"Jesus the Messiah Returns"
ISBN 1-59196-730-9 at Barnes and Noble .com

 Jesus anointed twice in the Last Week

And being in Bethany ( two days before the Passover ) in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meal, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she broke the box, and poured it on his head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble you her? she has wrought a good work on me. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you will you may do them good: but me you have not always. She has done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Truly, I say to you, Wherever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she has done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. Mark 14:3-9

Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary ( Lazarus' sister ) a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.

 The Religious Leaders Plan to kill Lazarus - the Main Tourist Attraction 

Many of the Jews knew that he was there at Bethany: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus ...John 12:9-11 And when they drew near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village opposite you, and straightway you shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them to me. And if any man say ought to you, you shall say, The Lord has need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the

Prophet, saying, Tell you the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King comes unto you, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strew them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.... Matthew 21:1-9

The people that were with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bore record. The reason the people went out to meet him is that they heard that he had done this miracle. The Pharisees said among themselves, See how you can do nothing ? behold, the whole world is gone after him. John 12:12-19

If these hold their peace, the Stones would cry out

And when he was come near, to the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that comes in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said to him, Master, rebuke your disciples. And he answered and said, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. And when he came near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If you had known, at least today, the things which make for Peace! but now they are hid from your eyes. For the days shall come upon you, that your enemies shall make a trench about you, and surround you, and keep you in on every side, And shall lay you even with the ground, and your children within you; and they shall not leave in you one stone upon another; because you knew not the time of your visitation. Luke 19:37-44 (Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D.)

The Cursing of the Fig Tree ( on Monday )

And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of you hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.... Mark 11:12-14 -

Jesus' Second Cleansing of the Temple (on Monday )

And Jesus went into the Temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said to them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased, And said to him, Do you hear what these say? And Jesus said to them, Yea; have you never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings you have perfected praise? (Psalm 8:2) And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.with Lazarus And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people were astonished at his doctrine... Matt 21:12-17 Mark 11:18

The Great Faith Lesson as Taught by Jesus ( on Tuesday )

And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance said to him, Master, behold, the fig tree which you cursed is withered away. And Jesus answering said to them, Have faith in God. For truly I say to you, That whosoever shall say to this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he said shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he said. Therefore I say to you, Whatsoever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them. And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have ought against any: so that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:20-25

Jesus Authority Challenged (on Tuesday )

And they came again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the Temple, there came to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, And said to him, By what authority do you do these things? and who gave you the authority to do these things? And Jesus answered and said to them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a Prophet indeed. And they answered and said to Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering said to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things. ....Mark 11:27-33

The Parable of the Two Sons

And he began to speak to them by parables.... But what do you think ? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Which of these two did the will of his father? They said to him, The first. Jesus said to them, Truly, I say to you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and you, when you had seen it, repented not afterward, that you might believe him....Mark 12;1, Matthew 21:28-32

The Kingdom of God to be taken away from the Jewish Leaders

Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did to them likewise. But last of all he sent to them his Son, saying, They will reverence my Son. But when the husbandmen saw the Son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the Lord therefore of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those husbandmen?

They said to him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard to other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the scriptures, The Stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the Cornerstone: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? Therefore I say to you, The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whoever shall fall on this Stone shall be broken: but on whoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. .... Matthew 21: 33-44

They understand the Meaning and seek to Arrest Him

And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.... Mark 12:12

 
Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a Marriage Supper

And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables, and said, The Kingdom of heaven is like a certain King, which made a marriage for his Son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the King heard of it, he was angry: and he sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then said He to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go therefore into the highways, and as many as you shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the King came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he said to him, Friend, why did you come here not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the King to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 22:1-14

  Three Catch Questions ( on Tuesday )

 Jesus answers the first "Pay your Taxes and Worship God"

  And they sent to him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. And when they were come, they said to him, Master, we know that you are true, and carest for no man: for you do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, Why tempt you me? bring me a denarius, that I may see it. And they brought it. And he said to them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said to him, Caesar's. And Jesus answering said to them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marveled at him..... Mark 12:13-17

Jesus answers the second "Men and Women will be like Angels in the Resurrection"

The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. Jesus answered and said to them, You do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. you therefore do greatly err. And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine. ...Matthew 22:23-33, Mark 12:27b

 
Jesus answers the third question on the Two Greatest Commandments

But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the Law? Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.... Matthew 22: 34-40

And the scribe said to him, Well, Master, you have said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said to him, You are not far from the Kingdom of God. And no man after that dare ask him any question Mk 12:32-34

 Jesus poses a question to them that they are unable to answer

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, What do you think of the Messiah? whose son is he? They said to him, The son of David. He said to them, How then does David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit here on my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool? If David then calls him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither dare any man from that day forth ask him any more questions. .. (Psalm 110) Matthew 22:41-46 ... And the common people heard him gladly. ...Mark 12:37b

Follow the Scriptures taught by the Rulers but not their Hypocritical actions

Then spoke Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatever they tell you observe, that observe and do; but not what they do: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. All their works they do to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the fringes of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

 .... But you are not to be called Rabbi: for one is your Teacher, even the Messiah; and all you are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in Heaven. Neither be called masters: for one is your Master, even the Messiah. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you shut up the Kingdom of heaven from men: for you neither go in yourselves, neither do you allow them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: therefore you shall receive the greater damnation.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of Hell than yourselves. Woe unto you, you blind guides, which say, Whoever swears by the Temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the Temple, he is a debtor! You fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold, or the Temple that sanctifies the gold? And, Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. You fools and blind: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Whoever therefore swears by the altar, swears by it, and by all things thereon. And whoever swears by the Temple, swears by it, and by Him that dwells there. And he that swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by Him that sits thereon. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the Law: judgment, mercy, and faith: these you ought to have done, and not to leave the other undone. You blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within you are full of extortion and excess. You blind Pharisees, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like unto whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you build the tombs of the Prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the Prophets. Therefore you witness unto yourselves, that you are the children of them which killed the Prophets. Fill you up then the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you generation of vipers,

 Jesus leaves the Temple for the Last Time ( on Tuesday )

How can you escape the damnation of Hell? Wherefore, behold, I send you Prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall you scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom you slew between the Temple and the altar. Truly I say to you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

Jesus Broods over Jerusalem

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the Prophets, and stones them which are sent to you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say to you, You shall not see me again till you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord. ..Matthew 23:1-39

 Jesus Commends the Poor Widow's Gift

And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say to you, that this poor widow has cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast into the offerings of God: but she of her want cast in all the living that she had..Lk 21:1-4

 Jesus' Final Public Appearance and Final Appeal (Tuesday evening)

And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the Feast: They came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. Philip came and told Andrew: and Andrew and Philip told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it remains alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit. He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life Eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify your name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spoke to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.

The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that the Messiah remains for ever: and how can you say, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? Then Jesus said to them, Yet a little while is the Light with you. Walk while you have the Light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walks in darkness does not know where he goes. While you have Light, believe in the Light, that you may be the children of Light. These things spoke Jesus, and departed, and hid himself from them..... John 12:20-36

John, the Gospel writer, sums up the results of Jesus' Ministry among the Jews

But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Isaiah the Prophet might be fulfilled,, Lord, who has believed our report? and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again, He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Isaiah, when he saw his glory, and spoke of him. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. ..Isaiah 6:9-10 ... John 12:37-43

 Jesus Himself summarizes His Message and Mission

Jesus cried and said, He that believes on me, believes not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that sees me sees him that sent me. I am come a Light into the world, that whoever believes on me should not remain in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe them not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejects me, and receives not my words, has one that judges him: the Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatever I speak therefore, even as the Father said to me, so I speak. . John 12:44-50

 THE END OF JESUS PUBLIC MINISTRY

 

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