Day 3: Holy Tuesday

This devotional comes from BibleProject

By Tuesday, Jesus’ unwillingness to obey the religious elite had made him an enemy to Israel’s leaders. They challenge Jesus with their assumptions and doctrinal traditions, hoping to publicly prove that Jesus is a fraud—a criminal and a liar who is set on disrupting their control. But Jesus keeps telling the truth, showing the leaders how the mistake is their own. What irony! They’re mad at God for not being godly enough, according to their own judgment (see Matt. 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8).

Jesus predicts that the Roman armies will one day surround Jerusalem and destroy the city and its temple, but his disciples struggle to understand this and ask him when it’s going to happen.

In a speech sometimes referred to as the Olivet Discourse, Jesus gives a few vague images of what’s to come. He predicts his death but also assures the disciples that his death will not be the end. He says he will resurrect and continue living after death, before eventually returning to fully establish his Kingdom on Earth. Jesus cautions the disciples against trusting people who say they know the signs of the end times. Those so-called “signs” (like natural disasters, wars, and rumors of conflict) are normal parts of the world being renewed. Instead of losing focus by getting wrapped up in that fear, Jesus urges his followers to remain focused on him and follow his loving way. Keep living into the Kingdom of God, he says, and don’t stop spreading Jesus’ good news to all people.

In today’s video, venture further into key themes in the Olivet Discourse by tracing the biblical concept of the Day of the Lord, a day where God will bring his judgment against evil and allow a new creation to flourish, ultimately accomplished through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

BibleProject ~ We Studied the “Day of the Lord” in the Bible (Here’s What We Found)

If the embedded video won't play, you can go straight to YouTube here to watch it.

Matthew 23:1-12

1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples: 2 “The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed. 8 But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

You can read the entire chapter here

Luke 20:1-8

1 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, came up to Him. 2 “Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” 3 “I will also ask you a question,” Jesus replied. “Tell Me: 4 John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?” 5 They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know where it was from. 8 And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

You can read the entire chapter here

Mark 13

1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look at the magnificent stones and buildings!” 2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” 3 While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to be fulfilled?” 5 Jesus began by telling them, “See to it that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. 9 So be on your guard. You will be delivered over to the councils and beaten in the synagogues. On My account you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations. 11 But when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what to say. Instead, speak whatever you are given at that time, for it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. 12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 13 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 14 So when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let no one on the housetop go back inside to retrieve anything from his house. 16 And let no one in the field return for his cloak. 17 How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! 18 Pray that this will not occur in the winter. 19 For those will be days of tribulation unseen from the beginning of God’s creation until now, and never to be seen again. 20 If the Lord had not cut short those days, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has cut them short. 21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything in advance. 24 But in those days, after that tribulation: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ 26 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And He will send out the angels to gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 28 Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things happening, know that He is near, right at the door. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. 32 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch. 35 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning. 36 Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!”

You can read the entire chapter here

Prayer* for Holy Tuesday: O Lord our God, whose blessed Son gave his back to be whipped and did not hide his face from shame and spitting: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

• All prayers in this reading plan are from the Book of Common Prayer (2019).