In reading Mark’s gospel from chapter 11 forward, one can sense the chronology of Jesus’ activity from Palm Sunday through Tuesday. Clearly Mark 11: 1-11 speaks of the
first day of the week - Sunday, Mark 11: 12-19 of Monday, and Mark 11:20ff to
the end of chapter 11 of Tuesday. And, since there is no indication the subject of Jesus answering regarding His authority (Vv. 27-28) by the scribes and elders is changed, one can assume that the whole of the next chapter 12 happened on Tuesday as well.
For those chronologically minded or bent to order, attempts
at organizing the entirety of Holy Week texts into details equally supported by all our gospels
can be less than satisfying. I
have been using A.T. Robertson’s, Harmony
of the Gospels, as well as the Chronology & Synopsis of the Passion
Week offered at Bible.org https://bible.org/article/chronology-synopsis-passion-week
One other offering, which I came across this morning is https://kindlingforcandles.wordpress.com/2014/04/16/the-events-of-holy-week/, and this was quite helpful to me, as well. It references a blog written by Justin Taylor of The Gospel
Coalition in 2010, and what I especially like about Justin’s work is that he includes
only the passages, which we can be most certain of for each day. Here are the
links to Justin Taylor’s work:
PALM SUNDAY http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/03/28/holy-week-what-happened-on-sunday/
MONDAY http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/03/29/holy-week-what-happened-on-monday/
TUESDAY http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/03/30/holy-week-what-happened-on-tuesday/
WEDNESDAY http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/03/31/holy-week-what-happened-on-wednesday/
THURSDAY http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/04/01/holy-week-what-happened-on-thursday/
FRIDAY http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/04/02/holy-week-what-happened-on-friday/
AN EXAMPLE of 'NOT SO CERTAIN' PLACEMENT: Now A.T. Robertson in
his harmony places Jesus being anointed by Mary on Wednesday. This is not the same Mary who is ‘a sinner’ in Luke 7, as this occurred in Galilee. This anointing occurs in
the home of Simon the Leper in Bethany, as this is where it is placed by both Matthew and Mark, though John does not say. One might assume from John
that the home is that of Lazarus, because Martha is serving (as I did in a
previous post) but this need not be the case as serving anywhere would be the
natural proclivity of his sister Martha. However,
I have placed this on the Friday evening before the last Sabbath, as
I feel this to be a natural conclusion from John 12:1-2 (he arrives in Bethany
and they have a dinner for Him). Suffice
it to say, though, this is a prime example of certain 'placements' we cannot be sure of this side of heaven. So what can we do? We can turn to three things we are certain of on this Wednesday of Holy Week.
1.
Jesus continues his teaching
in the temple and retreats at night to the Mount of Olives – Luke 21:37-38
2. With Passover and the
Feast of Unleavened Bread approaching, the priests, elders and scribes plot
to kill Jesus – Matthew 26:4-5; Mark
14:1-2; Luke 22:1-2
3.
Satan enter Judas who seeks to betray Jesus for a price – Matthew 26:14-15; Mark 14: 10-11; Luke 22: 3-6
It should not be surprising that as Jesus teaches with great popularity
and authority there arises a plot to kill and a heart to betray Him. I have found that service to Christ, the
power of changed lives, and authoritative words from God oft meet conflict
and scorn. Satan was at work on
Wednesday, doing what he so often does – corrupting the hearts of those most ‘religious’.
From the texts we may conjecture Jesus’ nightly retreat to
the Mount of Olives brought prayer. We may be sure that His resistance to the religious elite brought
their plot to destroy. And, we can
be certain that Satan’s filling Judas’ heart brought a plan ending in Judas' demise. But... there is one thing else we
can know - Jesus carried on! He stayed in
Jerusalem, He retreated to the mount each night to pray, and He taught daily with authority in
the temple built for His Father. Jesus had come for this. He had come to die and He was our one sacrifice for all time.
In considering the character and ‘mind’ of our LORD, the
Apostle Paul writes this: He - who, though he was in the form of God, did not count
equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the
form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he
humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a
cross. (Philippians 2:6-8)
So I thank God for Wednesday, for on Wednesday our LORD, Jesus Christ God's Son, did NOT quit!
Pastor Sam
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