WATCHWORD:
20 Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem to attend the Passover 21 paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida, and said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” 22 Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus. 23-24 Jesus replied that the time had come for him to return to his glory in heaven, and that “I must fall and die like a kernel of wheat that falls into the furrows of the earth. Unless I die I will be alone—a single seed. But my death will produce many new wheat kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25 If you love your life down here—you will lose it. If you despise your life down here—you will exchange it for eternal glory. 26 “If these Greeks want to be my disciples, tell them to come and follow me, for my servants must be where I am. And if they follow me, the Father will honor them. 27 Now my soul is deeply troubled. Shall I pray, ‘Father, save me from what lies ahead’? But that is the very reason why I came! 28 Father, bring glory and honor to your name.” John 12:20-27
Meditation:
Jesus on Tuesday
On Tuesday morning, Jesus and his disciples, having spent the night in Bethany, returned to Jerusalem. They passed the withered fig tree on their way, and Jesus used the tree as an example as he spoke to his companions about the importance of faith fed on the Word.
Back at the Temple, religious leaders are upset at Jesus for establishing himself as a spiritual authority. Jesus turns around and pronounces harsh judgment on them, calling them blind guides, saying: “For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness…Snakes!”
In the afternoon, Jesus and his disciples have an extended time alone on the Mount of Olives, due east of the Temple, overlooking Jerusalem. Here Jesus gives the Olivet Discourse, an elaborate prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age. He speaks in parables, using symbolic language about the end times events, including His death, His Second Coming and the final judgment. The disciples struggle to understand.
Scripture indicates that Tuesday was also the day that Judas Iscariot negotiates with the Sanhedrin, to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16).
After a tiring day of confrontation and warnings about the future, once again, Jesus and the disciples returned to Bethany to stay the night.
(Based on Biblical facts from sources including Matthew, Isaiah, and the historic writings of Josephus.)
Barabbas on Tuesday
Barabbas continued to blame himself for the death of Aaron the previous night, and each time he thought of that skirmish, it made him both sad and angry. Because of that incident, he sought revenge against the Romans. His anger was also directed to the zealot leadership who had not prepared them for the possibility that guards would be present.
But, it was his wife, Shania, who, even in her grief, maintained a calmness and took over the family. She was the one who took the steps necessary to adopt Aaron’s young boy, Joshua, assuring him that he was now their son. She was the one who tried desperately to get Barabbas away from the zealots and away from the violence that they represented, and to be a father to their new son. Yet, Barabbas’ need for revenge drove him to lead the zealots toward more raids. Shania is convinced that it would not end well.
(An excerpt from Stan Escott’s novel A Life for Barabbas, based on Biblical facts and a general understanding of human nature.)
Note:
Here are the earlier Watchwords for Holy Week:
Palm Sunday – https://bosworth30.com/watchword/palm-sunday/
Holy Week Monday – https://bosworth30.com/watchword/holy-week-monday/
Prayer for Tuesday of Holy Week:
Lord God, The message of the cross is difficult to take. How can death give way to life? How can weakness be strength? Yet your word says that Jesus, being God, Took on human flesh And suffered the worst kind of death. How can this be? This message is indeed difficult to take. But your foolishness is wiser than our wisdom. Your weakness is greater than our strength. Help us to know that none of us can boast before you. It is only in Christ Jesus that we can boast. In his name, we ask you to help our unbelief. That we may love you, and walk in the way Jesus taught us. In his name, Amen.
