Day 6, Part One...Entrapment...

Wednesday 12th of Nisan [Monday the 10th April 2006].

Arthur Action Reporting. [Day 6]
As you will see, this day turns out to be long and eventful. There is much to report for this day. Many well known parables are told on this day. Also the Christ will be constantly confronted by the chief priests, elders, Pharisees, Herodians, & Sadducee. But as you will see this Christ is no fool, he has them on the run, these religious leaders all end up with their proverbial knickers in a twist.

Mk11.20-26. Now in the morning, as they came to the fig tree that the Christ had cursed, they saw that the fig tree had dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed yesterday has withered away." So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

Mt21.23-27. Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?"
But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John — where was it from? From heaven or from men?" And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet."
So they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know." And He said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

The Christ now tells 3 parables, the 2 sons, the Wicked Vinedressers, and the wedding banquet.

Mt21.28-32. The Parable of the Two Sons. Then the Christ said, what do you think? A man had two sons, and he
came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.'
29 He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went.
30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go.
31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.
32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.

Mt21.33-46. The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers. "The Christ told them another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son. 'But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves,' This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. "Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?" The chief priest & elders said to him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons." Then Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: Ps.118.22-Isa.28.16 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'? "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.


Mt22.1-14. The Parable of the Wedding Feast. And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding."' But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.

And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. "For many are called, but few are chosen."


The chief priests and Pharisees tried their best to catch the Christ off guard and entrap him in his teachings, but they just lost all the arguments, so at this point they called it a day, and off they went. But they were not giving up, they sent their disciples and their political allies, the Herodians, to see what they could do to entrap the Christ.

The Chief priests and Pharisees try to entrap Christ with a tax evasion question.

Mt22.15-22. The Herodians & the Pharisees disciples came to Christ, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.

During this time in the temple I had a chance to talk to a Rabbi who working on what amounted to an encyclopedia, which he called “international standard”. I asked him who the Herodians were, the following is the information that he gave me.

They were not a religious sect, but, as the name implies, a court or political party, supporters of the dynasty of Herod. Whatever their political aims, they early on perceived that Christ's pure and spiritual teaching on the kingdom of God was irreconcilable with these, and that Christ's influence with the people was antagonistic to their interests. Hence, in Galilee, on the occasion of the healing of the man with the withered hand, Mk3.6, they readily joined with the more powerful party of the Pharisees in plots to crush Jesus and again, in Jerusalem, in the last week of Christ's life, they renewed this alliance in the attempt to entrap Jesus on the question of the tribute money. Mk8.15.The warning of Jesus to His disciples to "beware of the leaven (yeast) of Herod" may have had reference to the insidious spirit of this party.

Now they try Entrapment by theology

Mt22.23-33.The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, saying: "Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh.

Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her." Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.

But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

After the combined efforts of all the religious leaders to trip Christ up the Pharisees were exasperated, but were able to give it one last shot by sending one of their own who is an expert in the law.

Another attempted entrapment by theology.

Mt22.34-40. The lawyer asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, 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."

Now the Christ picks his moment, and goes on the attack with his own theology question to finish the religious leaders off.

Mt22.41-46.While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?" They said to Him, "The Son of David." He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying: Ps.110.1. 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"'? If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his Son?" And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.

“O” boy, can that Christ work up a storm, near the end of the day here in the temple he goes up one side and down the other side of these religious leaders. There’s no doubt now that the Christ is here to lock horns with the authorities. He sure is setting himself up for trouble. Notice the 8 'woes' in this diatribe.

Mt23.1-39. Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.' But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.' 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 on it, he is obliged to perform it.' Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?

Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.
Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.' "Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' guilt. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'"

Lk21.1.And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all;for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had."


Below, a prophesy that would be fulfilled 40 years into the future in 70A.D or C.E.

Mt24.1-2.Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple "Look, Teacher! What wonderful stones and buildings!" And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."

End of Part 1...Part 2 will be coming soon...

Day 5, Jesus Clears Out the Temple...

Yesterday,we saw that Christ started his final journey to Jerusalem on Friday from most likely the small town of Ephraim, because it was in Ephraim that Christ holed up in after he raised Lazarus from the dead.

It was at this time the religious authorities made up their minds to put Him to death. Not long after this, the Passover was coming up.

From Ephraim Jesus went to Jericho and stayed there until Sunday morning, because when he came to Jericho the Sabbath was about to start. Sunday morning he starts on his journey to Jerusalem from Jericho and arrives in Bethany on the Mount of Olives late in the day and lodges with his friend Lazarus for the rest of the week, and from here he goes daily into the Temple to teach. Monday he goes into Jerusalem on the colt. [Palm Sunday]

Tuesday 11th of Nisan [Sunday the 09th April 2006].

Arthur Action Reporting. [Day 5]
That Christ guy is surely an early bird, up and off before breakfast, He tried to make up for breakfast by picking fruit off trees along the way to Jerusalem.

Mk11.12-14. The next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." And His disciples heard it. Mt 21 .19. Immediately the fig tree withered away.

The Christ sure has nerve for a little, scrawny guy. I met a guy named Adam Clarke who said that he had cleaned the traders out the temple in his first year of ministry, about a two or three years ago, he then related the event to me;
"Jesus works his first miracle at Cana of Galilee, Jn 2:11; then he spends a few days at Capernaum, which was on his way to Jerusalem, Jn 2:12. With the Passover being near, he goes up to Jerusalem,Jn 2:13, and casts the traders out of the temple, 15,16. During the Passover he does many miracles, Jn 2:23. While he is in Jerusalem he spends time that evening teaching Nicodemus about the Kingdom of God., Jn 3:1-2.

After these things, Jesus and his disciples depart from Jerusalem, spending time with them and baptizing in the Judean countryside. Jn 3:22-24. And all the above incidents take place before John was cast into prison.

But the second cleansing of the temple happens most clearly during the last week of our Lord's life, after the death of John the Baptist and at a time when it would be absurd to say that afterward Jesus dwelt and baptized in Judea."

There are some who believe that Christ only cast out the traders once in his ministry, I personally believe from the evidence above that he did this twice, once at the beginning of his ministry and once at the end of his ministry. I mention this because there are many who believe that Christ only threw out the merchants in the last week of his ministry, and the other reported incident in Jn2.13, is the same as the one in the last week.

Mk.11.15-18. So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then He taught, saying to them, Isa.56.7. "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? Jer.7.11.But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'" 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 teaching.

Mt21.14-16. Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, Ps.8.2. 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'?"

Lk19.47-48. And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.

Jn12.20-41. Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again."

Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to Him." Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." This He said, signifying by what death He would die. The people answered Him, "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of Man?" Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, Isa53.1"Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?" Therefore they could not believe: Isa6.9."He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they should not see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them." These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.

These quotes above came from the ancient Jewish prophet Isaiah and supposed to be a prophecy concerning the Messiah.

Jn.12.42-50. There were some among the rulers who believed in 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.
Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak."
Mark 11:19 When evening had come, He went out of the city.

The Christ did teach every day in the temple up until and including the 13th of Nisan. Lk19.47

The evening; the time is after three o'clock p.m. It is very probable that this was before sunset. The religious services of the temple closed at the offering of the evening sacrifice, at three o'clock, and Jesus probably soon left the city. This information I got from my friend Barnes.

It is strange in light of what the average person believes that the Christ came to save. If he did, it is not happening, at least not since I have been reporting here this Passover season. The old prophesy that the Christ quoted today seems to be in effect, “Therefore they could not believe: "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they should not see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them."

It will not be long now before there is a major confrontation between the Christ and the local religious leaders, I can just taste it, tomorrow may be the day.

Day 4, Going to the Mount of Olives...

Jesus on the Mount of Olives

Monday 10th of Nisan [Saturday the 08th April 2006].

Arthur Action Reporting. [Day 4]

Monday morning, the Christ sets out for Jerusalem from Bethany with His disciples.
Mt21.1. Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives.
On the eastern declivity [A place that slopes downwards] of the mountain were the villages of Bethphage and Bethany. Mark and Luke say that he came near to both those places.

He appears to have come first from Bethany, where he lodged for the night (John 12:1,9-11), and in the morning sent two disciples over to the adjacent village of Bethphage to get the donkey. As soon as Christ sat upon the colt the disciples got caught up in the mood of this event, shouting praises and quoting the words from their ancient scriptures.

The Mount of Olives is about a mile in length and about 700 feet in height, and overlooks Jerusalem, so that from its summit almost every part of the city can be seen. The mountain is composed of three peaks or summits. The middle peak being the highest, it is of no great elevation in itself, it stands nearly four thousand feet above the Dead Sea, from which it’s distance is some thirteen miles away.
There is some discrepancy whether it was a donkey or a colt that Christ rode on. The donkey was a female and the young of the female are called colts. Jesus rode on a colt.

Jn12.12. The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
Mt.21.1-6. Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, Then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them." All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
Zech9.9."Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.'" So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.
Lk 19 32-35. So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, "Why are you loosing the colt?" And they said, "The Lord has need of him." Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him.

At the base of Mount Olives on the west side, there is a valley called Kedron or Kidron and there runs a small stream called the brook Kidron, or Cedron. It is dry in the hot seasons of the year but swells to a considerable size in time of heavy rains.

Across this stream is a bridge called the bridge of the “Red Heifer”. As we approach the bridge, before us is an awesome sight of the Temple & Fort Antonia complex. From the top of Mount Olives it is possible to see the inside of the complex and all of Jerusalem, but up close as we approached the bridge, the power and magnificence of the Temple tower is like a like a 40 story building. It is 600 feet by 600 feet square and the southeastern corner of the temple tower rises from bottom of the Kedron valley up to height of 400 feet from the valley floor. This tower provides a platform for the Temple to rest upon and to the north of the top of the temple tower there is an open courtyard which ends 600 feet away with the south wall of Fort Antonia, which is the garrison for the Roman10th legion.

Lk19.37-38. Then, as He was now drawing near 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 they had seen,
saying: "'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
Mk.11.8-10. And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
Lk.19.39-40. And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."
Lk19.41-44. Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."

Mt21.10-11. And when He had come into Jerusalem, the entire city was moved, saying, "Who is this?" So the multitudes said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee."
Jn12.19. The Pharisees therefore said among them selves, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!"
Mk11.11. And Jesus went into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

The rent prices are out of this world here in Jerusalem as many Jew have traveled from different parts of the Roman Empire to attend these 1st Holy Days of the year.
I was lucky enough to get lodgings in Bethany, which is really handy, because Christ has set up his base at the house of his good friend Lazarus. This is where he stays for the night and then goes into Jerusalem and the Temples to teach and preach.
I understand that Jesus will be going back into Jerusalem and the Temple tomorrow. Who knows what he may get up to! What he will do is always unpredictable; there never is a dull moment when you follow the Christ.

Day Three, Journey from Jericho to Jerusalem...

Journey From Jericho to Jerusalem, along the Jericho road.

Sunday 9th of Nisan [Friday the 07th April 2006].

Arthur Action Reporting. [Day 3]

I am up early anticipating the departure of the Christ and His followers from Jericho.
As Jesus and his followers were leaving Jericho, there was a commotion as someone, or maybe two people, shouted out to the Christ for him to have mercy on them. I was too far back of the large crowd to see clearly, so I cannot say for sure if there was one or two people shouting out to the Christ. The end result was that the one, or the two blind men were healed of their blindness. It was said later that one of the blind men went by the name of Bartimaeus, [Bart-ti-mae-us] the son of Timaeus, [Ti-mae-us]
The difference in the accounts maybe because Barttimaeus was known to most, and the other blind man was not and it was Barttimaeus who was remembered and the other blind man wasn’t.

Matt 20:29-34. Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" They said to Him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened." So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

Mark 10:46-52. Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you." And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

The road to Jerusalem is a tough one, as we had to climb out of the Jordan valley. This is the road goes back through the same mountain range that we traveled from Ephraim to Jericho.
We kept moving at a steady pace most of the day, just stopping for the odd rest now and again.
In the late afternoon we arrived at Bethany.

Jn12.1-2. Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him.

Jesus Christ stayed at the house of his old friend Lazarus and his two sisters Martha & Mary. The Christ had dinner with Lazarus and later in the evening Mary took a pint of pure nard, which is an expensive perfume and poured it on the Christ’s feet and wiped his feet with her hair.

John 12:3-8 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii’s and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the moneybox; and he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."
Jn12.9-11. Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

After such a hard, hot day I just had to walk the 2 miles into Jerusalem and sink a few beers. Can’t have to many mind you, I have to be up early as the Christ is off tomorrow morning to go into Jerusalem. Contemplating as I walked to Jerusalem for the beers, I reflected on this character, Jesus Christ. He seems to have a strong magnetic charisma that extrudes authority. Isa53.2.It is surprising, as by looking at him you would under everyday circumstances not be able to pick him out of a crowd as anyone special. He is not a good-looking fellow, just having the typical Jewish features and being a little on the short side. 1Cor11.14. He certainly does not have long hair, as we are lead to believe, his hair is short. Lk4.23. He is not even robust but rather, one who seems to have need of a few vitamin pills.

I’ll report to you with what happens tomorrow; I think things will heat up now that the authorities know that He is here for the holy days of Passover and the days of unleavened bread.

Derek has provided many in depth studies through many scholars, historians and bible researchers that are not in this series but are available to confirm these findings. They are, of course, opinions of these people.

Map area of the ministry of Jesus...

On their way from Jericho,Jesus and the disciples neared Bethphage, on the slope of the Mount of Olives, just outside Jerusalem. Two disciples went into the village, as Jesus told them, to bring back a donkey and its colt. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the colt, an unmistakeable sign of His kingship.

Day Two, A Day of Rest...

Saturday 8th of Nisan [Thursday the 06th April 2006].

Arthur Action Reporting. [Day 2]

Today is the Sabbath, Christ, as His custom is, teaches in the local small synagogue.
Not much action today, it is a day of rest.
The rumor is that the Christ will leave early tomorrow morning, as he finishes the last leg of his journey to Jerusalem, the distance as the crow flies is approximately 13 miles.

Day One (Part Two)...

Lk19:11-27. The Parable of the Minas. As they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. Therefore He said: "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.' But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We will not have this man to reign over us.' "And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned ten minas.' And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' And the second came, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned five minas.' Likewise he said to him, 'You also be over five cities.' "Then another came, saying, 'Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.' And he said to him, 'Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?' "And he said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.'(But they said to him, 'Master, he has ten minas.') 'For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.'"

Arthur Action Reporting.

Because Christ, his disciples and followers were staying over night in Jericho and the following day is the Sabbath, all business arrangements have to be made before sunset as the days in Israel start at sunset and no business can be carried out on the Sabbath.

I have been lucky enough to find myself a small room in a rather a run down part of town. Just about every building is rented out as this route to Jerusalem through Jericho is popular at this time of year, as the religious pilgrims go up to Jerusalem early for their ceremonial cleansing Jn11.55 for the feast of Passover and the days of unleavened bread. Asking around I was able to get some idea what this ceremonial cleansing was all about, from a fellow going by the name of Barnes. The following was the information I received on this Jewish tradition.

This purifying consisted in preparing themselves for the proper observation of the Passover, according to the commands of the law. If any were defiled in any manner by contact with the dead or by any other ceremonial uncleanness, they were required to take the prescribed measures for purification, Lev 22:1-6. For want of this, great inconvenience was sometimes experienced.

See 2 Chron 30:17-18. Different periods were necessary in order to be cleansed from ceremonial pollution. For example, one who had been polluted by the touch of a dead body, of a sepulchre, or by the bones of the dead, was sprinkled on the third and seventh days, by a clean person, with hyssop dipped in water mixed in the ashes of the red heifer. After washing his body and clothes he was then clean. These persons who went up before the Passover were doubtless those who had in some manner been ceremonially polluted.

As I write up my report on today’s events, I reflect the order of today’s actions. 1st the Christ informed his followers that his destination was Jerusalem. 2nd The mother of Zebedee's sons James & John asked for a special favor. 3rd Christ healed the blind beggar. 4th The Christ got lodgings from Zacchaeus [za-KEE-uhs] who was a chief tax collector. 5th The Christ told a parable about "A certain nobleman who went into a far country”. This parable is also told by Christ on Wednesday [day 6] and is commonly called the parable of the Talents. Mt25.14-30
After the long walk of today I could use a cold beer, but as I have mentioned this Friday evening is the Sabbath and all the beer parlors are closed, and not a McDonalds in sight.

Jericho is situated in the Jordan valley and it is hot even although it is springtime. This is accounted for by the depression of the plain, which is about 1,200 feet below the level of the sea.

Hopefully Saturday will be a easier day with just some time spent in the local synagogue listening to The Christ preach, from what I hear, this is his usual custom for a Saturday. I look forward to reporting to you all tomorrow events and actions. I am sure as we get closer the Passover the action will heat up. So stand by!

Day One (part one)...

Arthur Action. 2006

Arthur Action is a fictitious newspaper reporter who has gone back in time to the year that Jesus Christ was crucified. Through his eyes, I hope to give an account of the last eight days of Christ life. This is revealed in the four gospels and other research books by authors who are recognized theologians. I hope that you find it interesting and informative. Especially, if you read this study day by day, on the actual day this would have happened.

Rumour has it that the one they call the Christ will no longer be able to avoid arrest by the authorities if he shows up for the first Holy Days of the year. Arthur Action has caught up with the Christ and his so called disciples and a host of followers. They have been keeping a low profile ever since this Christ was able to pull off the miracle of the year at a small village called Bethany on the south eastern side of Mount of Olives, about 2 miles east of Jerusalem. There he was able, by a miracle, so it is said; raise his good friend Lazarus from the tomb where he had reposed in death for 4 days. This event had galvanized the populace to believe that this Christ is actually the Messiah, which greatly unnerved the leading religious authorities, causing them to take desperate measures. So as Arthur Action waits, in the small village of Ephraim early on Friday the 7th of Nisan he hopes to tag along with this Christ’s motley bunch of followers to see what happens.

Background for the beginning of the last 8 days in the life of Christ.

John 11:44-55. And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go." Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation." And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples. And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.

Journey From Ephraim to Jericho, along the Joppa Ammon road.
Friday 7th of Nisan [Wednesday the 05th April 2006].

Arthur Action Reporting. [Day 1]

The year is 30A.D or 30 C.E.[Common Era] It is the 1st month of the year for Israel, called Nisan. It is Friday the 7th of Nisan. If this were the year 2006 A.D, it would be Wednesday the 05th of April.
Jn11.54. The place I am reporting from is the small village of Ephraim, a little east & north of Bethel and north west of Jericho. This about 10 miles as the crow flies from Jericho, and about 19 miles actual.
It is early in the morning and Jesus, the disciples and the other followers are off on their 19 mile plus walk to Jericho.
The surrounding mountains are 2 – 3 thousand feet above sea level; the rough road to Jericho winds its way through these mountains. Most of the way is a desert and filled with caves, rocks and forests, a suitable place for robbers. Mk10.32. Christ is leading the way to Jerusalem; most of the disciples are apprehensive to follow Him. The disciples had already said to Christ when he went to raise Lazarus a few weeks ago, Jn11.8."Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?" JN11.53.The rumour is that ever since the resurrection of Lazarus the Pharisees were plotting to kill Jesus.

Mk10:32-34. Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."

Luke 18:34. But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.
Mt20:20-21. Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom."
Mark 10:35. Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask."

I was not there at the time, so I heard about this incident two different ways. I think that the mother spoke to Jesus and the other disciples thought that James and John had gone to Jesus directly. Or maybe the mother and the two sons all went to Jesus at the same time.
It is an eye opener to realize that these guys, like most people, wanted position and power, and playing the role of the servant was not upper most in their minds at this time.Earlier, before Christ set out on his journey to Jerusalem Peter said Matt 19:27. "See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?"

Mk10.38-45. But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." So Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared."

And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Luke 18:35-43. Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, "What do you want Me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, that I may receive my sight." Then Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Luke 19:1-10. Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus [za-KEE-uhs] who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, [za-KEE-uhs] make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." Then Zacchaeus [za-KEE-uhs] stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Next time, the parable of the Minas and conclusion of day one.

Introduction and Explanation...

I will play the roll of the reporter and read his reports, (and as a group we will read the scriptures). As you will notice the scriptures are not verse-by-verse but sections of verses from the Bible.

I hope that questions will arise from the study itself.

To get the story in chronological order all 4 gospels have to be harmonized. For example in Matthew 21:1-13 makes it sound as if Jesus Christ came to Jerusalem and got the disciples to get a donkey then rode into Jerusalem and then drove out the merchants. What Matthew does is to roll 3 days into one, so if you only read Matt you would get the story as if it happened in one day (what we are attempting is keeping it all in order, each day, through all four of the gospels)

But when all the gospels are harmonized, the story is that when Christ came to Jerusalem, that was 1 day. The next day he rode into Jerusalem on the colt and the day after that he went into Jerusalem and drove out the merchants. Also there is some controversy built into the study that no doubt will get a good discussion going.

The main purpose of the study is to inspire people to explore the ‘Word’ by themselves, not just relying on some one else to do their thinking for them.
I hope it will be an eye opening experience to see that it is possible, through the words of God, to walk beside and listen to Christ for those last 8 days. Also when we go to the Good Friday & Easter service this year it will have a more personnel meaning, as hopefully we will feel that we have shared Christ’s life for those 8 days, as did the apostles.

I would like to think that we may feel that by being in Christ’s life in those final days, it will add more meaning to what this time of the year is all about and be moved to do this personal study every year at this time. Over the years that I have been doing this, God has led me to discover more and more information on this time period.

There are many different ways of approaching this type of study, I hope that more people would be moved to use what I have done as a starting off point and write out the same 8 days for themselves, so that you feel that you have a personal relationship with Christ for those last days that revolutionized the universe. We all do our bible study each day, so it would seem to me that the least we can do out of respect to Christ is to bring back to mind those last days before Christ was killed.

An example of how the study will be presented, using Bible scriptures, telling us what happened each day.

Excerpt from Wednesday and an Example of a Day:

Late in the afternoon, Christ and his disciples then headed back towards the Mount of Olives, over the Red Heifer Bridge and on the way to the Mount of Olives, then into an olive grove called Gethsemane. Now as He sat in the garden, Christ taught ‘end of the age prophesy’ that included The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age, The Great Tribulation, The Coming of the Son of Man, The Parable of the Fig Tree, No One Knows the Day or Hour, and The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant.

All this information given by Christ and the three following parables now can be anchored in the mind to a time, and a place, and a day, namely, late afternoon in the garden of Gethsemane, on Wednesday two days before the crucifixion.
I find a great advantage to be able to anchor these teachings and actions to a particular time, especially when I hear them in a sermon, because I get a better picture in my mind and the sermon then has more meaning to me.

Jesus Christ's Last Days...

...on earth in human form. I will be presenting over the next several weeks a study on the last eight days of Christ's life on earth. A brother in our Bible study group named Derek, has worked many years preparing this on-going passion he has for knowing Jesus to the fullest. I will be sharing this information with you as we go through it in our Bible study and hopefully it will inspire all of us to dig deep into the 'Word' to discover how much Jesus loves us through His teachings and actions.

Derek is presenting this study as a reporter following Jesus and is passing on what he is observing. I hope you enjoy this commentary and should you have any questions, thoughts or anything else, please post your comments and between Derek and myself, I'm sure we can be of assistance.

Chapter One, The Book of Psalms...

I have been reading through different books of the Bible this year with the goal of completeing the whole Bible. I remember my pastor asking me to share with our church a chapter of Psalms that I felt would be beneficial for others. This is the result of what I wrote that day:

Thankyou, Pastor Dean for letting me share a chapter from the Book of Psalms that means a great deal to me. It is the first chapter, which tells us that we have to make a decision, an important decision that will affect our lives forever.

The writer, possibly David, tells us that we have a choice to make in our life:
- We can be faithful to God by following His will of obedience to Him and to praise Him for all He has done for us or
- We can be faithless by following satan and being influenced by people around us who mock God through disobedience of His laws.

This choice will determine which path we will take, the path of Life or the path of Death.

Psalms 1:1-6 (NLT)
1 1 Oh, the joys of those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with scoffers.
2 But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants;
day and night they think about his law.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season without fail.
Their leaves never wither,
and in all they do, they prosper.
4 But this is not true of the wicked.
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.
6 For the LORD watches over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

The writer is telling us to stay away from those who are trying to steer us from God’s teachings. Your true friends should be building up your faith, drawing you closer to God. Choose your friends wisely and your choice will easily be made. When we apply God’s wisdom in our lives, we will prosper in God’s approval and love. He has shown us the way; we just have to make the choice.

The path you choose determines where you will spend eternity. I pray that you choose the path of the godly. The path of Life. Thankyou.