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Holy Week - Tuesday The Authority of Jesus is Questioned Mt 21:23-27, Mark 11:27-33, Luke 20:1-8 Jesus catches the Pharisees in a tough question about John’s baptism. Rather than engage with Him in a question they know will only make Jesus look wise and make them look foolish, they leave with grumbling and complaining. Jesus Teaches in the Temple Mt 21:28- 23:39, Mark 12:1-44, Luke 20:9-21:4 This series of teachings and parables are centered on identifying leaders who are working on building their own kingdom rather than being good stewards of the Kingdom of God. They are a good reminder for us to be sure that we’re building into God’s Kingdom in our churches and ministries. We can tell if we’re building into God’s Kingdom through the fruit we’re seeing. Jesus called us to be disciples and to make disciples. Disciples are students who are learning and doing. If we’re not being disciples or making disciples then we’re not building His Kingdom. The Parable of the Two Sons One was willing to do the work of the Father and the other wasn’t. The son who was willing to do the work of the Kingdom was the one to see the fruit. The other was left out. The Parable of the Tenants Those who had been given responsibility over the property of the landowner beat and killed those who the landowner sent to check on the property. Jesus said the Kingdom of God will be taken away from those who do not oversee it properly. The Parable of the Wedding Banquet Many who have been invited to come and dine with Christ have rejected the invitation of the master. Rather than struggle with those who didn’t want to be part of the Kingdom the king sent the invitation to others. Jesus teachers us to give to Caesar what is Cesar’s and to God what is God’s. He teaches on marriage at the resurrection. He gives us the Greatest Commandment – to love God and love others. Jesus silenced them by explaining that He is the Christ, the Son of David who David himself will worship. Then Jesus explained to the crowd the Pharisees were not to be listened to or trusted. These leaders didn’t know God. They weren’t following the will of the Father. He called them out for their selfish leadership and warned them to change their ways or judgement will come down on them. In verse 37 He says, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under his wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate.” The Widow’s Offering While at the Temple Jesus observes a widow giving everything she had to the Lord and pointed her out as an example of what it is to give to the Lord. Jesus Anointed Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, John 12:2-11 Expensive perfume was poured on His head to anoint Him for burial. She also poured it on her feet and wiped them with her hair. Judas wasn’t happy with the waste of the perfume and contested the decision. Many were putting their faith in Christ because they were talking with Lazarus. Here we see the first mention of Judas’ plans to hand Christ over to the Chief Priest. The Olivet Discourse As He sat on the Mount of Olives Jesus talked about signs of the Close of the Age. He gave us parameters in which we could tell when the end times were near. Whenever I talk about the end times I’m sure to mention that we study these things for two reasons: to be prepared if this is indeed the end times and to help others get ready as well. He says, "No one knows the day or the hour!" The Parable of the Ten Virgins The simple lesson here is that we must be ready for His return at any time. The Parable of the Talents The master has given each of us according to what He knew we could handle. We must invest into the Kingdom of God accordingly. The master didn’t differentiate between the one who presented a return of five or the one who presented a return of three The Final Judgment The separation of the sheep and the goats based on what they did or didn’t do. |
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James E. Bogoniewski, Jr. |