In “The Case for Christ,” a good point is made: why would women be the first recorded witnesses to the tomb? Wouldn’t this hurt the narrative in the ancient world? Precisely true, which is a reason we can trust it! They could have messed with the details and/or made Peter or John the hero of the story. They don’t and this is one reason we can trust it. They cared about the truth and want to let us make up our mind!

Jesus is described as looking like the same glorious King from Revelation. He glows!

The report of the guard has always surprised me. How do Jesus’ disciples have this info? It makes me wonder if they eventually follow Jesus and tell the whole story! This makes the story in “Risen” so compelling. It may have happened just like that!

I’m amazed that some disciples still doubt this late in the story. Jesus then tells them to make disciples: as they go about, baptizing (or leading people in obedience and sacrifice) and teaching to obey ( you must know it to teach it). We’ve been on this journey ever since!

Reading this chapter slowly and carefully gives you a detailed account of what happens. I would like to focus on just a couple things.

First off, dead people rise after Jesus dies! This is crazy!!!!!

Also, the non-religious soldiers see something extreme in the death of Jesus. Imagine the way that people reacted to these events! There’s a lot to talk about in the streets of Jerusalem!

I wonder what my reaction would have been during these events… would I have believed or pushed the details away? The story leaves no choice. Surrender to the new king or make way.

Note that one abundantly blesses Jesus while another betrays Him for the price of a slave.

Judas’ price was surprising considering it was the OT established price for a slave. He’d had enough of Jesus not being what he expected and the woman’s offering to Jesus was the last straw. One also must wonder just how much Jesus’ death talk pushed Judas as well… he gives Jesus what He “wants” or at least that’s the lie he tells himself.

Even though Judas has already sold Jesus out, he plays coy at dinner. You will see through the Gospels that Jesus had every opportunity to run or not do what the Father wanted.

Instead He follows through and accomplished the mission! Jesus even eats with the disciples and knows they will run from or deny Him! That’s crazy love!

Now, Jesus leaves the upper room and Judas leaves their company. Jesus and the eleven then journey into the valley and up the Mt of Olives to Gethsemane (or “pressing”) which seems to mean a pressing area for olives to become oil. Here He is pressed! He can see Jerusalem as He prays. He also sees the wilderness that David escaped to when fleeing Absalom. While Jesus prays, the priests and some other officials receive Judas and get intel on where Jesus will be. Jesus can likely see the approaching torches for dozens of minutes before being handed over. He could have fled! Praise Him for being trustworthy and carrying out the Fathers will! There is no way that the scribes has gathered later at night on a holiday. They may have been waiting all day! There is a sham of a trial and Jesus is found guilty and they want Him killed, but Pilate needs to get involved.

Three parables/teachings and three very important principles to apply to your life: 1) be ready 2) use what He has given well 3) take what He teaches and live it out.

1) Be ready!

This parable seems mean to me – or at least it does at first. Why not be gracious and generous with the ones who forgot?!?! Yet remember, it’s a parable and didn’t really happen! So the point is to be ready! If you believe, act like it, and be ready for Him to be back.

2) Use what He has given well!

These two parables together are interesting, be ready and one could assume that one part of being ready means to use your talents well for Him! He is good and just and we should be ready to share this story over and over and over! Be ready and use what He have well!

3) Live out what we learn from Him!

Jesus shares that one piece of the talents equation is that we would share and love the least of these! Showing love to those that can’t thank us back is at least one element of truly being generous with what He has given!

This is a challenge to blog about. There is so much nuance and intrigue that there is not enough time or space to do it justice. So here goes.

The end will come. Throughout history people have thought or joked that the end is near. Jesus is telling us that we won’t know when it happens. Yet we will know it when it comes for a few reasons. 1) There will be events leading up to it that leave us little doubt. 2) We will know it is Him because know His voice (cf John 10). 3) It will be noticed by all when He returns.

Yet our goal is to maintain faith to the end. We trust Him… He saves… He will save us in the end.

We should therefore live like that is true. We should surrender to Him, trust Him and wait for Him to return. The temple was destroyed, and every stone was thrown down. His word is true and good. We can cling to it.

Jesus teaches against the religious leaders here because they have bad theology and no convictions to follow through on what they say to be true.

Where they teach generosity, their lives show self-preservation.

Where they teach right actions, they find ways to avoid them.

May we practice what we preach. May we have the strength to stand with our convictions. May God grant us opportunities to show others Him and create in us new expectations!

Jesus runs circles around people, but not to shame or hurt them. He just sees things in ways they don’t understand, but should!

He goes on telling them parables which curse Israel and their ways – and the leaders want to kill Him for it.

Jesus goes on to show them that marriage is an amazing thing but doesn’t exist in heaven.

Then Jesus defines all the law – Love God with Everything! Further Jesus asks us to love our neighbor — as ourselves! How are you doing with this?

As we read the Gospels, please note all the times Jesus fulfills prophecy. It’s over and over – the donkey’s colt shows you just how detailed God’s plan is! Also, note that some of these prophetic messages may not have made sense before they were fulfilled.

Everyone is quick to bow to Him because they think they know what He is and what He’ll do.

They might even like it when He clears the temple.

Jesus decides not to stay in Jerusalem. Bethany is close by though and provides a number of opportunities for more signs.

Jesus curses the fig tree which seems like a childish thing at first. However, if you consider that figs are a symbol of Israel, you see that Jesus is putting an end to what Israel is and stands for.

Jesus is then asked who gives Him authority and Jesus asks a question. He seems to do this a lot, right?

Then Jesus tells the parable of the sons that break promises. The one who says “no” first then “yes” is like a repentant sinner. Be like that!

Then He tells a parable that describes God and prophets. All are killed by the tenants/stewards. Jesus has a masterful way about Him. When they get that He is speaking against them, it’s more added to the fire brewing that will lead to His death.

This “chapter” picks up right where 19 left off (remember, these chapters and verses were added 1000 years later for quicker reference). In fact, I’d make the case that this first parable and following story go in the thread started in 19. Jesus wants us to know the last shall be first and the first last! This kingdom makes almost no sense in a worldly perspective: downward mobility!

So to prove this point, Jesus tells the story of workers getting the same wage/treatment no matter how late they join the game. Doesn’t seem fair to some, and some are overjoyed. It is a great picture – all are welcome and have a role, no matter how early or late in the game. Are you working with us? Remember though that the last shall be first and the first last.

So to illustrate that point, James’ and John’s mom asks that they get privileges- because that’s Jesus’ main point (this is indeed sarcasm). I wonder how often Jesus thinks “wow, you’re not listening at all, are you?” Gives me hope.

Finally, Jesus shows them again who He is by helping those that are down the social ladder. Even the crowd is angry at the blind guys. It’s like no one is listening. So Jesus heals them. This kingdom defies the world and it’s structures. Are you joining the work or sitting back and complaining about it’s methods?

Two big ones in this chapter I think: familial relationships are important but must not get between you and God and secondly, the interaction with the rich young ruler is huge!

First, Jesus points out that divorce is not the plan. Here is helpful. Jesus states that divorce was not God’s plan, and at His time it was being badly abused (as were many aspects of the law). Jesus rights the wrong and shows the plan, again.

Yet later Jesus strongly states that following Him may cost you a family. This does not mean that you must remove yourself from your family, per se, but that following Him May leave you with no choice or they may leave you. This is tough and needs wisdom to fully grasp.

The rich young ruler is a case in point: Jesus only chooses a few commandments for him and he claims to have followed them. Yet the ones left out and the ruler’s response show that it isn’t about money at all, but a heart condition that puts God second and his own life first. He doesn’t understand what “good” is and Jesus sets him straight!