Week 7 summary:
Readings this week are on the cusp
of Jesus' betrayal and arrest. So Jesus
spends His last free time teaching His disciples about the events to come. If someone is about to die, how much stock do
you put into a person's last words so-to-speak?
A lot!
As we get to the arrest, trial and
crucifixion of Jesus, we will see a lot of references back to prophecies in the
Old Testament.
Day 1: Mark 13
Mark 13 is very similar in nature
and content to Luke 21 (read last week) and Matthew 24 (to be read
tomorrow). See notes from Day 2
readings.
Day 2: Matthew 24
In Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke
21, it is widely accepted that Jesus is speaking about two separate
events: the overthrow and destruction of
Jerusalem in AD 70 but also the end times when Jesus comes again.
(Remember that the Bible was
written (especially apocalyptic literature – literature that uses all kinds of
images to get the attention of the reader and to dramatize the message in a
memorable way) to be understood by its 1st readers and that
interpretations that would not be understood by its original readers in the 1st
century are not correct interpretations.
So reading this material and trying to connect it directly to current
events will not tell us when the end times will occur. After all in Matthew 24:36, Jesus says that
no one will know the hour except the Father, not even the Son. If Jesus didn't know – can or should we?)
There are a couple of important
points: 1) there will be false prophets claiming to be
the Christ – don't believe them; 2) stay alert and be prepared – watch for the
signs of Jesus’ 2nd coming;
3) we should continue with our
task of sharing the gospel to the nations – the end times will not come until
that occurs (Matthew 24:14).
Day 3: Matthew 25
The parable of the 10 bridesmaids
(virgins): This parable means that we
should keep our minds on Jesus and be ready when He comes.
The parable of the talents
(valuable coins, bags of gold): Not only
are we to be prepared for Jesus' return, but we are to improve our allotted
“talents” until the day. In other words,
we may say that this is like “going on to perfection” as John Wesley would say
(i.e., going on toward Christlikeness).
The sheep and the goats: God will
separate His obedient followers from pretenders and unbelievers. The real evidence of our belief is the way we
act. What we do for others demonstrates
what we really think about Jesus' words to us.
Day 4: Matthew 26; Mark 14
As you read the passages for
today, also look up the following references to Old Testament prophecy that was
coming true with Jesus and the events that are now surrounding His betrayal,
arrest, trial and crucifixion.
Matthew 26:54 – see Psalm 22:7-8,
Psalm 22:16-18, Isaiah 53:8-9
Matthew 26:56 – see Zechariah 13:7
Matthew 26:63 – see Isaiah 53:7
Matthew 26:64 – see Daniel 7:13-14
Luke 22:5 – see Zechariah 11:12
Day 6: John 14-17
These 4 chapters of John occur after the Passover meal and after
Jesus has washed His disciple's feet – demonstrating the requirement to serve
others. In this last discourse with His
disciples before Jesus is arrested, Jesus is compassionately spending time
reassuring His disciples about what is to come.
Since they will hear about what is to come before it happens, another
reason that Jesus is sharing is so that they will believe! (See John 14:29.) Some of what Jesus conveys in this
conversation is:
·
Jesus is going away and will be preparing a
place for His disciples.
·
Jesus says that whoever has seen Him has seen
the Father.
·
Jesus will send the Holy Spirit (called the
Companion, Counselor, Advocate, Friend) to be with his followers and to remind
them of what Jesus has taught them.
·
Soon, even though the world would not see Jesus,
His disciples will.
·
A disciple can't produce fruit unless the
disciple “remains in” Jesus.
·
A disciple will remain in Jesus' love if the
disciple keeps Jesus' commandments.
·
We are called to love.
·
Disciples of Jesus will be persecuted because
the ones doing the persecuting will think they are doing God's will. But they aren't because they don't know God
the Father or God the Son.
·
Jesus has conquered the world.
John 17 is a prayer from Jesus for
His disciples. As you read John 17, read
it as if Jesus is praying for you right now!
He did pray for you (see John 17:20).
Jesus prays for His disciples then and for you and me now:
·
That God would watch over us as Jesus is leaving
the world.
·
We will share completely in Jesus' joy.
·
That God would keep us safe from the evil one.
·
That we would be holy in the truth.
·
Jesus is sending us into the world.
·
That we will be one as Jesus and God the Father
are one – unity.
·
God's love for Jesus will be in us.
Day 7: rest
