West Park Baptist Church

Temple

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Following Jesus Through Holy Week – Tuesday

After resting Monday night in Bethany, Jesus and His disciples returned to Jerusalem. Mark’s gospel records an incident on the way, and several scenes of teaching, including the well-known Olivet Discourse.

Here’s a helpful breakdown of what happened1 on Tuesday:

  • Disciples see the withered fig tree as they return to Jerusalem (Matt. 21:20-22; Mark 11:20-21)
  • Controversies in the Temple (Matt. 21:23-23:39; Mark 11:27-12:44; Luke 20:1-21:4)
  • Olivet Discourse on the return to Bethany (Matt. 24:1-25:46; Mark 13:1-37; Luke 21:5-36)

I will focus today on Mark 13:32-37

[32] “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. [33] Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. [34] It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. [35] Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—[36] lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. [37] And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.” (ESV)

What is Jesus teaching through this text?

Jesus and His disciples were up on the Mount of Olives, looking down on the Temple Mount after a day of testing and teaching there. The disciples had been amazed at the structure and buildings of the Temple. Yet when Jesus told them that soon not one stone would be left on another there, they wanted to understandably learn more! That’s what resulted in what is now called the “Olivet Discourse.” Jesus taught them on the Mount of Olives, the site of His future return to the earth, what the end of time would look like. There would be the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple (which did happen around AD 70), but there would also be tribulation and cosmic destruction that would precede the coming of Jesus in power and glory. Jesus said His disciples could count on these things happening, for He said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Mark 13:31).

But, regarding the time when Jesus will return, no one knows except the Father and now the Son who sits at His right hand glorified. For now, Jesus commands all His disciples to “stay awake.”

How can we apply this text? 

  • No one has ever or can today predict the timing of our Lord’s return. “Not even the angels in heaven” know, and end times predictions so far made by others have not proven true.
  • But this doesn’t mean I shouldn’t focus on the end times! What matters is what aspect of the end times I focus on. It’s not the antichrist, wars, famine, pestilence and plague, death or nature dismantling around us. The focus on the end times is Jesus Himself. For where He is His people will be.
  • So, do I live today with expectation and longing for Jesus to return? “To love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength and to love ones neighbor as oneself is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mark 12:33). Loving Him and seeking Him out with all my being is what pleases my Lord in end times matters, and especially in this time.

Prayer

[20] He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

[21] The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. (Revelation 22:20–21, ESV)

 

 

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1. Crossway is currently offering free access to their ESV Study Bible. To access the Harmony of the Holy Week Chart, simply sign up for that resource, and even more, from Crossway.

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Following Jesus Through Holy Week – Monday

Join me this week to read the gospel accounts that walk us through the final week of the Lord Jesus.

Here’s a helpful breakdown of what happened1 on Monday:

  • Jesus curses the fig tree (Matt. 21:18-19; Mark 11:12-14)
  • Jesus cleanses the temple (Matt. 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-18; Luke 19:45-46)
  • Jesus returns to Bethany with His disciples (Mark 11:19

Let’s examine today what Mark recorded about these events.

Mark 11:12–19

[12] On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. [13] And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. [14] And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

[15] And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. [16] And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. [17] And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” [18] And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. [19] And when evening came they went out of the city. (ESV)

What must we learn from this text?

Most Bible teachers see the curse on the fig tree and the clearing of the Temple as related events. How do they relate? Consider first that Jesus was hungry and looked for fruit on the fig tree. On first reading this you may think that it’s strange for anyone to look for figs when Mark says it wasn’t the season for figs. However, when Jesus saw the leaves on the tree from a distance, He knew that when fig leaves appear, so too appears the green figs. That’s true of fig trees: the appearance of leaves should be accompanied by the first figs. He curses the tree and travels down the Kidron Valley and up into Jerusalem.

Jesus clears the Temple for the same essential reason that he cursed the fig tree: He finds no fruit among the worshippers. Worship has become a means to get money, not get God. Those charged with leading and shepherding people to God were actually preventing them from God. Jesus says, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations… but you have made it a den of robbers!”

Here’s what we should consider on this Monday:

  • Jesus expects fruit from His people. He has the right to demand the fruit of worship and prayer from my life.
  • Let each of us consider: am I truly seeking God and helping others do the same? Or am I content with religious activity that centers on man?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, how much You desired to see fruit come from Your people that Passover week so long ago. You are worthy, wonderful King of receiving the gifts of Your people. All they were and had then, and all we are and have now, should be the praise of Your great Name. Forgive us for how we have lived for ourselves. Help us by Your Spirit to bring fruit to You today.

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1. Crossway is currently offering free access to their ESV Study Bible. To access the Harmony of the Holy Week Chart, simply sign up for that resource, and even more, from Crossway.