Tuesday (until 6:00pm)
Matthew 21:17-21- And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there. Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Jesus left the city for the night and slept in Bethany. On His way back into the city the next morning, He saw a fig tree and was going to get some fruit from it to eat, but the tree had no fruit. Jesus then cursed the tree.
Why would Jesus do this? Because He was still teaching His disciples. First, they were going to have to be careful what they prayed about, because it could be disastrous. Next, they were going to have to bear spiritual fruit or they themselves would wither away.
Luke 22:7-13- Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
The time was coming very close to Jesus final hours as a mortal man. He sent Peter and John to prepare for the passover feast.
Remember, back in the Old Testament that the Jews were slaves in Egypt under the reign of the Assyrians? The last miracle that the Lord God Almighty performed was the slaying of the first born. The only way for the Jews to save their children's lives was for them to kill a lamb, cook it and eat it a specific way, and place it's blood on the top and sides of the door. Then they had to remain inside the house, protected by the blood, in order to be spared.
Jesus was going to eat the passover meal just like the Jews were told to do every year since that day in Egypt. But, this passover was going to be one that would forever change history!
Luke 22:14-20- And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
Jesus first had what we call "communion". He blessed grape juice and unleavened bread and ate it with His disciples. Then, He told them to do this in remembrance of Himself.
When we have communion, we remember that Jesus made Himself the sacrifice for the Spiritual Passover.
The disciples were always catching on a little too late what Jesus was talking about. While He was trying to tell them, they were busy arguing again about who would be the greatest. So, Jesus was going to show them!
John 13:2-5- And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
Jesus put on a towel, and then began to wash the disciples feet. He was showing them that even though He was the Messiah that He was humble enough to wash their sinful, dirty feet.
Peter didn't want Jesus to wash his nasty feet, and so he tried to get Jesus to skip him. But, when Jesus said that if He didn't wash Peter's feet that Peter wouldn't be a part of them, Peter said that He wanted Jesus to wash him head to toe!
Peter was always charging in too far!
John 13:10-11, 16-19- Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
Jesus told them that they needed to be humble and follow His example. Then He tried to tell them that one of the 12 who had walked with them the last three years would betray Him. They needed to know what was coming!
Mark 14:18-19- And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?
Jesus knew that He would be betrayed by one of the 12 disciples that He chose. There was something different about one of His disciples.
John 13:22-26- Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
As the disciples were trying to figure out who was the traitor, Peter gestured to John to ask Jesus. John was right next to Jesus, leaning on Him, and so John quietly asked Jesus. When Jesus responded, it seems that only John heard Him.
Jesus said that the person He handed the gravy soaked bread to was the traitor. And, then He gave the morsel to Judas Iscariot.
John must have been shocked! It doesn't seem like he told the other disciples. Because when Jesus told Judas Iscariot to run his treacherous errand quickly, they all thought that he was going about Jesus' business.
But, Judas Iscariot wasn't doing something for Jesus. He had already decided in his heart that he was going to betray Jesus, and this decision opened a Spiritual door into his being. He was doing something for the powers of darkness, because he was filled with the fallen Cherub himself. Satan had possessed Judas Iscariot!
John 13:28-30- Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
Judas Iscariot took the money bag with him and went to the religious leaders to get his bounty for betraying the Messiah.
It is important to note that Jesus never carried the money bag, He always left it for the disciples to do. Jesus wants us to win souls, witness, and occupy until He comes back (that means work). When ever you see someone in the Bible mentioned with a money bag they are not a good person!
But, the devil wasn't just after Judas Iscariot! He wanted to make all the disciples fall.
Luke 22:31-34- And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
Simon Peter would be tempted to deny that he knew Jesus that very night! Jesus knew this would happen and He wanted Peter to know that when the promised salvation came he would be forgiven. And, Peter needed to use this knowledge of forgiveness to encourage others.
Mark 14:26- And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
Night has fallen on Jerusalem. A new day has begun for the Jews- Remember the Jews day begins at 6:00 at night! As most people were getting ready to sleep, Jesus and his disciples were preparing to leave Jerusalem, and Judas Iscariot and the religious leaders were organizing to capture and destroy!
