* The Events of The Passion Week. Not all activities are listed.
Friday (Six days before Passover meal.)
-Jesus arrives in Bethany, just east of Jerusalem (John 11:54-12:1).
-Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, anoints Jesus' feet at a banquet (John 12:2-11).
Saturday (Sabbath. Started at dusk on Friday.)
-Though it is not recorded, Jesus left Bethany and returned to Ephraim near the Jordan River. (John 11:54-57)
Sunday (Now called Palm Sunday. 1st day of the Passion Week.)
-Jesus heals blind men while approaching Jericho (Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:34-43).
-Jesus eats at Zacchaeus house in Jericho (Luke 19:1-10).
-Jesus continues onto Jerusalem (Mark 10:52; Luke 19:28).
-Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19).
-Jesus's weeps for Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44).
-Jesus looked at the Temple at dusk. Then, left to spend the night at Bethany (Mark 11:11).
Monday (10th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-Jesus curses the fig tree (Matthew 21:18-19; Mark 11:12-14).
-Jesus cleanses the Temple courts (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17).
-Jesus healed and taught until dusk. Then, left to spend the night at Bethany (Matthew 21:14-17; Mark 11:18-19).
Tuesday (11th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-Jesus explains the withered fig tree to his disciples (Matthew 21:20-22; Mark 11:20-26).
-Jesus's authority questioned (Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8).
-Jesus teaches in the temple (Matthew 21:28-22:46; Mark 12:1-44; Luke 20:9-21:4; John 12:20-50).
-Jesus wept over Jerusalem's leader's unbelief and rejecting him as their King (Matthew 23:1-39).
-Jesus anointed at Bethany (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 13:3-9; John 12:2-11).
Wednesday (12th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-No details about what Jesus did except Luke 21:37-38 which says he taught every day in the Temple.
-The Jews plot to kill Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6).
Thursday (13th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-The Passover meal begins at dusk, the start of the 14th of the month Abib (see below notes).
-Jesus and the disciples eat Passover meal, now known as the Last Supper. (Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:7-20; John 13:1-18).
-Jesus comforts the disciples and prays in the upper room. Then they leave Jerusalem (John 14:1-16:33).
-Jesus prays at Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:26-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46).
Friday (14th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk. Now known as Good Friday.)
-According Hebrew time Jesus is arrested and tried during the night to daylight. (Matthew 26:47-27:26; Mark 14:43-15:15; Luke 22:47-23:25; John 18:2-19:16)
-The Jewish leaders turn Jesus over to Pilate at dawn. Pilate questions Jesus then sends him to Herod, who sends Jesus back to Pilate (Matthew 27:11-31; Mark 15:1-20; Luke 23:1-25; John 18:28-19:15).
-Jesus's crucifixion starts at 3:00pm. He dies just before sunset. (Matthew 27:27-56; Mark 15:16-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:17-30)
-Jesus is quickly buried at dusk just before Hebrew day end. (Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42)
Saturday (Sabbath. 15th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk. The seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread begins).
-Jesus' body is in the tomb. He appears in Sheol and accompanies the saints previously dead to heaven.
Sunday (Abib 16; day of First Fruits Sheaf Wave) See Resurrection chart below.
-Jesus's morning resurrection and appearing to the women. (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18)
-Jesus appeared to the two on the road. (Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-35)
-Jesus appeared to ten apostles (no Thomas or Judas) in the evening. (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25)
Saturday (Sabbath)
-Jesus appears to Thomas and the rest of the apostles. (John 20:26-31)
A week later
-Jesus talks and eats with seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee. (John 21:1-25)
Forty days since his resurrection.
-Jesus ascends to his Father in heaven from the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 28:15-20; Mark 18:19-20; Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:1-11)
* Hebrew days start at sunset/twilight and goes thru the night till the next day's sunset.
* Passover always starts at twilight on the 14th day of the month (Leviticus 23:5), not the same day of the week every year. Therefore, Passover starting on Thursday is rare. Passover usually starts on another day of the week. Passover starting on a Thursday the year Jesus was crucified. This timing made it possible for Jesus to fulfill the feasts associated with the Passover.
1st) Jesus was crucified on Friday (still Passover) and died before sunset that same day.
2nd) Jesus was in the tomb during the Sabbath (Saturday) rest. The Sabbath that Jesus was buried was also the beginning of the seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:15-20, 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:16). The Feast of Unleavened Bread is always on the first Sabbath after Passover.
3rd) Jesus rose on Sunday, the third day since his death. That Sunday was also the day of the First Fruit Sheaf Wave (Leviticus 23:9-15; Exodus 23:16, 19, 34:22). The first fruit (barley harvest) of the land was waved before the Lord. Jesus' resurrected as the first fruit (Acts 26:23; 1 Corinthians 15:4, 20, 23).
All three feasts were thus fulfilled by Jesus and this could have only happened that particular year, the year Passover started Thursday night.
* The Hebrew calendar considered an event lasting for an entire day even though it was only a few hours or even minutes long. Therefore, Jesus died and was buried at the end of the Hebrew day (twilight) on Friday and he is considered to have been buried that day too. The same can be stated for Sunday, the day he rose from the dead. Even though he was in the grave for a few moments after dawn before he rose, he is considered to be in grave Sunday and rise from it on Sunday.
I. The Greatest Commandment (12:28-34)
>1. What did a teacher of the law ask Jesus? (28)
* Mark 12:28 "One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
* "One of the teachers of the law" -Probably a Pharisee, but doesn't need to be.
* "heard them debating" -A teacher of the law would have listened closely to the Sadducees question to Jesus because it was often a item of debate.
* "a good answer" -One that he and other teachers of the law had not given when they were asked this.
* "he asked him" -This question was also a hot topic in those days. Jesus had been asked this question or one similar to it before.
>Why?
* The teacher of the Law did not have a trap in mind for Jesus. His following answer and Jesus statement to him seems to indicate that the man truly wanted to know what Jesus (the man who won an argument against the Sadducees) would say to another important issue of the day. He wanted to be reassured that what he believed was correct.
* Asking Jesus hard questions in prayer is now wrong. Jesus does not condemn us because we do not know. He does not turn away a truth seeker if our hearts are correct.
* The basic question asked is, "What principle does God want us to live by?" or "What does God expect of us?"
>What did Jesus teach him about God? (29)
* Mark 12:29 ""The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one."
* Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:4-5.
* Using Hebrew it says, "Jehovah (YHWH) our Elohim is one Jehovah."
* Jehovah is the name that God gave to Moses at the burning bush when he asked, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" (Ex. 3:13-15) It means, "I AM."
* Elohim is the first name for God in the Bible (Genesis 1:1). It is a singular-plural name. The "im" at the ending is the Hebrew plural. This is the unity of the Godhead.
* The Jews recited this every Sabbath in the synagogues. It was a very well known quote of the Bible at the time.
* This is not one of the ten commandments.
>2. What is the first important commandment? (30)
* Mark 12:30 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'"
* This is not one of the ten commandments.
* This is not abstract. It is simple to understand and absolute.
* "Love" -practical and specific. Love has an object.
* How do we know what love is? How do we love? 1 John 3:16 says, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."
>What is the second one? (31)
* Mark 12:31 "The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
* This goes with the first. However, there is an order. Without the first, this one can not be completed.
>3. What was the response of the teacher of the law? (32,33)
* Mark 12:32-33 ""Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
* "Well said" -a sincere complement.
* "teacher" -He acknowledged that Jesus was a teacher like he was.
* "is more important than" -sacrifices were not disqualified. They point to the true sacrifice, Jesus.
* Our heart attitude is the most important.
>In what ways was he different from other teachers of the law?
* He accepted and acknowledged Jesus as being correct. None of those who came to test him said Jesus was correct.
>How did Jesus bless the man? (34)
* Mark 12:34 "When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions."
* "wisely" -Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
* "You are not far from the kingdom of God" -Jesus is the king. Thus the kingdom was right next to him. However, he was not in the kingdom yet because he had not accepted that Jesus was more than a good and wise teacher. He needed to accept that Jesus was "the Lord God the Lord is one", the promised Messiah.
* Like the disciples the man would soon see the truth of the king of the kingdom of God.
* "no one dared" -Jesus had passed the test. He answered all questions correctly. He would be the lamb of God, the sacrifice without blemish and spot.
II. Whose Son is the Christ? (12:35-40)
>4. What misconception of the people was Jesus correcting? (35)
* Mark 12:35 "While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, "How is it that the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of David?"
* The Christ will not rule as David did as king. Christ is king, but much more than a king.
>Why?
* The Father is usually greater than the son. The son learns and received from the father. This is not the case with the Messiah.
* They did not know the full extent of the Christ (Messiah). They did not understand who he was nor what he would do.
* The Jews put high praise to David and Moses.
>Was not Christ supposed to be the son of David? (Is. 11:1)
* Isaiah 11:1 "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit."
* Jesus did not deny that he is a descendant of David.
* Matthew and Luke show the human linage from David to Mary and Joseph.
>5. What Scripture did Jesus quote to make his point? (36-37; Ps. 110:1)
* Mark 12:36-37a "David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet." ' David himself calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?""
* Psalm 110:1 "Of David. A psalm. The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."
* "speaking by the Holy Spirit" -The Holy Spirit was speaking through David. This was from God.
* "LORD" -The God of Israel and Judah.
* "my Lord" -Jesus, the second person in the trinity.
* "sit at my right hand" -Highest place of honor.
* Jesus' virgin birth makes him greater than David even though Mary was a descendant of David. Jesus is stating that he is the Son of God and therefore much greater than David.
>What was the response of the people? (37b)
* Mark 12:37b "The large crowd listened to him with delight."
* "delight" -Jesus taught the word of God in such a way as to be the most pleasing to the hearer if their heart is right.
* I can hardly wait to listen to him with my own ears.
* They were excited about the word of God as Jesus taught it. The truth moves the heart.
>6. What was Jesus' comment about the practices of elders? (38,39)
* Mark 12:38-39 "As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets."
* "watch out" -anyone can fall into this trap.
* Pride of self is a dangerous thing. It makes us forget about our Lord and Savior.
* This was a teaching about having a high opinion of one self. The previous (David) was about having a high opinion of another person. Both are dangerous. We should have a high opinion of God. Everyone else is the same in God's eyes.
>What was wrong with them? (40)
* Mark 12:40 "They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."
* They live for themselves. They love themselves not others.
* "punished most severely" -There are great degrees of punishment in hell.
III. The Widow's Offering (12:41-44)
* The woodcarving titled "The Widow's Mite" by Dore, Gustave (1832-1883) was in "The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments, according to the Authorized Version. With illustrations by Gustave Dore."
Jesus watches and points to a woman who with head bowed places a coin in a receiving station mounted to a wall. Jesus in typical art his shown with a halo. The artist, Gustave Doré (1832-1883), has placed his signature at the lower left of the woodcut, and the engraver's signature, Adolphe François Pannemaker (1822-1900), is located at the lower right.
>7. What was Jesus doing? (41)
* Mark 12:41 "Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts."
* Only God could do this.
* Jesus did not say anything about the large amount put in by the rich.
>How was the poor widow different from many rich people?
* Mark 12:42 "But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny."
* It was all she had. He gave by faith.
* Jesus didn't condemn or rebuke the rich for not putting in all.
>8. What was Jesus' remark on a poor widow?
* Mark 12:43-44 "Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on.""
* He praised her.
>What was Jesus trying to teach his disciples? (43,44)
* The amount doesn't matter. What matters is the heart motive.
* She knew she had to offer, but all she had was so small, so she offered it anyway.
