Journey to the Cross 2017, Day 37

Postscript for April 12  for yesterday's post.   I am repeating it here in case someone already read yesterday's and would miss my addition:

Oh my goodness!  I was just given the insight to understand Jesus' cursing of the fig tree.  I was bewildered because it wasn't even fig season.  This morning the Holy Spirit provided the revelation in response to my query.  (Thank you, Lord!)

Jesus, as Creator, knew the trees – just as he knows us – and he would have known that this particular tree didn’t produce any figs in the prior season.  He cursed the tree for not producing any fruit – and it hadn’t been! 

I am reminded that sometimes there are those who profess to be Christians but who aren’t producing any fruit.

That is the proof for Christian faith.  And if the tree is not producing – or in our case, the vine, then it is pruned…. 

Lord, help me be fruitful!

Wednesday, Day 37: The Final Week 

Countdown – 4 days

Reading for today:
Matthew 26:14-16
Mark 14:10-11
Luke 22:1-6


Jesus very likely went back to Bethany on Tuesday evening, and since the evening is the true beginning of the Jewish day, he was there Wednesday morning.

Wednesday is a quiet day as far as Biblical records show. Jesus may have spent the day quietly with friends in Bethany, may have spent the day alone in quiet contemplation, or ‘more of the same’ – talking to people who came out to Him on the Mount of Olives. We don’t know. What we do know is that the prince of darkness was working overtime in his attempt to destroy the Prince of Peace. Today’s readings make that very apparent.

We’ve known for several days that the Chief Priests and Pharisees were looking for a way to kill Jesus. In the accounts we’ve read they didn’t plan to do it during the Feast of the Passover because there were just too many people in town, and they feared a riot...but all of the events over the recent days were just too much for them. Jesus enraged them by not quelling the worshipping crowds on Sunday when He rode into the city in a way that clearly declared His status as Messiah. Jesus had the audacity to overturn the money-changers’ tables and drive out those who were selling doves. Jesus dared ask the Chief Priests and Pharisees a question instead of answering theirs when they asked by whose authority He did these things. Jesus was going to cause them to lose their political place if they didn’t silence Him. It was all about self-preservation in their view. They didn’t realize they, the religious, were being used as pawns in Satan’s direly destructive devious plan.

They were searching for a way – and Judas, one of his ‘devoted’ followers provided them exactly what they wanted. They must have thought it was “God’s will” when it worked out so ideally for them! Luke tells us: ‘Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.’

This is a Lola ‘bunny trail’ – me trying to understand what Judas’ line of thinking really was. Was he in it for the glory – believed that Jesus was the Messiah, and wanted to ride his coattails to personal aggrandizement and position? Did he recognize Jesus truly was the Messiah and feel Jesus needed a nudge to pull out all the stops and be the militant-victor-type many believed the Messiah would be? Did Satan somehow deceive him into ‘taking things into His own hands’ to help that happen – convincing him that the end justified the means? Did he start out good – and then fail because of too much temptation in being the one who handled the money for the group? Was he just purely self-centered and a tad miffed that Jesus reprimanded him for saying the Oil of Nard Mary poured on Jesus’ head should be sold and given to the poor. Did he think it unfair that he didn’t have that money at his disposal? I don’t know.... We do know he had an unhealthy greed for money.... Perhaps that alone was his Achilles’ heel.  But he was one of the chosen.  He walked with Jesus.  He heard what Jesus taught.  He saw the miracles....  He is of all men to be most pitied.

We know that those who wanted Jesus destroyed were delighted with the arrangement, and that their scheme involved Judas’ giving Jesus to them when no crowds were present so they could do their dastardly deed in secret. Plotting pitiful perpetrators of unparalleled proportion.

Back at the ranch – meaning what was happening with Jesus and his followers – we just don’t know. In Jewish tradition the evening began the day, so they could logically have begun their preparation for the Passover feast ‘last night’ – any time after 6 p m on Tuesday – which to them would have been Wednesday.... I don’t know.

What I do know is that Jesus’ heart was full – and heavy. Full of love for us, and heavy for all that was soon to come....  He couldn’t know exactly what the pain would feel like – but He knew it was going to be horrific. He knew the events and the timing. He knew He would suffer intense agony. All for you. All for me. What amazing love.