Drawing on the prophecies of Daniel, Jesus evokes memories of Antiochus IV’s blasphemy that launched a seven year war that ravaged all of Judea. He warns of a coming atrocity that will make this pale in comparison.

Jesus’s last great discourse begins with him leaving Jerusalem and the disciples asking him to admire the temple. Jesus then takes the disciples on a tour of the coming end of Jerusalem (which was destroyed by the Romans a couple decades later) and foreshadowing the final judgment of the world.

As Jesus transitions to his last great discourse (24:1–25:45), he pauses to present a poetic lament over the way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem refused to see what God was doing.

This week, we’ll take a look at two more questions Jesus was asked in Jerusalem. Then we’ll consider the way Jesus turns the Pharisees’ question back on them, setting up his great sermon from the Mount of Olives.

The Pharisees make an uneasy alliance with their rivals in an attempt to get Jesus to say something they can use against him.

Now in Jerusalem to do his Father’s work, Jesus is challenged concerning his authority. He answers by telling a series of parable which revolve around different kinds of sons and their service to their fathers.

Finally, Jesus arrives in Jerusalem. He is greeted with acclamations that upset the religious leaders, but the real lesson happens near a tree by the side of the road.

As Jesus walks toward Jerusalem for the last time, he deals with another question about status in the Kingdom of Heaven. He answers with one of his last miracles, which results in blind men heralding him as he enters the city.