Gospels (48) - Matthew 21:12-14 18-19, Mark 11:12-18, Luke 19:45-47 & John 12:20-35

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
​Series: Gospels

Rusty's Notes

Matthew 21
18 Early in the morning, as he was returning to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, he went up to it and found nothing on it except leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” At once the fig tree withered.[1]
 
Matthew 21
CLEANSING THE TEMPLE
12 Jesus went into the temple and threw out all those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. 13 He said to them, “It is written, my house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of thieves!”
 
CHILDREN PRAISE JESUS
14 The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.[2]
 
Mark 11
11 He went into Jerusalem and into the temple. After looking around at everything, since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
– This would be Sunday Night… the 10th of Nisan.


THE BARREN FIG TREE IS CURSED
12 The next day (Monday – 11th of Nisan) when they went out from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, he went to find out if there was anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season for figs.

• Assume that Jesus was hungry… affirms His humanity.
• The fig tree is the national symbol of Israel.
• Leaves are produced 6 weeks before figs.
• Edible nodules are produced at the same time of the leaves.
• This tree had leaves but no nodules.
• The tree was making a statement that it cannot back up.

14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And his disciples heard it.

• In reference to the Jews, Pharisees & Scribes, Priests, Rabbis, etc.

 
CLEANSING THE TEMPLE
15 They came to Jerusalem, and he went into the temple and began to throw out those buying and selling.

• This is the 2nd cleansing of the Temple
• The 1st was found in John2:13-22 (Covered in 4th week - 04/02/17)

He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple. 17 He was teaching them: “Is it not written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves!”
18 The chief priests and the scribes heard it and started looking for a way to kill him. For they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was astonished by his teaching.[3]

• The majority think Jesus might be the Messiah and it would cost the priests and the scribes their jobs.

 
Luke 19
CLEANSING THE TEMPLE
45 He went into the temple and began to throw out those who were selling, 46 and he said, “It is written, my house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves!”
47 Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people were looking for a way to kill him, 48 but they could not find a way to do it, because all the people were captivated by what they heard. [4]
John 12
JESUS PREDICTS HIS CRUCIFIXION
20 Now some Greeks were among those who went up to worship at the festival.

• Gentiles had bought into Jewish beliefs.

21 So they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

• Crucifixion was a part of being glorified.
• Jesus was able to look past the crucifixion to the glorification.
• Jesus zoomed out and saw the bigger picture.

24 Truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces much fruit. 25 The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

• The bigger picture… Jesus gives up his life here on earth so the Spirit may come and take up residence in every believer that walks the earth.
• Jesus is able to express Himself (in different degrees) through millions rather than just One.
• Galatians 2:20-21 - 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.[5]

26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

• Ephesians 2:6 - 6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,[6]

27 “Now my soul is troubled.

• Anyone have a troubled soul?
• It is all perspective.

What should I say—Father, save me from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.”

• He is able to look away from his immediate pain (troubled soul) and focus on His end purpose (glorify God) in 2 verses.
• He flipped his thoughts that quick.
• We have to see purpose in adversity.

Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

• 3rd time God was audible in Jesus’ presence (His baptism and transfiguration).

29 The crowd standing there heard it and said it was thunder.

• They couldn’t identify God’s voice because they didn’t know Him.

Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”
30 Jesus responded, “This voice came, not for me, but for you. 31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people (Jew & Gentile) to myself.”

• Satan will be defeated through the crucifixion.
• Gen 3:15 - 15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.[7]

33 He said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die.
34 Then the crowd replied to him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah will remain forever. So how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

• They thought the Messiah was to come and relieve them from the authority of the Romans and any other authority on earth for that matter.

35 Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become children of light.” Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them.

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 21:18–19). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 21:12–14). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 11:11–18). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 19:45–48). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ga 2:20–21). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Eph 2:6). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ge 3:15). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.