Part Three: Jesus’ Ministry in Jerusalem1 – 11 The Messiah Enters the Holy City
As the disciples approach Jerusalem, Jesus sends two ahead to retrieve a colt on which no one has sat. They returned with it, threw their garments on it and Jesus mounted it. They spread their clothes and many spread leafy branches, crying, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest!"
12 - 26 The Barren Fig Tree and the Expulsion of the Money Changers
The next day Jesus was hungry. He went to a fig tree, but it was barren. Then he cursed it, saying, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." My notes: "Jesus had come among his own people, the Jews, hungry to find fruit of holiness and good works, but all he found were external practices - leaves without fruit." At the temple in Jerusalem, Jesus overturns the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. Later they pass the fig tree, and it is withered.
The Power of Prayer: "Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
My notes say that verse 26 was added later (from Matthew 6:15: "but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses."
27 – 33 Jesus’ Authority
The chief priest ask Jesus under what authority he does theses things. Jesus responds with a question: "Was the baptism of John from heaven or men?" The priests try to figure out how Jesus is trying to trick them and finally settle on "We do not know." Jesus responds, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
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Palm Sunday
As they approached Jereusalem Jesus told the disciples to go ahead to the city and they will find a colt tied by itself, untie it and bring it for him to ride. If anyone asks what they are doing, tell them, "The Lord needs it". This happened just as he said it would. When they came into the city people threw their cloaks and palm branches onto the road praising Jesus. They went to the temple and looked around but went to Bethany for the night.
Monday
The next morning Jesus saw a fig tree in the distance and prepared himself for a good fig breakfast. When he got to the tree it was bare. He cursed the tree saying, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again."
When they returned to the temple the surrounding courtyards were full of salesmen selling "religious items" he turned over all the tables and said, "My house is a house of prayer but you have made it a den of robbers." The chief priests and teachers then began looking for a way to kill him for the people agreed with him.
Tuesday
The next morning as they were returning they passed the cursed fig tree which had withered from the roots. The disciples were surprised.
Jesus told them, "Whatever you ask for in prayer, and believe you've received it already, it will be yours. Even if you tell a mountain to throw itself into the sea; if you believe it, it will happen. And when you pray, if you hold anything against anyone else, forgive them before prayer so that God may forgive you."
Wednesday
When they returned to the temple again the priests and teachers asked Jesus by what authority he did and said the things he did. He told them if they'd answer a question from him then he'd answer them. He asked them if John's baptism was from God or man. They discussed it and knew if they said "God" then Jesus would ask why they don't believe him. If they say "man" the people would attack them for hippocracy. So they said, "We don't know." So Jesus didn't answer their question.
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