The final week of the incarnated Christ actually began on Palm Sunday (see The Son of Man Lays Bare His Fate).
Monday
On Monday of this final week, Jesus gathered His apostles to return to Jerusalem. During the journey, became hungry. He saw a fig tree with leaves, but no fruit. Jesus speaks to the tree:
“May no one ever eat your fruit again!” Mk. 11:14 NLT
The apostles are totally befuddled with regards to why Christ curses the fig tree, but not a word was said.
Arriving in Jerusalem, they head straight to the Temple. As it was when He first went into the Temple 3 years prior, (Jn. 2:13 – 16), the courtyard is again filled merchants and moneychangers. Just like that first time, Jesus runs these people out of the courtyard; but this time His admonition was far more biting:
“The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!” Mt. 21:13 NLT (see also Is. 56:7; Jer. 7:11; Mal. 3:1 – 4.)
Once the ‘thieves’ were cast out, Jesus entered the Temple and began healing the blind and the crippled. Children entered as well, and they shouted:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!” Mt. 21:15 NKJV
The chief priests and the scribes were offended over all the commotion. They asked Christ if He was aware of what the children were shouting (recognizing Jesus as the Messiah), and He responds:
“Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give you praise.’” Mt. 2:16 NLT
Jesus is paraphrasing Ps. 8:2., inferring that they should follow the children’s example! In response, they withdraw to consort with one another to hatch a plot for Christ’s demise.
A group of Greek (could also be translated as ‘Gentiles’) worshipers at the Temple approached the apostles, requesting an audience with Jesus. He denies their request and says to His apostles:
“Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.” Jn. 12:23 NLT
Jesus is saying that He must first suffer the crucifixion – closing the opportunity for salvation for the Jews who rejected Him during His incarnated visit on earth. Also, He must be resurrected, bringing glory to His Father and to Himself, before He can begin to gather the Gentiles to the Kingdom of God. (Remember that it was God’s plan to save the Jews first):
(We also know that the Son of Man did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Heb. 2:16)
Christ then gives the apostles a greater depth as to the ‘necessity’ of His death:
“…unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone [just one grain, never more]. But if it dies, it produces much grain and yields a harvest.” Jn. 12:24 AMP
(…Christ’s death was to be the source of spiritual life to the world. From his cross and passions was to spring up a mighty harvest of benefit to all mankind. His death, like a grain of seed-corn, was to be the root of blessings and mercies to countless immortal souls. J.C. Ryle)
So, unless the ‘seed’ of Jesus dies, and is planted in the earth, (in the hearts of His followers), His fruit of a world-wide church spreading the Gospel, would not have been possible.
Then, He tells the apostles that there is a bonus for those who become part of His church:
“The one who loves his life [eventually] loses it [through death], but the one who hates his life in this world [and is concerned with pleasing God] will keep it for life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must [continue to faithfully] follow Me without hesitation, holding steadfastly to Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]; and wherever I am [in heaven’s glory], there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” Jn. 12:25, 26. AMP
(As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified…What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God. Gal. 6:14 – 16. NLT)
At this point, Jesus allows a little bit of His human anguish to express itself. However, we also see that His purposeful intent to do His Father’s will, remains intact:
“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from
this hour? But this is the very reason I came!” Jn. 12:27 NLT
Then, Jesus speaks to His Father, telling Him that He is ready to press forward:
“Father, bring glory to your name.” Jn. 12:28 NLT
Miraculously, Jehovah’s voice booms from heaven in response:
“I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” Jn. 12:28 NLT
This draws a crowd, some believing it was thunder, others thinking it was angel that spoke to Jesus. He addresses them:
“The voice was for your benefit, not mine. The time for judging the world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He said this to indicate how he was going to die. Jn. 12:30 – 33. NLT
Christ has given the crowd a lot to ponder. First, He said that God spoke out of the sky, so that these dunderheads might wake up and see who Jesus is, and to begin to understand the events that are unfolding before their eyes.
Second, He is pointing out that the earth will no longer be judged by the ‘old ruler’ of this world (Satan), who has been doing so since Adam and Eve. Upon Jesus’ resurrection, He will usurp the devil’s control, and He will rule and judge the earth.
Finally, He was saying that after His resurrection, He will call everyone on this globe to come to Him for eternal life. Each individual’s outcome will be determined by how they prepared themselves – by doing their best to walk a godly walk, and foremost, if they accepted Christ as their savior.
The crowd’s not getting it, because they say that the Mosaic Law teaches that the ‘Christ’ will live forever. They ask Him if He is the Messiah, why does He have to be crucified? And why does He call himself the Son of Man?
That sly Jesus doesn’t answer them directly, but prods them towards thinking on a deeper level, when He says:
“My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of light.” Jn. 12:35, 36. NLT
How did the crowd respond?
But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. Jn. 12:37 NLT
Some did believe, but would not admit it, because they did not want to be excommunicated from the synagogue. Why the attitude?
For they loved human praise more than the praise of God. Jn. 12:43 NLT
Jesus knows His earthly time is coming to a close. He turns to the crowd once more, in an attempt to save them, through His final public address:
“If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me.
“I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.
“I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken.
“I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.” Jn. 12:44 – 50. NLT
(“The Father and I are one.” Jn. 10:30 NLT)
(Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son. 2 Jn. 9 NLT)
When we see, feel, hear Jesus Christ, we are seeing, feeling, and hearing Jehovah, because His essence permeates His Son.
Christ came to save us from ourselves, because He knows that it is our conduct that will either exalt or condemn us. The words of Christ are the words of God – and they alone are the keys to eternity.
And with that, the Monday of the final week of the incarnated Christ was concluded. Jesus and His apostles returned to Bethany…
Goodnight and God bless.