Silent Day

Today is day four, but no record of today was made in the Gospels. However, much activity would have been happening as Jesus was preparing for the Last Supper. Judas and Sanhedrin were also busy preparing for Jesus' arrest. Jesus remains in Bethany and stays the night there again. 

I understand the need for quiet days, when nothing seems to be happening, but I know that even on this silent day Jesus was busy. Tomorrow, Jesus will be arrested and I think that knowledge must have weighed heavily upon Him. This man, who He had invited along this journey with Him, was going to betray Him and hand him over to be killed. I imagine a tension in the air as both Jesus and Judas knew what was about to happen. I wonder if the other disciples noticed, if they made a comment to one another, or if they continued on with their lives, not recognizing the intensity of the moment. 

A Lesson In Prayer

In the morning, on day three, as Jesus and His disciples went along, the disciples noticed the fig tree from the day before withered from the roots. Peter remembered yesterday and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" (Mark 11: 20-21). Peter had been with Jesus a long time, he had witnessed many of Jesus' miracles, and yet he was still surprised by the withered fig tree. I think sometimes we take God's presence for granted and forget all of things He has already done in our lives. Peter, who had walked on water with Jesus, was surprised Jesus' curse of the fig tree left it withered from the roots. His surprise makes no sense, considering all of the things he witnessed, and yet it happened. A lack of faith in God is possible and can happen to anyone.

Jesus answered Peter, "Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea' and does not doubt in their heart, but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins," (Mark 11: 22-25). Jesus could have rebuked Peter and reminded him of all of the miracles he had already witnessed, but instead He took the time to teach Peter and the other disciples about the power of prayer that rises from a faithful heart. Jesus loved His disciples enough to teach them and to leave them with lessons they could use when He was gone.

Jesus and His disciples continued on their journey, with the intent to spend the night in Bethany again, but one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went instead to the chief priests. He asked them, "What are you willing to give to me to betray Him to you?" (Matthew 26: 14-16). The chief priest then weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. Each time I read this, I am amazed at the willingness of Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus. Jesus was his friend, his teacher, and his traveling companion. How could he betray Jesus so easily? I don't have an answer, but I suspect it has to do with greed and the deceitfulness of the heart. 

The Cursed Fig Tree

Continuing on our journey of the last week of Jesus' life in His human-form...

Jesus awoke in Bethany, having just had His triumphant entrance into Jerusalem the day before, and left to return to Jerusalem. On His way into the city, Jesus became hungry and seeing a fig tree in the distance He went to find out if it had any fruit. When He reached the tree, He found nothing except leaves because it was not the season for figs. Jesus then said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again," (Mark 11: 12-14). Jesus and His disciples continued onto Jerusalem. 

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts. The courts were filled with many people who were buying and selling there. When Jesus saw this, He began driving them out of the temple courts, He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. He then taught them, saying, "Is it not written: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers," (Mark 11: 15-17). 

The chief priests and the other teachers of the law heard this and began to plot to kill Him. These people feared Him because the whole crowd was amazed at His teaching. 

In the evening Jesus and His disciples left Jerusalem and returned to Bethany to spend the night. This is the end of day two.