The Last Week of Jesus tends to be controversial for many who debate about the specific chronological order of events that happened. Needless to say, variances and descrepancies are what they are, and will probably never be resolved on this side of eternity.
Thankfully, we can still consider His passionate display of faith, devotion, and sacrifice during the Holy Week for what they ultimately are: acts of love for us, His children. And that's exactly what we shall continue to do. Therefore, let's continue to focus on what took place after His celebrated entry into Jerusalem.
At some point after entering the city, Jesus paid a visit to the Temple (Mark 11:11). From what we can discern here, the event appears to have occurred on the day after the triumphal entry, which was Monday of the Holy Week. Jesus went to the Temple, but only to observe the activities, and then left. He and the disciples then returned to Bethany where they stayed the night.
The following morning (Monday) Jesus and the twelve ventured out of Bethany (Mark 11:12). Perhaps after a night of prayer and fasting, He was now hungry (or "hungered") and came upon a fig tree which would hopefully provide some tasty, ripe fruit. As he had in the past, a display of his humanity usually preceeded a demonstration of his Divine power.
This time was no different. Upon reaching the fig tree, Jesus saw that although it was full of leaves, it had no fruit (Mark 11:13). His human desire for food had now served up a parable to him as God. Being hungry, he looked for figs on the tree, signifying that he hungered for something that was not there. He immediately related this to the Jewish nation.
Though their teachings were solid, and all appeared fine on the outside, they produced nothing. Naturally, anyone who passed by this lush, green tree would assume that it contained fruit. This barren fig tree illustrated the predicament of the Jews. All leaves; but no fruit. Thus, Jesus cursed the fig tree not for being being fruitless, but for being fraudulent (Mark 11:14).
Returning to Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple (Mark 11:15). Since he wasn't a Levite, it wasn't permissable for him to enter into the most holy place. Therefore, we can infer that when he entered the temple, he actually entered the "courts" that surrounded the temple. Having stopped by the day before, Jesus knew what to expect.
Thus, Jesus began the task of purging the merchants and money-changers from the temple. Interestingly, Jesus purged the temple twice. The first time occurring right after His first miracle, the turning of water into wine at the wedding in Cana. And at this time, only four days before his death on the cross.
The temple priests had allowed the courts to become a market place of convenience, and a currency exchange for those who came to worship there. In addition, it had become a shortcut of sorts taken by servants and laborers from one side of the city to the other (Mark 11:16). Jesus would have none of this. He regarded his Father's House as sacred, and boldly made his intentions known.
Now the authority and interests of the chief priests and the scribes were under attack. They then began looking into how they might, not only put Jesus to death, but "utterly destroy him," In effect, they would be getting rid of his name and influence as a great spiritual force in the world.
The machinery was now set into motion. However, there was a big problem standing in the way. The fact remained that the people still recognized his power; and this is what frightened the scribes and Pharisees the most.
Prayer: Holy Father, You are the Lord, my creator, You are a love without end. You are all grace and forgiveness. Amen
May you have a blessed day,
Phyllis
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