Dear Christian friends:

Today we give attention to Jesus' activities on Tuesday of Holy Week. It seems that Jesus taught all day. Early in the morning on the way from Bethany to Jerusalem Jesus taught His twelve disciples to have faith when they pray. As you remember, on Monday Jesus had cursed the fig tree, and now on Tuesday it had already withered and died. By that Jesus showed His power to the disciples, and He told them they, too, could do wonderful works if they had faith in God's limitless power. (Mark 11:20-26)

When they arrived at Jerusalem, Jesus went again into the temple to teach, the same as He had done on Monday. It seems that He taught many, various things that day. Mark, chapters 11, 12, and 13 tell us what Jesus taught that Tuesday. Matthew, chapters 21-25 agree!

It is interesting to see what topics Jesus taught that day. First, He had to answer the chief priests and scribes and the elders. They were very angry against Him because on Monday He had cast out the bankers and sellers in the temple. (verses 15-18) Now they were searching for a good reason to arrest Him and kill Him. They asked Jesus who gave Him authority to cleanse the temple. (verse 28) Jesus knew their deceitful plan and refused to answer their question.

Then He taught the Parable about the Wicked Tenants, Mark 12:1-12. The Jewish Council and Teachers understood that parable that they were the same as the wicked tenants, and they were more angry and wanted to destroy Him. Then the Pharisees and Herodians tried to catch Jesus in His teaching. They asked Him if it was lawful to pay taxes to the Romans, "Caesar". If He answers "No", we can go and accuse Him of teaching sedition. If He answers "Yes," we can tell the people that He is not a true Jew. They thought, No matter what Jesus answers "Yes", or "No", we can blame Him! We have Him trapped now.

But Jesus knew their thoughts and He escaped their trap. He did not answer "Yes", or "No". He said to them, "Why do you tempt Me? Bring me a coin, that I may see it." And they brought it. And He said to them, "Whose image is this and name?" And they said, "Caesar's." And Jesus answering said to them, "Pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's." They were surprised at Jesus' wise answer and that He escaped their trap.

Next, another group of Jews called Sadducees asked Jesus a question. They also wanted to win an argument with Him. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead body. (Read Mark 12:18-27) Again Jesus won the argument!

Next a scribe came and asked Jesus a question. It seems that he was honest and not trying to catch Jesus in anyway. He asked Jesus: "Which is the most important commandment?" Jesus answered: (Mark 12:29-31) The scribe answered: "(Mark 12:32-33)." Jesus saw that he answered with wisdom and said to him, "(Mark 12:34)."

After that all the Jewish priests, teachers and council members were quiet. They saw how wisely Jesus answered their questions. They saw they could not defeat Him in using God's Word.

Therefore Jesus asked them a question which they could not answer: "How can the scribes teach that Christ is the Son of David? David said by the Holy Ghost that Christ was his Lord. David called Christ his Lord, how can Christ be his son?" They could not answer. Can you? (Mark 12:35-37)

Then the scribes and council Jews left, but the common people stayed and wanted to learn more from Jesus. (Mark 12:37b) Jesus warned them about the scribes and Pharisees. He said, "(Mark 12:38-40)

Then Jesus watched how the people put money into the temple treasury, and praised the poor widow who put in all her money. It was only two pennies, but Jesus said she gave "more" than all the others. She gave 100%! They perhaps gave 5% or 10%. (Mark 12:41-44)

In Mark 13, Jesus teaches His disciples about the destruction of Jerusalem and also about the end of the world and what the signs of that will be. He warns them to "Watch and pray; for you know not the time of the end." (Mark 13:33)

I am impressed to see how much Jesus taught that Tuesday and how wisely He taught. Also I am impressed that they seemed to go to the temple daily and teach and worship daily, all day! We do not go to church daily, except during Holy Week. But you see only a few are interested to hear God's Word. And we only stay 45 minutes or perhaps one hour. We do not use our church enough. Most of the time it is empty. No teaching, no preaching no praying here. What's wrong with us? Also during Holy Week we can't seem to come to church every day.

I think we need to think about that! What does Jesus think of us? Jesus help us love Your Word more! We thank You for the beautiful lessons You taught on that Tuesday of Holy Week.

Praise and glory to You our teacher and our Savior! Forgive us when we don't want to learn Your Word. Make us desire, Your Word the same as bread and water.

Amen.