Text: Luke 19:18-24:53 (pp. 47-59)

• Jesus proceeds to Jerusalem. He tells the disciples how to prepare and informs them exactly what to expect. It unfolds precisely as he says. These not only demonstrate his omniscience, but also validate Old Testament prophecies.
• As Jesus enters Jerusalem, the crowd entering the city to commemorate the Passover acclaim Jesus as Messiah, laying their coats and palm branches before him (as a sign of acknowledgement of his regal standing)
  • Lingering Pharisees tried to shut down the fanfare, admonishing Jesus to rebuke the followers from their Messianic praise.
  • Jesus replied that there was no denying who he is. All of creation testifies to the deity of Jesus.
  • Jesus wept upon seeing Jerusalem, pained over her rejection of him (and the subsequent judgment that would inevitably follow).
• Jesus entered the Jerusalem Temple, driving out the commercial interests there.
  • He taught daily in the Temple, and the people swarmed to him.
  • The Pharisees plots turned murderous. Still, they couldn’t rightly accuse him of wrongdoing.
  • He foiled their efforts to challenge his authority, using the deft skills of logic and reason.
• Jesus shared a provocative parable of a man (God) who leased his land to farmers (Israel). He sent servants back to the land (prophets) and the farmers beat every servant. So the man sent his cherished son (Jesus)…and the farmers killed the son to take the land for themselves.
  • He then connected the dots with prophecy, identifying himself as the rejected stone that would be the chief cornerstone (who would overcome all efforts to oppose him).
  • The Pharisees caught the teaching’s meanings, and despite worries about upsetting the masses of followers), moved forward with their plot.
• They failed in a plot trying to pit Jesus against Rome, but Jesus responding to “loaded questions” by telling people to respect and obey their earthly authorities (as well as their divine authorities).
• Jesus is challenged by the Sadducees using a hypothetical dealing with marriage and the resurrection. He answers authoritatively on both.
• Then Jesus turned the tables and asked them a question they could not answer. He then warned the crowd to be on the watch for their false teachings.
• Jesus commended the widow for her sacrificial giving, in contrast to the publicly extravagant gifts of the Pharisees that had been taken from their excesses.
• Jesus talked extensively about the commencement of the end, and not to worry.
• Framed by the setting of the approaching Passover Feast, The Pharisees benefited from the willingness of Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus.
• The time for Passover had arrived. Jesus told the disciples to make preparations. Again, all occurred exactly as he told them it would.
  • At the Passover meal, Jesus reiterated his impending persecution and suffering.
    • He institutes the Lord’s supper.
    • He reminds them of the servanthood imperative.
    • He tells Peter that Satan has asked permission to sift Peter and that Jesus intercedes for him.
      • He foretells Peters failure
      • He predicts Peters denial
      • He also foretells Peter’s repentance.
    • He then sets out, for the events that must take place.
• They are greeted in the garden, where Judas identifies Jesus with the betrayer’s kiss.
  • The disciples prepare for conflict, but Jesus de-escalates it (heals the wounded Roman slave) and allows himself to be arrested (despite the lack of credible charges).
• He is taken to the High Priest’s home. In the courtyard, Peter denies Jesus three times. Rooster crows. Peter runs away in bitterness.
• The soldiers begin to mock and beat Jesus.
• Under questioning, Jesus responds to accusers by attesting to his identity as the Son of God. They accuse him of blasphemy.
• He is taken to Pontius Pilate, who finds no reason to charge him. Jesus is dispatched to Herod Antipas as a matter of protocol. Herod and his guards beat and mock Jesus, too.
  • Interestingly, Herod and Pilate become friends over this abuse of Jesus.
• He is sent back to Pilate, who still finds no offense in him.
• In expressing intent to release him, the Jewish leaders instead clamor for the release of Barabbas, a known insurrectionist and accused murderer.
• Pilate gave in to the demands of the people and sentenced Jesus to die.
• Jesus was led to Golgotha and crucified there.
  • He was placed between two thieves.
    • One thief worshipped him.
    • The other mocked him, telling him to free himself (a fulfillment of one of his earliest prophecies at the onset of his ministry).
• The midday sky went dark for three hours
• At 3 PM, Jesus gave up his spirit and died.
• The veil in the temple separating people from the Holy of Holies was torn.
• Joseph (a wealthy, respected Jewish man) received permission to have Jesus’ body brought down before the Sabbath, and placed in his own tomb.
• Jesus’ female followers prepared the spices and funerary ointments, and finished before the Sabbath.
• On Sunday dawn, the women went to the tomb, and found the tomb’s entrance stone rolled away.
• They encountered two men (angels) who announced that Jesus was alive, as he had been telling them would happen.
• The women ran back and told the men. The men were unconvinced.

• Peter ran to the tomb, found it empty, and was stymied.
• Later that day, 7 miles away, Jesus appeared on the road to Emmaus while two disciples were discussing all these events.
  • They didn’t recognize him at first.
  • They recounted to him everything that happened. They invited him in, and at dinner, they recognized him.
  • He proved himself to be no ghost. He ate with them.
  • He opened their mind to the Scriptures for understanding.
  • He promised the soon arrival of the Holy Spirit.
  • Jesus led them to Bethany, blessed them, then ascended to heaven.

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