Hey everybody, This is the third study in our series taking us through the events of Passion week. Saturday, Jesus and His disciples ate supper with Lazarus, Martha and Mary, Sunday afternoon Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to the praise and shouts of thousands. They gave Him a ticker tape parade, a hero’s welcome. Monday’s story starts in the morning. If you haven’t already listened to the previous two messages, you might stop and do so before you listen to this one. On Monday of Passion week, four narratives unfold; the cursing and subsequent death of the fig tree, the 2nd cleansing of the temple, some Greeks request to see Jesus, and Jesus teaches. Again, the order of events for this day I borrowed from someone else. Theologians debate about how some of these events fit into the chronology of Passion week. But I’m not here to debate where the fit into the week, but rather, how they fit into our lives. We have a lot to cover, so let’s jump right in.
Monday A.M 11th of Nisan 30 A.D.
The Cursing of the fig tree
On this morning, after Jesus Triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus and his disciples awaken, having probably spent the night at the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. They may have awakened and left even before breakfast. They are going back into Jerusalem. And Jesus has several divine appointments to meet.
And those appointments are based around imparting one bit of information. The information that Jesus has to deliver today is that the Jewish people, and their leaders were blind to the truth. The entire previous day’s events bore witness to their blindness. They gathered by the thousands to Hail Him as their Messiah. They probably expected that on Monday morning He might miraculously strike all the Roman army dead, and declare Israel a sovereign nation, and Himself their new king.
They knew He had miracle power. He made the lame to walk, He caused the blind to see. He cured the skin disease of leprosy. He fed thousands with just a few loaves and fish. He raised the dead. What better general might they want who could heal wounds, feed His troops, and bring the fallen soldiers back to life.
Their expectations for Jesus were high, and misguided. You see, before He would be the Lion of the tribe of Judah, He first had to be the Lamb who takes away their sin. They were blind to that truth, and He came to Jerusalem on Monday to try and heal them of that blindness.
So everything that happens on Monday is for that purpose, to direct them to the truth.
Now the very first thing that is recorded for this day is in…
Mark 11:12-14
12 And in the morning, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
As I said, either Jesus alone, or Jesus and His disciples may have left the house before breakfast was served, or even before anyone else was awake. And they start again up the 2 mile path leading to the Holy city of Jerusalem. Mark continues by saying…
13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
So He walks up to a fig tree in order to pick some of its fruit. I remember, as a boy, my grandparents grew figs. I don’t know what they taste like fresh, because they always cooked them with lots of sugar and made a kind of fig preserves. That was good eatin.
So Jesus is looking for something to eat because He is hungry. But when He gets to the tree, there’s no fruit on it. We’re told that it wasn’t the time for it to bear fruit. Mark goes on to say…
14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever. And his disciples heard it.
Well that’s kind of harsh isn’t it. Poor fig tree. It wasn’t the fig tree’s fault. It wasn’t the season for figs. Well before you feel too sorry for the fig tree, remember, it’s a tree.
And the cursing of the fig tree is about more than just horticulture.
You see, in a number of places in the Old Testament, God’s prophets used the metaphor of a fruit tree to describe Israel’s spiritual condition. And when they were disobedient, and ungodly, they are described as fruitless, dead and dried up. A good example of this in in…
Hosea 9:10-17 King James Version (KJV)
10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.
16 Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.
17 My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.
So Israel is described as a dead fruitless tree. And God says He will judge them by casting them away.
And Jesus is going up to Jerusalem, the capital city of Israel, the hub of their religious life, and He finds a fruitless tree, and curses it. He says “No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever.”
The tree is symbolic of the faith He has found in Israel. Jesus had found them to be a fruitless tree. They had no love for Him; the Son of God, and they had corrupted His commandments. So He proclaims a curse.
Now that’s the symbolic act as He and His disciples walk toward the city. Once He arrives in Jerusalem, His acts move from symbolism to reality.
Mark 11:15-18 goes on to say
15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple,
Here’s what happened. Jesus and His disciples arrive in Jerusalem, and the go to the temple.
Now, in order to understand this story, you need to understand the area in Jerusalem that we’ll call the temple complex. The temple complex, at this time, was an elaborate series of buildings, originally constructed under the reign of Herod the Great. At the center of the temple complex is, of course, the temple. Now the best way to picture the temple is to look at a picture. Since I can’t show you a picture, just look up Hero’s temple online.
The temple itself followed the dimensions of the first temple which was, 30 feet across the front, 90 feet deep, and 60 feet high. But Herod added a large grand entrance to that structure. Just imagine a five to six story building.
But around the temple was a rectangular structure that served as storage and residence for the on-duty priests and as a wall separating the temple from the rest of the city.
The temple complex was originally designed with several courtyards. Only the priests were allowed in the temple itself. Then outside the temple building was the court of the priests, where the animal sacrifice business took place. Beyond that was the court of the women. This was an open area, and it was as far into the temple complex that Jewish women could go. Then outside of that walled area was a very large courtyard called the court of the Gentiles.
The dimensions of the court of the Gentiles; it’s perimeter is said by one author I read to be about 4,260 feet, that’s 1065 feet per side, if it were square. Now that may not help you picture the size of this courtyard. But a typical city block is 310 to 320 feet. So just imagine walking in your town 3 blocks one north, turn right, 3 blocks east, turn right, 3 blocks south, turn right, then 3 blocks west, back to where you started. That is about the size of the entire area of the temple complex.
But the important part for our story is that the court of the Gentiles was separated from the inner courts, and the temple itself. There was a wall or fence, 4 to 5 feet tall, with several gates in it. A stone was placed at each of those gates forbidding Gentiles from entering the exclusively Jewish area of the complex. They have recovered some of those stones today.
They read; “No foreigner may enter within the balustrade around the sanctuary and the enclosure. Whoever is caught, on himself shall he put blame for the death which will ensue.”
So back to our story…
Jesus and His disciples probably enter through the eastern gate of the walled city of Jerusalem on Monday morning. Once they entered that gate, they were immediately in the temple complex in the court of the Gentiles.
Now I don’t know about you, but if I entered an ancient temple, of any sort, I imagine a quiet contemplative place. A place where you pray and seek to hear from God. And that was God’s intent in commanding the building of a temple. It was a place that symbolized the presence of God among the Jewish people. It was to be holy and serene.
But it was the opposite in Jesus’ day. Once He and His disciples entered, they would have noticed three things. First, there would have been many people there. During the feast days, The historian Josephus recorded that the population of Jerusalem swelled to over 2 million from its normal population of 40,000. Many of them entered Jerusalem proper through the eastern gate, which went right in to the temple complex. And part of the feast was the sacrifice of a lamb on the upcoming day of Passover. Again Josephus stated that 256,500 lambs were sacrificed at one Passover. The law also allowed some birds to be used as sacrifices. So the second thing you would have noticed was a great number of animals.
The 3rd thing they would have noticed is lots of money changing hands. The priests had turned the sale of sacrificial animals into a lucrative enterprise. Because of restrictions imposed by the priests, most people were forced to buy their sacrifices of lambs and birds, at jacked up prices, from the priests themselves. It was like going to a theme park and being forced to buy a drink that would normally cost a dollar, and paying 5 dollars for it. They also made money because Jewish people had to pay the temple tax in Hebrew currency. The priests would not accept foreign currency. So the priests would exchange foreign currency for Hebrew currency, for a fee.
Now none of these activities, the money exchange booths, the animal sale booths, were in the Jewish part of the temple, they were set up in the court of the Gentiles.
So as soon as Jesus and His disciples come into the temple complex, they are visually assaulted by jostling crowds, cages of birds, booths, money changing and loud voices. It would be much like going to a very crowded modern flea market.
Now why all this description of the court of the Gentiles, around the temple? Because this was the only place where Gentiles, who had come to hear and know about the one true God, could go to worship. They couldn’t go past the fence to the inner court or they would be arrested and put to death.
And to compound that corruption of the place they were allowed to worship, the priests had turned the whole area into a money making, money extorting bazaar.
So back to our story…
and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
Jesus is angry that they have turned the temple into this extortion flea market, so He takes it upon Himself to stop the activity. It says here that He stopped anyone walking through who was carrying birds in a cage, or bags of money, or any merchandise, and He sent them out. He went to the money changers tables and turned them over, He pulled out the seats of those selling doves. He drove them out the door of the temple.
Why? He tells us..
17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Back when the first temple was dedicated by Soloman, Soloman said these words in his prayer of dedication.
What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:
In the prophecy of Isaiah in the Old Testament the Spirit of God described a future day when Israel would be restored as God’s people. He says
Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
So Jesus cleaned house. By the way, this is the second time He has done this on one of His Jerusalem visits. Some have asked, “How did He get away with this?” “Why didn’t somebody stop Him, or arrest Him?” The best answer I can give is that Jesus, God in flesh, commanded attention with just His presence. There was something about Him that demanded respect and submission. And when He chose, by God’s Spirit, He could command a storm to stop, He could drive out demons with just His word, and He could make the spirits of men quake in fear.
So this is Monday morning of Passion week, and already Jesus is shaking things up. And He didn’t stop there. The gospel of Luke 19, tells us that He returned to the temple daily to teach.
I’ll bet sales went down that week. You bet they did, and the priests immediately reacted.
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.
They were afraid of Him because thousands on the day before had proclaimed Him to be the messiah. And they couldn’t publicly oppose Him without angering the people. The people, at this point are probably on Jesus side, they see the corruption of the temple system. They know that God didn’t intend for His temple to become what it had become.
So what did Jesus do next on Monday? He taught.
Everything about this day is Jesus confrontation of sin and lies. He curses the fig tree as a symbol of the curse on Israel for their disobedience. He cleanses the temple because the priests have corrupted the worship of God. And now He sits down to teach the truth.
You know, as a Christian, it is really easy to sit around and condemn the activities, and lies of the world… but it is more difficult to sit down with the people of the world, and try to persuade them to believe the truth.
And this demonstrates the loving heart of Jesus. He’s God in flesh. He could have walked into this immorality circus and said, you all deserve to go to Hell, and I’m going to send you there right now.
He could have said, you guys are already planning to kill me. You people sitting here, in four days will call for me to be crucified. Well I’m not going through with it. Then He could have started doling out judgment and death. Judgment for you, death for you. But He doesn’t. He sits down to try and teach them the truth.
And I think it’s fitting that some of those who sought His teaching were Gentiles. The very people whose temple court He cleared. We pick up with John for this account.
John 12:20-36a
20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
They were Gentiles, who were Greek. They would have been what was referred to as God-fearers. Gentiles who believed in and worshipped the one true God, but who didn’t go all the way to become Jews by being circumcised and following all the Mosaic law.
21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
Philip was one of Jesus disciples. We don’t know why they chose to come to him over any of the other disciples. Maybe they saw him talking to Jesus, and so asked him for an introduction. It’s likely that there were crowds of people around Jesus, Jesus may have been in the Jewish only section of the temple at this time. But for whatever reason, these Greeks catch Philip and say, “We would like to meet and talk to Jesus.”
22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
Philip is hesitant to go to Jesus with their request, so he asked for a second opinion from another disciple, Andrew.
They both go to Jesus. And we read…
23 And Jesus answered them, saying,
Answered who? I think He answered the Gentiles. I think the teaching that follows was directed toward these Gentiles who sought to speak to Jesus. They were God-fearers who were coming to be a part of the Jewish feast of Passover, and when they get to town, they probably witnessed the Triumphal entry of Jesus on the day before, they got caught up in the Messianic fever in the city. They may have witnessed Jesus cleansing the temple. So Jesus begins to teach them. What is He going to teach them? Of course He will teach them about the event that all of Judaism misunderstands; His crucifixion. His dying as a substitute for sinners.
Jesus says…
The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Just like a seed has to die in order for a plant to grow and produce more grain, so Jesus had to die so that all we are spiritually dead may be made alive.
He is explaining what is about to happen to Him, and then He explains what they need to do to follow Him.
25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
This is the key to salvation. It is your internal attitude toward life and toward Jesus Christ. This is a description of repentance. You see, it is normal, it is human, to cherish your life and everything in it, your family, job, possessions. But the person who is saved will willingly exchange all that, for Jesus, when they discover Him. He will repent, turn away from all that, to Christ. A person who comes to Christ will choose Jesus over family, life, future, and fortune, if they are forced to choose.
Jesus goes on, He has described the means of coming to salvation, that is repentance, now He describes the power in salvation. Salvation gives the believer fellowship with God through the internal presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
You will be made right with God through a relationship with me. And once you follow me, I’ll be with you. This is the incredible promise of Scripture, that if we turn to Christ in faith, by His Spirit, He comes to live in us, to always be with us, He will never leave us or forsake us.
Jesus gives the Greeks the gospel. And this is incredible. This is the beginning of Gentiles becoming Christians. Any person who is not a Jew is a Gentile, and most of the Church are Gentiles today. And here, even before Jesus sends His disciples into the world to preach the gospel to Gentiles, even before He has offered Himself on the cross, He’s bringing in Gentiles to the church, amazing
Now, at this moment, we have an abrupt mood change in the passage. It’s as though Jesus is talking to the Gentiles about their salvation, and then His thoughts come back to the cross that is before Him. And He quietly says…
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
I have an appointment with death. That’s the entire reason why I’m here in Jerusalem this week. That’s the entire reason I was born. So I am not asking God the Father to stop it from happening, I’m asking…
28 Father, glorify thy name.
Father, in all that’s going to happen this week, all the evil of men and demons unleashed on me, I pray that all of it will result in more praise being lifted to you.
And the Father responded…
Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
There are 3 times that the Father in heaven speaks audibly to Jesus during His life on earth. At His baptism
This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Baptism (Mark 1:11)
On the Mount of Transfiguration
This is my Son listen to Him. Transfiguration (Matthew 17:5)
And here
As the Father reassured His Son on the two previous occasions, so He does here. Jesus is four days away from the cross. This voice audibly validates that He is on the correct path. But Jesus says, The voice didn’t come for my sake, but for yours. The Father wanted all those who were listening to Jesus teach about salvation, and atonement and His death, to know that it was in the plan of God.
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Being “lifted up” was a literal description of His death. He would be “lifted up” while nailed to a cross. We know this is what He means here because verse
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
And the people apparently understand what He means because
34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
The people were right that the Scripture says that the Christ would live forever. When King David was promised that his family would succeed him on the throne of Israel, he is told
2
Samuel 7:13
He shall build an house for my name, and I will
stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
And later in the Psalms, God declares in a vision,
Psalm 89: 35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.
36 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.
37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.
So the people have a legitimate question. How can you say that you are going to be “lifted up” which means to be crucified and die? If you are the Christ, the Christ is supposed to reign on the throne of David forever. And this is at the root of the misunderstanding that Jesus was trying to correct on Monday. They thought His being the Christ meant He would be a supernatural military conquering hero who would sit down on David’s throne, and rule Israel, and the world, forever. And He will, but not yet. Before Jesus changes the world, He offers to change the heart. Before judgment and conquest come, the King extends grace and forgiveness to His enemies. They owe Him a great debt because of sin, and He is even willing to shoulder the debt for them, if they will repent, and believe.
So they ask Him to clarify how the Christ can die, but yet live forever. And I love His response. He really doesn’t answer. Why not? Because the time is not right for them to have full understanding, that will happen on the other side of the cross. And I also think that He doesn’t answer because, they are not going to understand now anyway. Listen to what He says, it’s almost as though He just says, “Trust me.”
35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. (I’m with you for a little bit longer.) Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: (Do your best to hear me and obey me while I am here.) for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. (How will I die, and yet reign forever? Just trust me, believe in the light, believe and you will be my children and it will all be clear later)
I’m going to conclude by reading the last part of Jesus teaching on this Monday. Much of it is self-explanatory, but I will interject thoughts to make it more clear.
John 12:36b-50
These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
By this time crowds are following Him everywhere, so the only way to be alone with His disciples, or by Himself is to hide.
37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
Despite His miraculous power, and His teaching, they are not swayed in their unbelief. They will not believe that they need salvation.
38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
Isaiah had prophesied that they would not believe, and because they chose unbelief, because they covered their eyes, because they closed their hearts, God caused them to be blind, and hardened their hearts so that they could not believe.
42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Some of the leaders secretly believed in Jesus, but because they didn’t want to be ridiculed, or be removed from prominence or fellowship, they wouldn’t state their belief.
44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
They thought they represented God in their religious system, and that Jesus was teaching contrary to God. Jesus was saying that they had it backwards. If you believe what I tell you, you are believing God, and in fact, if you’ve seen me, you’ve seen God.
46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
And that concludes the recorded events on Monday of Passion week.
Let’s pray
Heavenly Father,
We pray that you would enlighten our hearts. We walk in a world of spiritual darkness among a people who teach and live in darkness. You came as light to the world. We pray that you take our dead hearts and give us living ones. It’s only in you that we can see the truth and live. Let us not be among the blind and dead who reject the truth that we need to be saved. Bring us to the foot of the cross for salvation.
In Jesus name I pray, amen