By Staff
The Apostles of Jesus Christ lived a roller coaster existence, going from the heights of hope that this Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah who would deliver them from the tyranny of Rome, to despair as Jesus tracked with obscurity and detachment from the affairs of the day.
Everything seemed to be rising to a pinnacle of glory as Jesus orchestrated a triumphal entrance into Jerusalem on Sunday before Passover. Jesus took the position prophesied in Zechariah, chapter 9, verse 9, "Behold your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey." Jesus allowed the people to pave the way with every vestige given to royalty and accepted the shouts of "Hosanna to the Son of David." Surely, this was it; King Jesus was ready to take the throne!
When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, He went directly to the Temple. The Temple was teeming with people in preparation for Passover. The customary activities were going on. The money changers were exchanging foreign coins for Temple tribute at an exorbitant profit, of course. Others with sheep, goats, and birds were there to sell their goods to pilgrims who traveled too far to bring their own sacrifices.
Jesus surveyed the scene and quickly took charge. He tipped over the tables of these opportunists, called them thieves and robbers, and ran them out saying, "My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves" (Matthew 21:13).
Jesus then occupied the Temple. The blind and the lame came to Him, and He healed them (Matthew 21:14). When confronted by the chief priests and scribes (Matthew 21:16), Jesus said, "Out of the mouths of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise?" In the minds of the disciples of Jesus, what more proof did they need that this was the hour of glory?
That evening Jesus left the city to spend the night in Bethany. The next morning as He re-entered Jerusalem, He did something that seemed obscure but had great significance to God's plan and His mission. Jesus was hungry and approached a fig tree looking for something to eat. The fig tree was fully leafed, but had no fruit. The fig tree is a symbol of the nation of Israel, that is, Israel was looking every bit like God's people, doing God's work, but there was no godly fruit. It was all show; nothing was happening worthy of God's glory. Jesus said to the fig tree in Matthew, chapter 21, verse 19, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." The fig tree immediately withered away.
The disciples likely thought this act was one more display of power, confirming their hopes and dreams of ruling dominance, but events quickly deteriorated. The chief priests plotted to kill Jesus and enlisted Judas, a follower of Christ, to betray Jesus into their hands. Judas aligned himself with the ruthless rulers for a few silver coins.
Jesus cloistered Himself with His apostles in an upper room and began to once again speak of His coming betrayal and death. These words did not make sense to His faithful followers.
Jesus was arrested, confined, tried, and convicted of blasphemy against God by the words of false witnesses.
The Jewish leaders turned Jesus over to the Romans, and the shocked disciples watched in horror as their champion and deliverer was flogged and led out to the hill of crucifixion.
In a few hours Jesus was dead. Hope was dashed; the dream of dominance had died with Jesus. Seemingly, the logo of Roman dominance, a wooden cross, had silenced this Man who a few days previously had allowed Himself to be proclaimed King.
It was not over. God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Jesus was triumphant over the grave, death, and Hell. A new kingdom was in place with Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Jesus is alive; hope is alive, and His Kingdom will reign forever and ever. Amen!