WATCHWORD:
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Matthew 24:3
9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. 1Thessalonians 1:9-10
Meditation:
The Olivet Discourse
It is Tuesday of Holy week. Jesus spends a difficult morning in the temple, and still another confrontation with teachers of the law. By early afternoon, Jesus and his disciples make their way back to a place on the Mount of Olives, where they had gathered in the past, and settled in for an afternoon of prophetic teaching.
The Book of Matthew details five collections of lessons which Jesus delivered during the course of His ministry, including the more familiar Sermon on the Mount. This final collection of lessons (Matthew 24—25; Mark 13; and Luke 17:20–37) is known as the Olivet Discourse. Among many lessons, it contains prophetic pronouncements, a response to the disciple’s question, when will this happen? The answer must have been very difficult for them to understand – The fall of the temple, the great temple! The destruction of Jerusalem, the great and powerful city! No! What is Jesus saying? Of course, the prophecy becomes truth in 70AD when the Roman siege breaks the walls and overruns of the city, killing or enslaving the entire Jewish population and tearing down the temple. Followers of Jesus had fled the city for Pella, Syria, just before the Romans siege was in place.
Think about this: In just a few days, Jesus and His followers had travelled from Jericho to Bethany, then on to Jerusalem multiple times. He had raised Lazarus to life; made his entry into Jerusalem; cleared the temple of the money-changers, and had multiple confrontations with the Jewish leadership. Now, after delivering His powerful prophecy on the Mount of Olives, He returns to Bethany, exhausted. The time that He had pre-ordained was nearing completion. His statement, “It is finished” would soon be pronounced from the Cross, and we would forever have Jesus as Lord and Savior. Amen.
Jesus During Holy Week:
Tuesday, Jesus returns to the temple and, again is confronted by teachers of the law, who try to trap him, but he evades their plan. It is on this morning that Judas negotiated with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus. Jesus leaves the city and, with his disciples, goes to a place on the Mount of Olives, which sits due east of the Temple and overlooks Jerusalem. Here Jesus gives the Olivet Discourse, an elaborate prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age. That night he is back in Bethany, staying with Lazarus, Mary and Martha.
Holy Wednesday. We do not know what Jesus and his disciples did on that day — The Bible does not speak about it. It is assumed that He and his disciples remained in Bethany as a day of rest. It has been a rigorous three days, so probably resting in preparation for what lay ahead. Jesus’ ministry had been profound over the past three years.
Lenten Prayer:
Lord God, the message of the cross it 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 then 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. And His name we pray, amen.
