We are now learning about Jesus Crucifixion week. There are many misconceptions about this time and so we are going to go through it slowly.
First, we need to remember that the Jewish day begins the night before at 6:00pm. Their day goes 6:00pm to 6:00am night and then 6:00am to 6:00pm day and that equals one day!
Sunday to Monday
Mark 11:1-3- And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples, And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.
Jesus goes to Jerusalem, but He doesn't just enter the city right away. First, He sends two of his disciples to get a donkey.
Mark 11:4-6- And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.
Jesus told the disciples exactly where to find the donkey, and exactly what to say when people asked them why they were taking it.
Luke 19-35-38- And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. 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; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
Why would Jesus enter the city this way? And, why would all these people suddenly be calling out to bless the King?
Because Jesus had to fulfill the prophesy of Scripture.
John 12:12-13- On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Because of the Palm branches that were used, many people remember this time as Palm Sunday. But, the thing to remember is not the Palm branches, but that Jesus was fulfilling Scripture!
John 12:15-16- Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
There are things in the Bible that were spoken by prophets thousands of years before Jesus came. These things were signs in the Scriptures that if any man would have read and understood, they would have known that Jesus was their Messiah!
But, even the religious leaders didn't know their Bible like they should.
Luke 19:39-44- And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 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. 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, 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.
When the Pharisees told Jesus that He should tell the people to stop praising Him as king, Jesus told them that the stones would start shouting it if they stopped. Wow! But, Scripture must be fulfilled. If the people wouldn't fulfill it the stones would.
John 12:19- The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
The Pharisees were discouraged. They wanted Jesus gone! They were going to have to be sneaky to get their way.
Matthew 21:12-13- And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Jesus now went to the temple. This would be the last time that He would walk into the Jews holy place. He saw that they were back to their money making ways.
The temple was suppose to be a place to ask the Lord God Almighty for help and forgiveness, not a place to make money. So, Jesus messed up their business and threw those merchants out.
Matthew 21:14-16- And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
Jesus started to heal those who needed help, and they were so happy that they again started to praise Him, this time as the prophesied Son of David- which, again, was a reference to Him being the King.
The Chief Priests and Scribes were upset now. They wanted Jesus to stop the people from saying these things just like the Pharisees had wanted. But, Jesus wouldn't because the Scriptures had to be fulfilled.
Mark 11:18- 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.
All the different religious factions were going to get together to destroy Jesus.
