As we enter the second day of the last week of Jesus’ life, I want you to notice the schedule of Jesus. Jesus knowing His time had come was determined to finish what His Father had sent him to do; there was no holding back, even though Jesus knew what lay before Him.
The apostle Paul also encourages us to finish the race. In fact he recommends himself with these wonderful verses:
My life is being given as an offering to God, and the time has come for me to leave this life. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now, a crown is being held for me, a crown for being right with God. The Lord, the judge who judges rightly, will give the crown to me on that day not only to me but to all those who have waited with love for him to come again.
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Someone once said it is not how you start that is important but how you finish.
How will you finish your race?
For those who want to do a study on Jesus’ last week to see Jesus finish His race in triumph, I will provide you Jesus’ schedule for that day along with the appropriate Bible verses for you to investigate further.
Day 1 Sunday
- Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem
- Spends the night in Bethany
Matthew 21:1, Mark 11:1, Luke 19:29, John 12:12
Day 2 Monday
- Leaves Bethany
- Curses the fig tree on the way into the city
- Weeps over Jerusalem
- Cleanses the temple for the second time in His ministry
- Late in day, looks into the Temple, then leaves the city
- Spends the night in Bethany
Matthew 21:12, Mark 11:20, Luke 19:45
Notice on both Sunday and Monday that Jesus does not stay in the city of Jerusalem. This city would be alive with people who were coming for the festival of Passover and the streets would be overspilling with the multitude. Jesus goes to stay with His friends two miles down the road at Bethany, in the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.