Category: Uncategorized

Today we begin studying what is often called the Olivet Discourse, which Jesus spoke on Tuesday of Holy Week, the pharisees had just passed their final judgement on Jesus, and now he offers a prophetic teaching of the final days and future glory. This section of Scripture will help us explore and understand the relationship of the destruction of the temple to the second coming, the nature of the future Kingdom, the signs of His second coming, and of the end of the age.  Our study over the next couple of weeks should compel each of us to be prepared, alert, and actively serving the Lord with anticipation of His coming.

Podcast

Scripture

Section 139a | Setting of the Discourse

From the temple to the Mount of Olives
[one_third last=”no” class=”” id=””]Matthew 24:1-3 
1 Jesus went out from the temple,¹  and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them,“You see all of these things, don’t you? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down.”² 3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives,³ the disciples⁴ came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?” [/one_third]
[one_third last=”no” class=”” id=””]Mark 13:1-4 
1 As he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, see what kind of stones⁵ and what kind of buildings!” 2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone on another, which will not be thrown down.” 3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple,⁶ Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,⁷ 4 “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?” [/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes” class=”” id=””]Luke 21:5-7 
5 As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, he said, 6 “As for these things which you see, the days will come, in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will not be thrown down.”⁸ 

7 They asked him, “Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?”⁹ [/one_third]

Section 139b | Beginning of Birth Pains

Mount of Olives
[one_third last=”no” class=”” id=””]Matthew 24:4-14 
4 Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray.¹⁰ 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars.¹¹  See that you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet.¹² 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things are the beginning of birth pains.¹³       

9 Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake. 10 Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another.

 

 

 

 

 

 

11 Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray. 12 Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end will be saved. 14 This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. [/one_third]
[one_third last=”no” class=”” id=””]Mark 13:5-13 
5 Jesus, answering, began to tell them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. 6 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and will lead many astray. 7 “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be troubled. For those must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines and troubles. These things are the beginning of birth pains.

9 But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them.

10 The Good News must first be preached to all the nations. 11 When they lead you away and deliver you up, don’t be anxious beforehand, or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. 13 You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake,

 

but he who endures to the end will be saved.[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes” class=”” id=””]Luke 21:8-19 
8 He said, “Watch out that you don’t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore don’t follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won’t come immediately.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 It will turn out as a testimony for you. 

14 Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict. 16 You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death. 17 You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake. 18 And not a hair of your head will perish. 19 “By your endurance you will win your lives.[/one_third]

---

Group Dialogue

1. What answers did Jesus offer to the three questions the disciples were asking?
2. Jesus says that his disciples then and now will face various forms of deception. How would you define deception? How can each of us as individuals, a small group, a church prepare ourselves so that we don’t fall prey to these deceptions?
3. Why and how do we grow apart from the Lord when we first express such love and claim such devotion? Why is it that we begin to place our trust elsewhere? What are the effects of the change?
4. How can (should) our trust in God’s plan, and faith in Jesus affect our daily actions, emotions and decisions?
5. Do you think you place more trust in Christ and the Scriptures or in things or circumstances that surely won’t last? What are some of those temporal things?; good things (family, home, job); religious things (clergy, buildings, programs, traditions, doctrine) that you think you need to realign?
6. Are you ready for whatever may come in your life, in our nation, and in the world?
7. What work does Jesus say we His disciples must be about? Does this commandment remind you of other Scripture passages?

---

Notes

Today’s reading marks the close of a particular day in the life of Jesus, but more assuredly the end of Herod’s leniency and tolerance towards Jesus’ growing ministry and fame. While Herod determines to be rid of Jesus once and for all, Jesus sets his sights on the purpose for which he came – to seek and save the lost, knowing even that it will cost him his very life. Sometimes self-sacrifice is the only path to success.

Podcast: coming soon

---

Section 113b | Anticipation of Jesus’ coming Death and His Sorrow over Jerusalem

Luke 13:31-35
31 On that same day,¹  some Pharisees²  came, saying to him, “Get out of here, and go away, for Herod³ wants to kill you.” 32 He said to them, “Go and tell that fox,⁴ ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow,⁵ and the third day I complete my mission.⁶ 33 Nevertheless I must go on my way⁷ today and tomorrow and the next day, for it can’t be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.’ ⁸   34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem,⁹ you who kills the prophets¹⁰  and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused!¹¹ 35 Behold, your house is left to you desolate.¹² I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed¹³ is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”¹⁴  

---

Group Dialogue:

1. What does Jesus say must be accomplished in verse 33?
2. What is your reaction to Jesus’ determination and willingness to do whatever it takes?
3. Over what circumstance or situations have you been in lament?
4. Consider your circle of friends, family and acquaintances – what feelings do you have about their spiritual, emotional and physical well-being? What actions has that prompted you to take over the last three years?
5. Are you certain of your calling? What have you had to sacrifice to give yourself fully to that purpose?
6. What obstacles and threats have hindered you in ministry? Did you overcome? What did you learn in the process?
7. Talk about God’s mercy and compassion toward us. How does His mercy affect His judgment of people? And our own judgement of people?

---

Learning Objectives: courage, divine purpose, God’s mercy, sacrifice and servant leadership

---

Notes:

There are 20 specific stories of Jesus healing people and in several of these instances we also read that Jesus went on and healed “all those who came” “many others” and “everyone”.  

This table is designed to help you jump to each passage in the Harmony of the Gospels so that you can study each healing and miracle in harmony, context, and chronological order.

Healing	Section	Phase	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
Healing the official’s son at Capernaum	38	2	John 4:46-54
Healing a possessed man	42	3	Mark 1:23-26
Healing Peter’s mother-in-law	43	3	Matt. 8:14-15	Mark 1:30-31	Luke 4:38-39
Healing a paralyzed man	46	3	Matt. 9:2-7	Mark 2:3-12	Luke 5:18-25
Healing the man at the pool of Bethesda	49a	4	John 5:1-9
Healing a man with a withered hand	51	4	Matt. 12:10-13	Mark 3:1-5	Luke 6:6-10
Healing the centurion’s servant	55	5a	Matt. 8:5-13	Luke 7:1-10
Raising the widow of Nain’s son from the dead	56	5a	Luke 7:11-15
Healing a blind and dumb man	61	5a	Matt. 12:22	Luke 11:14
Healing a leper	65	5a	Matt. 8:2-3	Mark 1:40-42	Luke 5:12-13
Healing the one/two Gadarenes	66	5a	Matt. 8:28-34	Mark 5:1-13	Luke 8:27-33
Healing a woman with a hemorrhage	67	5a	Matt. 9:20-22	Mark 5:25-29	Luke 8:43-48
Healing two blind men	68	5a	Matt. 9:27-31
Healing a dumb man	68	5a	Matt. 9:32-33
Healing the Canaanite woman’s daughter	78	5b	Matt. 15:21-28	Mark 7:24-30
Healing a deaf and dumb man	79a	5b	Mark 7:31-37
Healing the blind man at Bethsaid	81b	5b	Mark 8:22-26
Healing a boy with epilepsy	87	5b	Matt. 17:14-18	Mark 9:17-29	Luke 9:38-43
Healing the man born blind	100a	5b	John 9:1-7
Healing the woman bent double	110	5c	Luke 13:11-13
Healing a man with dropsy	114	5c	Luke 14:1-4
Healing the ten lepers	120a	5c	Luke 17:11-19
Healing of Bartimaeus	126	5c	Matt. 20:29-34	Mark 10:46-52	Luke 18:35-43
Healing Malchus’ ear	153	5d	Luke 22:50-51

We’ve listed each resurrection miracle in the list of the following miracles performed by Christ:

Miracles	Section	Phase	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
Turning water to wine	29	2	John 2:1-11
The catch of fish	41	3	Luke 5:1-11
Calming the storm	65	5a	Matt. 8:23-27	Mark 4:37-41	Luke 8:22-25
Raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead *	67	5a	Matt. 9:18-25	Mark 5:22-42	Luke 8:41-56
Feeding the 5,000	72c	5b	Matt. 14:15-21	Mark 6:35-44	Luke 9:12-17	John 6:5-13
Walking on the water	74	5b	Matt. 14:25	Mark 6:48-51	John 6:19-21
The boat immediately reaching shore	74	5b	John 6:21
Feeding the 4,000	79b	5b	Matt. 15:32-38	Mark 8:1-9
Finding of the coin in the fish’s mouth	89	5b	Matt. 17:24-27
Raising Lazarus from the dead	118b	5c	John 11:17-44
The withered fig tree	129a	5d	Matt. 21:18-22	Mark 11:20-26
A catch of fish	180	5d	John 21:1-11
Jesus’ Resurrection *	170-171	5d	Matt. 28:2-8	Mark 16:2-6	Luke 24:1-8	John 20:1

* Jesus’ resurrection is a miracle attributed to the Trinity and so to himself. This is integral to the Gospel, his identity, and our own victory and worship (Sursum corda).  See these two articles (Bible.org / CARM) for more thoughts and passages about the activity of the Trinity.

We suppose that the post-Resurrection appearances  could also be considered miraculous. These can be found in phase 5d – Post Resurrection Appearances.

To these miracles could be added four post-Ascension appearances including: Jesus’ Appearance to Saul Acts 9:1-9; and three other occurrences as told by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8: Jesus appeared to over 500 men; Jesus appeared to James, Jesus’ brother; Jesus’ appearance to ‘all the apostles’.

Healings: 5% (1 instance is in Phase 2; 15% (3 instances in Phase 3); 10% (2 instances in Phase 4); 40% (8 instances in Phase 5a); and 25% (5 instances in Phase 5b);  5% (1 instance in Phase 5c); and the final 15% (3 instances in Phase 5d)  

Week 81 | Sections 93, 94, 95

The journey to one’s destiny calls for unfeigned courage, humility, and encouragement where it might be found, for the road is not often easy.  In our reading today Jesus makes his journey onward and upward, traveling southward from Capernaum to Jerusalem.

---

Scripture

Section 93 | Complete Commitment Required of Followers

[one_half last=”no”]Matthew 8:19-22
19 A scribe came,¹ and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”² 21 Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]Luke 9:57-62
57 As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, “I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord.” 58 Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 59 He said to another, “Follow me!” But he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.” 60 But Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce God’s Kingdom.” 61 Another also said, “I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say good-bye to those who are at my house.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for God’s Kingdom.”[/one_half]

Section 94 | Ridicule by Jesus’ Half Brothers

John 7:2-9
2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world.” 5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. 6 Jesus therefore said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world can’t hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, because my time is not yet fulfilled.” 9 Having said these things to them, he stayed in Galilee.

Section 95 | Journey through Samaria

[one_half last=”no”]Luke 9:51-56
51 It came to pass, when the days were near that he should be taken up, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem.³    52 and sent messengers before his face. They went and entered into a village of the Samaritans, so as to prepare for him. 53 They didn’t receive him, because he was traveling with his face set towards Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky, and destroy them, just as Elijah did?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them, “You don’t know of what kind of spirit you are. 56 For the Son of Man didn’t come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” They went to another village. [/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]John 7:10
10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast,

then he also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret.[/one_half]

---

Small Group Dialog:

1. What has it meant, taken, and cost you to find and follow Jesus?

---

Learning Objectives:

abc

---

Photo:

---

Study Notes: