I’m loving this series, are you? What a journey as we travel with Jesus on that last week leading up to the cross. 

On Monday, Jesus spent some time in Jerusalem. Before He left for the night, he exerted His authority by cleansing the Temple. Oh my goodness! The religious leaders must have surely hated Him even more now. The plot against Jesus thickens, no doubt. They wanted Him gone and it can’t come soon enough.

Jesus is on a determined mission. His purpose couldn’t be any stronger than it is this final week. Let’s pay attention to everything He does and every word He says. Of course, I can only cover a sliver of what this week looked like, but I’m hoping that it’s sparking a flame in your spirit and you’ll spend more time pouring through the gospel accounts of this last week. 

Monday afternoon, Jesus left Jerusalem and returned to Bethany. Something tells me that He was using His dear friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’s home as a base. Of course we don’t know that, but it does seem reasonable. 

On Tuesday morning Jesus and the disciples leave Bethany and return to Jerusalem. It was a day packed with eternal things. 

I’ll list for you the events of this day and then I’ll capitalize on a couple things the Holy Spirit has put upon my heart.

Tuesday’s events are as follows…

• Passed by the withered fig tree and Jesus taught on faith (Mark 11:20-25)
• Jesus’ authority is questioned by the religious leaders (Mark 11:27-33)
• Resurrection debate with the Sadducees (Matthew 22:23-33)
• Jesus condemns the religious leaders (Matthew 23:1-36)
• Jesus grieves over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37-39)
• Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple (Matthew 24:1-2)
• The Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:3-25:46)

Let’s turn our attention to what happened at the conclusion of this day.  Matthew tells us: “As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings. But he responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!” Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world” (Matthew 24:1-3)?”

Let me begin by saying that the prophesy Jesus predicted about the destruction of the Temple was fulfilled in A.D. 70 when the Romans destroyed the city. The entire structure was reduced to rubble as Jesus said it would be.

The questions the disciples brought before Jesus prompted Him to give one of the greatest discourses on the end days.

These teachings come from what has been titled, the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:3-25:46).

Some of the important topics about the end days are…

• False prophets 
• The signs before the end (wars, earthquakes, famines…)
• Persecution of believers
• Fallen believers
• Deception
• Sin rampant

This is a short list of what Jesus discussed in His Olivet Discourse. It would be to your advantage to read the whole passage (Matthew 24:3-25:46).

Now fix your eyes on the words Jesus said in Matthew 24:14: “And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.” Can I hear an AMEN?

To recap – after the gospel reaches the whole earth, the Son of God will come.

Friends, Jesus is coming back! Our Bridegroom is preparing for His return. And Jesus tells us in this passage that we need to be ready. Don’t be like the people in the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37-39) – living life and paying no attention to what God is doing. Jesus tells us that many will NOT be ready. Let’s not be those people. Let’s be ready! Because He could come tonight. The signs are escalating daily. Just look around. We are closer than we’ve ever been.

Let me conclude with a challenge. If you would like to know more about the end days, what to expect, and how to be ready, then you’ll want to get my Bible study The Bride of Christ: Being Rapture Ready.    

This Bible study is one of my most popular studies and covers the end days in a unique way. You will be blown away. Just click on the book or the title above and you’ll be taken to the place where you can order it. 

Obviously, Jesus spent some time teaching on the day in which we are living for a reason. He is preparing for His return. Soon, we’ll be summoned to meet Him in the clouds on that glorious day. I want to be ready. I know you do, too.

Stay with with as we are just a couple days away from the event that changed the world forever. I think I’ll write a whole Bible study on this final week of Jesus’ ministry. My heart is turning somersaults. 

If you would like to go through a whole Bible study on this final week, please let me know in the comment section below.

I hope that you are enjoying your time with the One who came to die so that you could live.

Have a blessed day…