Text: Luke 21:1-38, Luke 22:1-2, Daniel 7:13-14
Today is the third day of the portion of the church calendar commonly known as Holy Week.
In the coming days, we will slow our pace, walking through the events that took place between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Rather than offer personal, written responses to each day’s Scripture reading, we’ve asked our friend, Pastor Russ Ramsey, to provide a real-time summary of the week’s events. Our prayer is that this more descriptive approach will usher you into the narrative and allow space for you to fully engage the beauty and ache of Holy Week.
Take this week slowly and reverently. It is a somber time, but let us never forget: Sunday is coming.
___
The Tuesday of Holy Week was filled with drama.
If Monday’s arrival in the temple was marked by Jesus’ living parable of cleansing God’s house, Tuesday’s entrance was marked by a direct, verbal confrontation from the religious leadership, the Sanhedrin. They demanded to know who gave Jesus the right to behave as He has in their temple (Mark 11:27-33).
This entire confrontation was an attempt to put Jesus in His place by forcing Him to yield to the Sanhedrin’s authority. But when they tried, they failed. Jesus asked smarter questions and gave clearer answers than they did (Matthew 21:23-27). When they tried to question His motives, He exposed their hearts. When they attempted to intimidate Him by coming to Him in numbers, He never showed the slightest sign of backing down. They tried to discredit His ministry, but there were people walking around in the temple who, only days earlier, had been blind and lame (Matthew 21:14).
Jesus had literally turned the tables on the Sanhedrin the day before (Matthew 21:12), but today He had done it again—only this time with further-reaching implications. When they demanded that He submit to their authority, He exposed them as liars. If they had no integrity, they held no real authority.
This forced the religious leaders’ hand. If they wanted to contain Jesus’ influence among the people, they would have to rely on more than warnings and bravado. They would have to remove Him—because it was clear that He would not yield.
After Jesus ended the confrontation on Tuesday by refusing to regard these leaders as having any authority over Him, He elected to spend the rest of the day right there in the temple—His Father’s house—so that He might teach the people the Word of God (Matthew 21:28-23:39). Consider for a moment the strength and resolve that standing His ground would have required.
But Tuesday afternoon would be the last time Jesus would publicly teach in the temple as a free man. His words on that day would be His closing argument—His manifesto.
When Jesus left the temple that Tuesday, the chief priests and the scribes sought how to arrest Him by stealth and kill Him (Mark 14:1). They knew they couldn’t take His life from Him solely on the strength of the charges they meant to bring—not if He defended Himself, anyway.
But He would not. Instead, by His silence, He would offer up His life for a world of blasphemers, traitors, and liars who so desperately needed to be opposed and upset. This was what Jesus had come to do.
As He left the temple that Tuesday afternoon, He knew it would happen soon.
written by Russ Ramsey
adapted from Behold the King of Glory
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54 thoughts on "Holy Week in Real Time: Tuesday"
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Truly,Christ did not have his Life.Yet he purposed and completed the Will of our Father.
14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer,
How many times do I prepare an argument or Christian apology in a vacuum? I love that this vision of evangelism requires more than rote recitation or tracts: Jesus is requiring 1) we have faith that he will give us words and wisdom and 2) that we actually listen to the people we are interacting with.
I love this thought that Russ brings out:
“They tried to discredit His ministry, but there were people walking around in the temple who, only days earlier, had been blind and lame (Matthew 21:14).”
Just like Jesus, there are people who may call us foolish and try to discredit our testimony (ministry). BUT as long as the Risen Savior is alive in us (the healed blind and lame of our day), the Truth will be in plain view allowing a watching world to see the Hope of Jesus’ death and resurrection for them today.
Thank you, Russ, for your thoughts during Holy Week. You’ve given us a lot to think about!
This part of scripture seems so fitting today with the things that happend in Brussel this morning. Im living in the Netherlands and you can feel and see the fear by people. Im trying not to be afraid but it is hard. Can you please pray? Its so clear that we are living in the end times
Of the world and that the world so desperately needs the Cross of Jesus!
Anna, thank you for transparently sharing your fear and reaching out for prayer support. Calling on the Lord for your comfort, peace, safety specifically.
Hi Anna, my sister is living in Amsterdam and I feel the anxiety too, even from as far away as New Zealand. Absolutely I am praying over these end times – knowing that I trust in the hope of our resurrected Saviour. He alone is the Prince of Peace, and He alone is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is above and sovereign over all. Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. Christ have mercy on our fallen world.
Praying for you, sweet sister. That you will seek Him for comfort and that He will fill you with peace.
Praying for you
Hi Anna,
I am praying that God blesses and comforts you in this difficult time and that you feel his everlasting love and safety amongst you and your family. In the midst of all this terror I hope that those around the world turn to God and see him as their hope and savior. I will be praying for you.
A scandal of grace, He died in our place so our souls will live!
Is it just me or does it seem like the reading is supposed to be from chapter 20 of Luke instead of 21…?
Love that Jesus is so powerful and yet so personal too!
Yes, now that you point that out. Was a bit confused as I didn’t feel like the response went along with the passages. Was wondering if I had missed something.
Hi Beth! Great question! Our concept for the responses this week is Holy Week in real time. Though the readings and the commentary may not seem to connect in a tidy way, these are all things happening on the Tuesday during Holy Week. The scripture passage assigned today include Jesus’ final sermon in the temple, and Russ’ commentary visits what’s happening in the other gospels—Jesus’ authority being challenged by the religious leaders. All that to say, we can absolutely see how this would be confusing, but it’s all happening on Tuesday!
xoxo-Kaitlin
So much in this passage that the Holy Spirit is convicting me on!
The widow giving out of her poverty, and the rich giving out of their surplus… Am I giving out of surplus? Do I feel the financial strain when I give that ultimately points me to Jesus to supply all I need?
The comfort in knowing that I don’t need to prepare my defense ahead of time, that the Spirit will give me words to say.. Thank you Jesus!
The charge to BE ON GUARD so that your minds are not dulled… From carousing, drunkenness and WORRIES of Life!
Wow! This stood out to me today. I have always known that ‘drunkenness’ for a Christian is out of line… But just as alcohol has an effect on your mind without being drunk… Jesus says our worries dull our minds in the same way!
Lord Jesus, I commit my worries to you. free my mind so that I may be on guard. That the world around me, people’s opinions, social media, the news, etc will not have an effect on me. Allow my mind to see things of this world as YOU do, through a filter of your WORD which will never fade away. Amen.
Amen!!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts today, Steph! Grateful for you!
xoxo-Kaitlin
I cannot fathom having such a harsh interaction with a group and remaining. He proves his love for us over and over again. His authority and confidence is something I pray for in the areas of life God has gifted me.
Psalm 9:10
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
I have so much confidence in this verse! Christ will never leave those who seek him and trey in him! Thank you Jesus that you will NEVER forsake us!! Christ is my savior and I belong to him, Hallelujah!!! Holding these promises close to my heart today
10
*trust
I’m amazed at how much I am getting from this Holy Week walkthrough. I’ve ‘known’ about these events my whole life (raised Catholic, went through a dry spell as teen, and then got baptized and started attending non denominational as a young adult) but this is the first time I’m seeing all of the connections. The Bible is not an un-connected collection of parables and wise sayings – it’s truly one big story!
Anyway, Jesus’ resolve, as He not only confronts the Sanhedrin but then proceeds to spend the night in the temple, is no small thing. It inspires me to stand up for what I know to be true, to not cow to the legalistic, religious types of today OR those who look down on anything God-related. There isn’t much time…Christ can and will return at any moment, and we need to make the most of the time we have left. And to stay vigilant. It’s so easy to be lulled into complacency (esp by creature comforts). Great reminders today.
Amazing. Amazing to know that He didn’t just die for a select few, but for me and you, and all the others who had betrayed him and yelled at him and belittled him. Really puts it into perspective.
http://www.in-due-time.com
The events happening around the world today certainly bring the actual Scripture to life. Praying for the world especially because we know that all of this must happen before the Son of Man returns. Still knowing this does not make it any easier and so we must pray for the world– for strength and comfort during these times.
Jesus did not live in fear, like we do. What an incredible example he gave us to share in love, but be bold in our convictions. I too was moved by “settle it in your minds…I will give you a mouth and wisdom…” Powerful in a time in our nations when Christians are going to need to be vocal and not back down to popular views. Reading the comments makes me also think of Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation…” and 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
May we be bold in our convictions and stand for truth. May God use this broken vessel to share his good news. May I be ready and willing to give an answer of the hope I have in Christ.
I really needed this reminder. Fear is something that controls almost everything that I do. I have always struggled to be bold, and I can honestly not remember a time where I ever was courageous. Jesus is constantly telling me to be more bold in my faith, as it is so important. I pray that I will have the courage that I need to do the things that God wishes me to do, just like I am praying for you all to do the same. Take heart!
Amen!!!
Christ died for me just as much as He died for the Sanhedrin. Thank you Lord.
I have to keep reminding myself while reading this Holy Week, “Sunday is coming. Sunday is coming. Sunday is coming…”
Much to read in the Gospels regarding this day of Holy Week. Thank you, Russ, for being so succinct. I’m pondering the Sanhedrin confronting Jesus in ‘an attempt to put Him in His place.’ Jesus was already ‘in His place,’ in His Father’s house. They wanted to contain His influence. They failed miserably on both counts!
How like our world today. Jesus ‘place… His influence… If He could just be removed or at least contained, diminished, or deemed irrelevant.
They just don’t know. It cannot be done!
And while they try, we Christ followers are called to not be alarmed but to make up out minds to stand firm and lift up our heads! All this means is increased opportunity to press on and witness. We’ve been given a clear charge! May we accept the assignment!
We shall walk together and give witness. Bless you all Sisters.
Your comment made me think of our public schools in today’s world. Although the world may try to remove, contain, or diminish Jesus’s presence in the schools, when He is alive and living within the hearts of our children and teachers… He is still there and His influence cannot be stopped.
Amen! There is no where He cannot be! A comfort!
Amen Churchmouse!
A. M.E.N!
14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be
able to withstand or contradict. I’m sure I’ve read these verses before but never had them jump out at me like today. What a comfort….proof yet again that God gives strength and grace when we need it.
Same. I think I even thought, “Okay, what would I say?” and then kept reading…Provision beyond what we could ask or imagine.
These words really popped for me for the first time too. Also in vs 19: “by your endurance you will gain your lives.” I love that we need to cling and endure and He will fill our mouths with the wisdom needed to speak the right words. Sometimes it seems when I use my own wisdom I create more problems and confusion. Praying for strength to endure and let God fill my mouth with His words!
The same verses struck me as well. It will always just be God. I don’t even have to think of the right words to say…He will provide that as well. Jesus, I am so thankful for your kindness, mercy and grace. I’m thankful that You didn’t back down. Help me to watch for those times when only You can give me words because they are words of life.
There is so much boldness in this passage and I am such a chicken sometimes. We live in scary times. Just turn on the news. So much of life right now is governed by fear. Too many decisions are made based on fear – fear of what others will think, fear of losing some right we believe we have, fear of pain, death, suffering… But, I am a child of the King of King and Lord of Lords. He has promised to never leave me nor forsake me. In Luke he says that even if we are persecuted not to worry – “Therefore make up your minds not to prepare your defense ahead of time, for I will give you such words and a wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.”
So, Lord, I don’t want safe. I want sacred and powerful and holy. I want boldness in my life. I want to pray prayers and do things that scare me, but terrifies Satan. Father, I want to be a warrior. I want to be on fire for You and to stand on Your Word. Help me to take light to this world. I pray as Miss Clara did in War Room – “raise up a generation that will take light into this world; that will not compromise under pressure; that will not cower…that will proclaim that there is salvation in the name of Jesus Christ. Raise up warriors, Lord, who will fight on their knees, who will worship with their whole hearts. Lord, call us to battle. That we will proclaim King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” Amen
Amen!!!
So so good! Thank you for commenting this morning!
Yes!
Jesus, help us to never back down.
Amen!
I couldn’t help but thinking the same thing you said in your first paragraph. We do live in scary times and we live in fear. Your second paragraph is spot on too. Could you imagine if all Christ followers prayed the same prayer or one very similar to what you wrote? Sometimes, I wonder if we are too late as a nation for us to turn back to God? Just my thought.
Amen!!
Yes! Amen! I delight in praying this prayer with other women today.
Yes! Yes! Yes! And amen.
Amen!! I am a American, but currently living in Turkey and your words are so encouraging to me today!! “I don’t want safe. I want sacred and powerful and holy.” Just what I needed to hear today. Thank you for sharing!!
I really enjoyed today’s reading, just wish more people would get in the word so this world would be a better place.
He would offer up His life for a world of blasphemers, traitors, and liars who so desperately needed to be opposed and upset. This was what Jesus had come to do…..
He had come to offer His life for ME…the blasphemer, the traitor, the liar, the cheat, the unworthy….the undeserved of such an act of great great LOVE…. and yet, But God… this is the TRUTH, the absolute truth of Jesus’ story, what He had come to do..He had come to plead my case, He had come to take my punishment, my place, for the sins I had committed, He had come to bring me HOPE, that ALL was not lost, that ALL was indeed to be victorious, because He had come to buy us forgiveness, freedom, life eternal…..
This. Delirious song says it almost as good as I could….Thank you for saving me….http://youtu.be/m95Z3l_c1Ts
I have long since been moved by Holy Week…it is a memory of thoughts I have had, that are embedded into my soul… I have tears at the thought of what another, The Son of God, would do for the love of me, of us..reminds me in these days to breathe in and fully understand, again, the price that was paid for one such as I…
Ughhhh….feeling my sin and shame…
On my knees…
Thank you Lord,
Thank you Jesus…Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
(..Will never be enough, )…what can I say…
I love you Jesus…
Love and hugs Sisters…
He loves us, oh, how He loves us…Amen..x
Thank you for sharing that song. It was new to me. A perfect song to reflect on all that Jesus did for us.
I love this walk through Holy Week. Certainly makes it more real. Thank you.