Jesus is now arrested and brought secretly before the Sanhedrin. Witness testimonies do not agree, but the absolute truth is still declared: judgment is coming!

While this kangaroo court is in session, Peter gets cornered. How does he face this temptation? After he sees his Friend, he cries. For anyone who loves the Lord, this pain is all too real.

It's the darkest hour in history. Weakness. Turmoil. Sweat drops of blood. Agony. Humanity.

In this darkest hour comes a kiss from a "friend." Betrayal. Violence. Healing. Humanity.

Weakness in abandonment. Strength in arrest.

It's the darkest hour in history.

Many are gathered in Simon the leper's home. There is anointing & worshipping, observing & curiosity, watching & learning, accusing & betraying. Amid this event, Jesus comes to the defense of someone. At the same time, a major unseen event occurs.

Later, He and His apostles observe the first day of Unleavened Bread/Passover. As they eat, Jesus tells them that one of them is a betrayer. Sad and unsure, they each ask Him if it is themselves. Jesus institutes a new memorial during the Passover meal, explaining what the emblems will now mean for His disciples. It is a covenant that He is making for the forgiveness of sins.

Afterward, on the Mount of Olives, Peter emphatically declares that he would die rather than betray Jesus.

Do you find yourself in these passages as we did?

Jesus is still sitting and talking to the two sets of brothers and uses another fig tree as the center of a divine lesson. One point to take away is the importance of being ready, awake, and on guard. A faithful worker does not sluff off his responsibility but is prepared and diligent with his work and focus. 

Passover is a Jewish holiday, a memorial of a judgment when the Lord passed over those who obeyed His command in order to be saved from slavery. This memorial was to be observed throughout the generations. It is at this point that the leaders of the Jewish nation put their evil motives into action. 

"And what I say to you, I say to all: Stay awake."

Look at this wonderful temple, the pride and joy of Jerusalem, now called the abomination of desolation! What? When? How? Jesus gives an exclusive answer to two sets of brothers who may not have been fully ready to hear about it but also get encouragement from the Lord about His elect. The warnings Jesus bookends in His reply undeniably debunk popular religious beliefs. There will be no excuse.

The fear of the Lord and the hope in the Lord are wrapped tightly together in these verses. And He gives us a choice of what we want.

Word entrapment is the name of their game! More religious leaders are ganging up on Jesus now. However, the common people gladly listen to some lessons that expose the motives of their leaders. As scripture does when we study it, the divine flow of the incident smoothly transitions to humility, generosity, and faithfulness, even amid a chaotic world.

Where do we find ourselves in this scenario? Who are we here?

Jesus returns to the temple after turning over the tables the day before. Again, the leaders of the temple question His authority. This is the beginning of an onslaught of questions. Jesus, in all His patience, skillfully answers a question with a question, then teaches one of the last of His parables that puts the evil plan of the leaders into motion.

Verse by verse, we examine this parable and find how we can apply its principles today.

Jesus goes in and out of Jerusalem in these verses. He gets the deserved high praises upon His first entrance but withers a fig tree for not producing the expected fruit. When He returns to Jerusalem the next day, He overturns the tables of the money-changers. In every incident, He teaches lesson after lesson. How many times have we given Him the deserved high praises of "Hosanna! Hosanna!" and then failed to produce the expected fruit? Are we quick to help others serve but worthy of our own tables being overturned? Ouch!

The third time is not always the charm because the disciples haven't fully grasped what Jesus is telling them. This time He gave gruesome details.

What do you want me to do? What do you want me to do? Jesus asked this question twice and heard two different replies. Oh, the many times we have approached the Good Teacher with our requests! What would our request be if He were to ask today: What do you want me to do?

Commands that seem to have become difficult through the ages are explained and made clear despite the attempts to test the Lord: divorce, covetousness, and having gods before God. What seems impossible is really a call to be closer to the Lord! Find out what the children do because the kingdom belongs to them!