Jesus’ Third Day
On Jesus’ third day in the Passion week, He sets aside time for His disciples. He will teach them away from the crowded city streets and the Temple.
Jesus makes a quick trip into the city today, then He takes His disciples for some private time with Him. They go to a hill that overlooks the city instead. From here, they will spend some question-and-answer time as well as a little more preparation for what is to come. Let’s rejoin Jesus as He moves toward the cross.
Holy Spirit, help me to listen with my whole body, spirit, and mind. Let me focus on Your word and see the story before me with clarity. Show me what You would have me take from the story today and what to apply to my own life.
♥ ♦ ♥
Jesus has everyone up and moving before dawn today.
“I want to attend the morning sacrifice. So, we need to be on our way.”
Everyone shortens their morning routine, including grabbing breakfast on the go. Jesus packs a sack with cheese and bread today. He doesn’t want to be caught hungry again. They are well underway before first light and they arrive in Jerusalem just as the sun peeks over the mountains.
Jesus leads the way to the Temple, setting a quick pace. He doesn’t want to miss the offering to the Lord. Jesus isn’t the only one wanting to be part of the morning sacrifice. A large group of people are already watching and waiting.
The people line the street as the morning sacrifice is brought through the Eastern Gate. Once the priest leading it enters the Temple, the people follow behind praising God. Jesus watches and participates with a different feeling than all the others. He is seeing only days into the future, when He will be the sacrifice. Not the morning sacrifice, but the evening one.
Once the sacrifice is complete, Jesus turns and leads His disciples out of the city. As they walk along, James makes an observation.
“Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” (Mark 13:1).
Jesus looks up where James is pointing. Then He says the strangest thing. “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down” (Mark 13:2).
Strange to His disciples anyway. They all begin looking around as they follow Him from the city. Just outside the gates, Jesus turns and speaks a lament over Jerusalem.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’” (Matthew 23:37-39).
Jesus leads the way to the Mount of Olives. He climbs halfway up before finding a retaining wall that He can sit on. From this vantage point, He looks out over the city.
Peter, James, John, and Andrew approach Jesus. Peter voices their question for them.
“Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” (Mark 13:4).
Without taking His eyes off the city, Jesus begins to tell His disciples of what is to come.
“See that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains” (Mark 13:5-8).
Jesus turns and faces His disciples. What comes next is important, as it concerns them.
“But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:9-13).
The disciples are all listening closely, hanging on Jesus’ every word.
“But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that it may not happen in winter. For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand” (Mark 13:14-23).
Jesus looks around at each of His disciples before continuing. He wants them to take note. They will pass this information on to the church that is to come.
“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven” (Mark 13:24-27).
Jesus gives His disciples some way to judge the nearness of the end.
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Mark 13:28-31).
Jesus makes certain to catch everyone’s eye before continuing on.
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 24:36-51).
The disciples are all wide eyed. “Not even You, Lord” asks Peter.
“Not even Me.”
Jesus changes tactics. He begins to tell His disciples parables.
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:1-13).
Jesus disciples are following along, but not fully grasping all He wants to share. He chooses another parable.
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” (Matthew 25:14-30).
Jesus looks towards heaven, thinking of the glorious days to come. After a moment, He returns His attention to His disciples.
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:31-46).
Judas, who has been stewing for days over Jesus being anointed by Mary, settles in his mind what he will do. “If I’m not even guaranteed a place, then I need to look out for myself” he thinks. “I will go see the priests tonight. They are after Jesus, and the reward should be enough to hold me for a while.”
As the sun begins to set, Jesus rises from His place on the wall and they all make their way back to Lazarus’ home. Judas hangs back and slips away from the group without being noticed. He makes his way into Jerusalem and straight to the Temple.
The priest is standing in the courtyard when Judas approaches. The priest’s eyes narrow as he recognizes Judas as one of Jesus’ disciples.
“What do you want” he barks.
“What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” (Matthew 26:15).
“Who? Jesus” the priest asks with suspicion in his voice.
“Exactly” says Judas. “I can get close to Him and know exactly where He will be.”
“And, why would you betray your Master?”
“Let’s just say that I have my reasons.”
The priest nods and looks around. When he doesn’t see anyone looking their way, he motions for Judas to follow him.
The two of them make their way into the hall of the Sanhedrin. Caiaphas is in the chambers when the two men enter. He watches them as they walk across the wide expanse. As they get closer, Caiaphas calls out.
“What is the meaning of this? No one is allowed in here except the members of the ruling counsel.”
The priest inclines his head. “My lord, this man is one of the followers of Jesus. He has agreed to deliver Him into our hands.”
“Is this true” Caiaphas asks while drilling Judas with his eyes.
“I can, and I will. IF the price is right.”
Caiaphas rocks back with a loud laugh and slaps his thighs. “A man after my own heart!”
Caiaphas motions over the treasurer. When he arrives, Caiaphas tells him; “Give him 40 pieces of silver. A fair price for a betrayal.”
Judas smiles and holds his hand out. Into it plop the coins commanded by Caiaphas.
“When can we expect delivery of Jesus of Nazareth?”
“At the earliest opportunity. I don’t know exactly when that will be, but be ready when I come again.”
Caiaphas nods and Judas turns to leave.
“Don’t let me down disciple” Caiaphas calls to Judas’ retreating back.
Judas says nothing and simply makes his way to Lazarus’ home. “I will have to stay close and be ready. I’m sure He will present me with an opportunity. I only need to wait for it and be ready to act.”
“Where have you been” Thomas asks when Judas comes through the door.
“I needed time to think over Jesus words today. I was walking around; thinking.”
“His words were heavy. But they hold such promise.”
“They do” Judas says. “I’m tired. I’ll see you in the morning. I want to go to bed early and get some good sleep.”
Thomas watches Judas leave without a single clue to what is really going on in his friend’s heart.
(to be continued)
It’s happening. Judas has struck his deal. Jesus knows everything. He is NOT caught off guard. He knows who, when, why, and how of it all. And He does nothing to stop it. It is part of God’s plan.
Reading this portion of scripture makes me wonder about the Rapture. Will it be before, during, or after the tribulation? Is there a milder one that His people will go through before the TERRIBLE one?
Timing is in God’s hands, not mine! It is safest to leave it that way. I would make a mess of it if I tried to tie everything together.
Father God, I trust You with timing and logistics. Sometimes I wish I had more concrete information, but that would prevent me form giving You my blind trust. It’s not really blind, because I have all the times You moved in my life. You have proved Yourself over and over again.
