In the early chapters of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is seen to have authority over the demonic (Mark 1:21-28; 5:1-20), disease and death (1:40-45; 5:21-43), storms (4:35-41) and the authority to forgive sins (Mark 2:1-12). His authority is challenged by the religious leadership of Israel, especially the officials from Jerusalem. They challenge Jesus because they are […]

In Mathew 26, we see Jesus being prepared for his death and burial through an anointing of very expensive perfume by a woman in Bethany (Mt. 26:1-13). In John 12:3, we are told that this woman is Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. Jesus sees this act of Mary as an act of worship, […]

Our reading today begins with Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The way that the long-expected messianic King enters the Holy City reveals that the Kingdom he is ushering in will be a lot different than the kingdoms of men. He is not riding in on a warhorse and he is not going to conquer and take power by killing people.

A Different Kind Of King and Kingdom

His firepower is not going to be the normal physical weapons of warfare but the spiritual weapons of servanthood and self-sacrificing love. He is going  to defeat all the powers of evil, including death, by dying on the cross and then rising from the dead, three days later. In the passage right before our Palm Sunday reading, Jesus has already redefined greatness for his disciples according to this pattern of self-emptying love and service (Mt. 20:26-28).

The leafy fig tree that Jesus curses in Mt. 21:18-22 apparently represents Israel. Despite being outwardly religious, God’s people have been unable to bear fruit according to God’s purposes. The fig tree should have figs on it because of its many leaves but it doesn’t, just like Israel, especially its leadership. In the Parable of the Tenants (Mt. 21: 33-46), the owner of the vineyard sends his servants to collect his fruit at harvest season. But the tenants either beat up or kill the servants. They don’t give the owner his fruit and they finally kill his son.

The religious leadership of God’s people fail to represent God faithfully to the world. When the Messiah comes they don’t recognize him because they don’t live according to God’s values. They like the best seats at banquets and in the synagogues and they walk around like prideful showboats (Mt. 23:5–7). Self-sacrificing love and servanthood are not a part of who they are. They sit in Moses’ seat, but they don’t practice what they preach (Mt. 23:1-4).

Instead of recognizing Jesus as the Messiah and following him, they try to get Jesus in trouble by trapping him in his words. But Jesus wisely answers their questions and exposes their hypocrisy (Mt. 22:15-46). Through his Parables of Mathew 21 and 22 and through his words of woe in Mathew 23, Jesus pronounces judgment on the religious leadership of Jerusalem. They have the keys to God’s kingdom, but they shut the door of heaven in men’s faces. Jesus says in Mt. 23:14 – “You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” That’s why Jesus cleansed the Jerusalem Temple when he came into the city on Palm Sunday.

The money changers’ tables and the animal benches were located in the only place of the Temple grounds that the Gentiles could worship. Furthermore, mercenary rates were being charged to the poorer Jewish pilgrims as they bought animals for sacrifice. The average Joe was being ripped off by the religious elite. No wonder Jesus cleansed the Temple. The guardians of Judaism were not ready and prepared to meet their holy and awesome Lord.

God’s Judgment Is Real

Because the Jerusalem Temple worship was corrupt and because the Jerusalem leadership failed to recognize their Messiah, the Lord prophesied destruction of the Temple and the Holy City (Mt.23:37-39, 24). The judgment of Jerusalem prophesied in Mathew 24 occurred in AD 70 when the Romans sacked the City and the surrounding province. The prophecy of Mathew 24 also talks of God’s judgment of the world at the end of the age, when Christ will come a second time.

It is not uncommon to hear in secular Western society the statement: “If God is really there, why doesn’t he show himself in a more clearer way? More people would believe in him then.” This is the kind of question that the Pharisees and the Sadducees ask of Jesus in Mathew 16:1. They ask for […]

Today’s reading begins with John the Baptist languishing in jail wondering whether Jesus was really the One to come (Math. 11:3). In some ways, this is quite surprising, since he was the great prophet of God who prepared the way for Israel’s long-expected Messiah. But in other ways, it is not surprising. His doubts reveal […]

Jesus’s greatest teaching is found in his Sermon on the Mount in Mathew 5-7. In these chapters, Jesus gives his most detailed instruction regarding the attitudes and actions that will be demonstrated in the lives of faithful citizens of God’s Kingdom. It is evident that the kingly presence of Jesus, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, […]

Our normal routines of everyday life have come to a screeching halt in these last 3 weeks. We have all been urged to quarantine and wait patiently for this coronavirus pandemic to subside. Waiting and trusting and being patient doesn’t come easily for us. But to experience God’s greatest blessings, it is often necessary. Faith […]

Beginning Friday, April 3, 2020, you are invited to join us as we read through the New Testament in 52 days (averaging 5 chapters per day). Pastor John will be posting a blog with comments and application relating to each day’s reading. The reading schedule is copied below. □ Day 1 Matthew 1 – 5 […]