish leaders asked Jesus by whose authority could He act the way He did on Sunday. Jesus responded by asking them by what authority did John the Baptist baptize. The chief priests realized that they had been cleverly trapped for if they said John the Baptist was of God, then Jesus would ask them why they did not follow his instructions. If they stated that John the Baptist was not sent from God, then the people would have risen up because they truly believed that he was a prophet! Jesus then taught the Pharisees three parables of warning: “The Two Sons” (Matthew 21:28-32), “The Wicked Husbandmen” (Matthew 21:33-34 Mark 12:1-12 Luke 20:9-18), and “The Marriage Feast of the King’s Son (Matthew 22:1-14).

Matt 22:15-22 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

The Chief Priests and Pharisees could not stand being defeated, so they began to plan a series of “test questions” to try to trick Jesus into saying something with which the majority of the people would disagree. Sending some of their disciples, the “Herodians,” the Pharisees test Jesus by asking if it is lawful (Moses’ law not Roman law) to pay taxes. If Jesus says “no,” then the Roman authorities will be after Him, if He says “yes,” then the people will turn against Him.

Matt 22:18-22 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

Jesus asked to see a Roman coin and responded with the often quoted statement “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” Once again, Jesus has foiled their attempt to discredit His teaching.

Matt 22:23-28 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27 And last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

While having no absolute authority while under Roman rule, Israel was allowed to judge themselves religiously. This form of government ruled on the issues of Jewish ceremonial law with which the Romans did not desire to concern themselves. The problem was that the Pharisees and scribes had added many extra rules to Moses’ law that they expected people to follow. The ruling council was divided into two religious political parties that were constantly at odds with each other: the Pharisees and the Saducees. The Pharisees believed the law of Moses and believed that there would one day be a resurrection of the death and an afterlife. The Saducees did not believe the law of Moses and did not believe in the resurrection of the dead or any afterlife; once a person died it was over. This story presented to Jesus is a favorite ruse that the Saducees used to disprove the Pharisees. Knowing that Jesus believed the law of Moses, the Saducees tried the “catch story” on Christ.

Matt 22:29-33 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. 33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

This story was no problem for Jesus to answer, after all He created all things (John 1:10), Jesus knows that there is no marrying in Heaven. Jesus goes on to address the issue of the resurrection by showing their ignorance of scripture.

Mark 12:28-34 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

The scribes were those who were in charge of taking care of the copies of scripture and teaching scripture. Unfortunately they had also taken on themselves to interpret the law. This scribe was starting to understand how that Jesus was fulfilling the law. Jesus had come to not do away with the law, but to fulfill the law! Jesus would become the sacrificial lamb, thus stopping the need for animal sacrifice, but the greatest commandments about serving the one, true living God with all our heart, and loving our neighbor as ourselves would never change! Realizing that they could not trap Him with words, Jesus’ enemies stopped asking Him trick questions.

Mark 12:41-44 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

After warning the disciples of the teachings of the Pharisee and Saducees, Jesus then taught His disciples a principle of giving. Watching the collection box and the people giving their offering as they entered the temple, Jesus saw a poor widow throw in two mites which was the least Jewish coin similar to our penny. The principle taught is clear, God values the amount of the offering against the amount available to give! To a rich man, a thousand dollars is not a sacrifice, but to a poor man, a dime could be!

Mark 13:1-4 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! 2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

Remember that the temple of Jesus’ time was originally the temple that Zerrubabel had built after the Exile years. It had been enlarged and refurbished by Herod and was the pride of the Jewish people. Upon leaving the temple for the last time, Jesus prophesied that it would be destroyed and not “one stone left upon another.” This prophecy was fulfilled in 70 A.D. when due to a Jewish uprising, the Roman General Titus invaded Jerusalem, destroying and burning the entire city including the temple! Exactly forty years after Jesus’ prophecies concerning Jerusalem and it’s temple, they were fulfilled. Jesus went on to tell of other endtime events and the signs of His second coming. This is known as the “Olivet Discourse” by bible scholars and is found in Matthew chapters 24 and 25, Mark chapter 13, and Luke 21:5-36.