Jesus Life “Time period from Passover to Mount of Olives” April 19, 2014

April 19, 2014          Jesus Life “Time period from Passover to Mount of Olives” 

As we are in this Passover this season, we were told we need to prepare our hearts to observe it?  This spring feasts calls for us to remove leaven from our homes and to prepare our hearts to keep the feast.  Each year we ask ourselves, what is leaven?  And ask ourselves what behaviors or attitudes do we need to clean out of our lives.  As we age and go through the different stages of life, one set of behaviors may be acceptable at a younger age on to become inappropriate at an older age.  As we go from one age to another, we are commanded to search for leaven every year and remove sin from our lives.    

We are to remember Jesus death, burial and resurrection, which took place at the Passover Season (1 Cor 15:2-4).  We need to prepare ourselves and should examine ourselves for any leaven in our lives.  Only by the aid of the Holy Spirit can we truly accomplish this.  Simply ask the Lord to show me in my life the leaven for me to remove.  We remember what Jesus has done for us personally.  Passover is the same, but we are also instructed to remember what God has done for us as a family of believers. 

If the Passover and Feast Days is just a religious ritual to us, then it is fair to say that our heart was not ready to observe the Passover.  We were to examine ourselves (our heart) as we prepare for the Passover.  We will discover there is much more to observance and remembrance than meets the eye.  One of the ways we need to prepare ourselves by asking this question, can I recount the basic story of Jesus and His disciples to others, leading to and after His arrest, trial, execution and resurrection?  Remember, this is what the Apostle did, would go from one city to another city telling the story of Jesus, about what He did, taught, His instructions, and what happen to Him, and who He is.  We sing at church one of my favorite songs, “I love to tell the Story.”  (Taken from Matt 28:19-20)  I would like for us to do a quick review by looking at a time period from the Passover to the hill called Mount of Olives.  

Let’s turn to:   Let’s think about how far they all had to walk.  Walk everywhere.

 

(John 10:39-40 NIV)  Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp. {40} Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed

(John 1:28 NIV)  This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.  (talking about John)  (see # 1)

The Death of Lazarus 

(John 11:1 NIV)  Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 

“...Bethany”: Only two miles east of Jerusalem; dangerous ground for Jesus. (see # 2) 

It’s only a one-day journey from Bethany (Jn 10:40). Jesus waited for two days...Burial took place on the day of the death.  The mourning period began immediately and lasted a month. First three days: professionals mourners. Fourth day after was the day for friends to visit

 

(John 11:2 NIV)  This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.

 {4} When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it."

{6} Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

..he abode two days”: Jesus waited  1 day for the messengers, 2 days waited, 1 day there, which is 4 days

 

(John 11:7-8 NIV)  Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." {8} "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?"

(John 11:11 NIV)  After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up."

 

          Jesus said sleep, means he is dead

 

(John 11:14-15 NIV)   {14} So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, {15} and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."

“...ye may believe”: The mightiest display of Christ’s power prior to His own death. There is no record of anyone dying in His presence (the two thieves died after he had given up His spirit).  Jesus will give a witness to those who were there and it would spread. 

(John 11:17 NIV)  {17} On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

Why 4 days?  Jews believed that the soul remained near the body for 3 days after death in the hope of returning to it and be sure someone was dead and then after four days the spirit was presumed to leave the body. If this was what they were thinking, then all hope was gone, because Lazarus was really dead. 

(John 11:18 NIV)  Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem,

 

Lazarus had lain in the grave for four days  (see # 1 and 4)

 

(John 11:19 NIV)  and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 

Jewish custom provided for 7 days of heavy mourning, the lighter mourning for the remainder of 30 days.  It was usual for friends to visit the family to comfort them.

 

Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead

 

(John 11:38 NIV)  {38} Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. {39} "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."

The Plot to Kill Jesus

(John 11:46-47 NIV)  But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. {47} Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. "What are we accomplishing?" they asked. "Here is this man performing many miraculous signs.

(John 11:48 NIV)  If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."

 

Truth comes out:  Only worried about their own positions 

(John 11:53 NIV)  {53} So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

(John 11:54 NIV)  Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the Jews. Instead he withdrew to a region near the desert, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. 

(see # 3) “...Ephraim: (“fruitfulness”)”: Twenty miles N of Jerusalem; five miles E of Bethel. 

 (John 12:1-2 NIV)  Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. {2} Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.

(John 12:9 NIV)  Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.

 

(John 12:10 NIV)  So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,

 

Jewish leaders wanted to kill one man, now they want to kill 2,  Sin does grow. 

(Mat 20:17-19 NIV)  Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, {18} "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death {19} and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"

For the third time, Jesus announced His arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection (see Mt 16:21; 17:22). In the previous announcements, He had not specified how He would die. But now He clearly mentioned the cross.(Did they understand? No. Cf. Lk 18:34.) Prophecy to be turned over to the Romans.

 (Mat 20:29 NIV)  As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him.

(Luke 19:1 NIV)  Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. (see # 5)

(Luke 19:28 NIV)  After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

 

(Luke 19:29 NIV)  As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,         (see # 6)          (see # 2)  (see # 7)

 

(Mat 21:1 NIV)  As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,

 

Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem

 

(Mat 21:5 NIV)  {5} "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'"

(Mat 21:10 NIV) When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"         (see # 4)

(Mat 21:11 NIV)  The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

 

(Mat 21:12 NIV)  Jesus entered the Temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.

Jesus had opened His ministry with a similar act (Jn 2:13-25). Now, three years later, the temple was defiled again by the “religious business” of the leaders.

(Mat 21:17 NIV)  And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

(see # 2) Bethany, within a Sabbath days walk from Jerusalem. Some very special times in Bethany, where Lazarus is raised.

(Mat 21:18-19 NIV)  Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city (Jerusalem), he was hungry. {19} 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.

The Fig tree cursed by Jesus

(Mark 11:12 NIV)  The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. (Pick up here)

(Mark 11:27 NIV)  They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him.

(Mat 21:23 NIV)  Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you this authority?"

(Mat 21:45-46 NIV)  When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables, they knew he was talking about them. {46} They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.

(Mat 26:1 NIV)  When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,

 

(Mat 26:2 NIV)  "As you know, the Passover is two days away--and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."

 

(Mat 26:3 NIV)  Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,

 

(Mat 26:4-6 NIV)  and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. {5} "But not during the Feast," they said, "or there may be a riot among the people." {6} While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper,

Remember, Bethany is a Sabbath-day’s journey from Jerusalem. Jesus’ favorite place to stay.

Jesus was anointed at Bethany

 

Jesus anointed at Bethany 

(Mat 26:7 NIV)  a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.         

Judas agrees to Betray Jesus  

(Mat 26:15 NIV)  and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.

 

(Mat 26:16 NIV)  From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

 

The Passover Meal is Prepared

(Mat 26:18-19 NIV)  He replied, "Go into the city (Jerusalem) to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.'" {19} So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

The leaders are trying to find a way to take Jesus quietly to avoid a big public uproar.  Jesus was always in control at all times and forced Judas hand. 

Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples in the upper room

 

(Mat 26:30 NIV)  When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

They cross a valley called Kidron and went to an olive grove called Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. 

(Mark 14:32 NIV)  They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." 

Jesus was arrested

 

 (Mat 26:50 NIV)  Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 

Jesus trials before the Jewish Leadership and the Romans Rulers.

 

(Mat 26:57 NIV)  Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled.

(John 18:13-14 NIV)  and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. {14} Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people.

(Mat 27:2 NIV)  They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.

(Mat 27:3 NIV)  When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.

(Mat 27:5 NIV)  So Judas threw the money into the Temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

Jesus before King Herod

 

(Luke 23:6-7 NIV)  On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. {7} When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

Jesus back before Pilate again

 

(Luke 23:11 NIV)  Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.

(Mat 27:26 NIV)  Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

The Crucifixion of Jesus at Golgotha 

(Mat 27:33 NIV)  They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull).

(Mat 27:35 NIV)  When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Crucifixion on Wednesday day time  

 

The Death of Jesus

 

(Mat 27:50-51 NIV)  And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. {51} At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.

The Burial of Jesus

 

(Mat 27:57-60 NIV)  As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. {58} Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. {59} Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, {60} and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

Removed off of the stake and buried right before sunset Thursday

 

The Resurrection of Jesus

 

(Mat 28:1 NIV)  After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

(Mat 28:5-6 NIV)  The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. {6} He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

Jesus appears to the women

 

(John 20:16-17 NIV)  Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). {17} Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned (ascended) to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

Jesus appears later to the women

 

(Mat 28:9-10 NIV)  Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. {10} Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Jesus told the disciples to go to the mountain in Galilee

(Mat 28:16-17 NIV)  Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. {17} When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

Jesus has ascended to the Father and is accepted

 

(John 21:25 NIV)  Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

(Acts 1:3 NIV)  After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

(Acts 1:11-12 NIV)  "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." {12} Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city.