Holy Tuesday

On Tuesday Jesus returned to the Temple and the religious leaders were upset at Jesus for establishing Himself as a spiritual authority. Jesus had a large following now. He evaded the traps the leaders set for Him with their questions. He scolded them in Matt. 23 and compared them to tombs – beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people.

Jesus took His disciples to the Mount of Olives and told them parables about end times and His return. Those who wait for the Master’s coming—the wise and faithful servant (Matthew 24:45-51), the five wise virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), and the good servant who uses his resources wisely (Matthew 25:14-30) are a few of the ones He spoke.

Do you remember any of these parables from Sunday School or Vacation Bible School? The point is to have faith and be ready for Jesus. He is coming back just like He promised. When? Well, some people say it is going to be soon because of the way thing are in the world. What we do know is it is not for us to know. We are just advised to be ready at a moment’s notice. Jesus is coming in the blink of an eye.

After they left Jerusalem, Jesus and His disciples stopped on the Mount of Olives. He wanted to teach again about the future and end times. Jesus cautioned against false teachers and the evil that would rise up. Oh, can you imagine hearing Jesus preach?

The Pharisees, Sadducees, and other religious leaders of Jesus’ day constantly sought to entrap him. They refused to acknowledge that Jesus was God’s Son, the Messiah. It is unbelievable how relentless those religious leaders were toward Jesus. Have you really considered how much God loves us? He cared enough to let His Son go through shame, humiliation, testing, betraying, pain, crucifixion, and death all to save our souls. Don’t ever forget the price our Saviour, Jesus, paid for us.

Tuesday the disciples walked back by the fig tree from yesterday that Jesus cursed. It was now withered and dead. Jesus used that to teach them about faith, true faith. A person or nation that does not produce fruit for God (do His work) will wither and die all the way down to its roots. The tree had leaves so by first sight it looked like it was producing. A closer look revealed no fruit. Then Jesus cursed it so it withered and died.

Are you producing fruit? Are you leading people to God? Helping them find salvation? Does the light of Jesus shine through you? Are you loving, kind, selfless, good, joyful, and have the fruits of the spirit? Don’t wither away. Grow tall and produce fruit. Increase in your faith. Flourish in your love for Jesus. You will be amazed at the things that will happen when you believe and have faith!

“Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then He said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.” Mt. 21:19

“Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Mt. 21:21-22

They returned to the Temple and the religious leaders were upset at Jesus for establishing himself as a spiritual authority. He had a large following now. Jesus evaded the traps the leaders set for Him with their questions. He scolded them in Matt. 23 and compared them to tombs – beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people.

Holy Tuesday Activities

Holy Tuesday, Jesus Teaches in Parables