The Journey of Holy Week: Tuesday

Mark 11:20-13:37 

Today Jesus goes to the temple mount again to teach the crowds for the last time. Whereas yesterday's scene was pandemonium, today the temple courts are dead silent as many thousands listen and watch as the religious authorities challenge this notorious young rabbi who teaches in parables. His arguments with the religious leaders and experts of scripture delight some and infuriate others. Yesterday he was overturning the marketplace; today he seems to he overturning their entire world.

Jesus' fierce diatribe against the religious leaders, supremely confident they are on God's side, may have seemed startling to the disciples and to the crowds. But it is not a vindictive ferocity, rather the anger of a lioness protecting her cubs.

As evening approaches, Jesus leads the disciples to the Mount of Olives, where he speaks in words that are even more severe. While they watch the limestone walls of Jerusalem turn blood-red under the setting sun, Jesus reveals to them how the world will come to an end. For the disciples it seems like the world is already ending. His kingdom will not arrive in the way they have expected. They are no longer welcome in Jerusalem. They are outcasts now.

The Jewish days always begin at sunset. On this Tuesday evening, the twelfth day of Nisan begins, when the gospels tell us the Passover is just two days away. This night, some of the religious leaders make plans to arrest Jesus. It will have to be done before Saturday, the fifteenth day of Nisan, which is not only a Sabbath but the first solemn day of the seven-day festival of Unleavened Bread. They fear a riot will break out if he is arrested on the holiest Sabbath day of the year.