Holy Tuesday #holyweek #christianity #faithjourney

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The week leading up to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is called Holy Week. It is only fitting that the Tuesday before the crucifixion is called “Holy Tuesday.” Each day of the week is significant for Christians. Historians collaborate that on Palm Sunday, Jesus made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. Either Sunday or the next day (Holy Monday), Jesus cleansed the temple. Either way, Jesus went to spend the night in Bethany, and weLater, Jesus taught the disciples a lesson regarding the fig tree’s barrenness (Matthew 21:20-22). We see the story of the fig tree also in Mark 11:20-25. Along with performing this miracle, Jesus did a lot of preaching in Jerusalem on Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday.

Do We Know What Jesus Preached on Holy Tuesday?
In Jerusalem, Jesus preached about faith. He used the barren fig tree as an example. His disciples saw what he did to the fig tree and marveled. In Matthew 21:21-22, Jesus said unto them, “Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing, ye shall receive.”

If you look at Mark 11:20-25, you see mention of the fig tree again. You also see Jesus mention the prayer of faith:

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive if you have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive, your trespasses.” (Mark 11:24-25)

He also warns that if we do not forgive, neither will God forgive us.

What Did Jesus Say about the Religious Leaders on Holy Tuesday?
While Jesus was preaching in Jerusalem, the religious leaders (Pharisees, Sadducees, and other groups) listened. Some of Jesus’ teachings targeted them, critiquing their actions or attitudes.

Jesus shared a parable of the householder. Read the entirety in Mark 12:1-11. The religious leaders of the day were not happy about this parable because they felt it was about them. The parable begins:

“A certain man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. And at the season, he sent to the husbandmen a servant that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.” (Mark 12:1-2)

The story discusses how the servants came to collect for the owner, and some were beaten and some killed. The owner eventually sent his son, whom he knew they would respect. The husbandmen did not. They decided to kill the son so there would be no heir and the inheritance would be theirs (Mark 12:3-11). In verse nine, Jesus said, “What shall therefore the Lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the husbandmen and will give the vineyard unto others.”

Finishing this parable, Jesus told the crowds, “And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” (Mark 12:10-11).

The religious leaders were angered because they knew the parable was about them: They were the husbandmen thrown out of the farm for their behavior, replaced by others. Jesus quoting the Scripture about the Lord making a rejected stone into a vital part of a building (Psalm 118:22-23) was also about replacement. The leaders sought to arrest Jesus but feared the people.

Why Did the Religious Leaders Try to Trap Jesus?
While the religious leaders couldn’t arrest Jesus, they tried to entrap him. They sent certain Pharisees and Herodians to catch him in his words.

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Look at Mark 12:13-17. They tried to trip Jesus up and wanted to catch him not paying tribute to Caesar. They asked him whether it was lawful to give unto Caesar or not. He knew they were being hypocrites and responded, “Why tempt ye me? Bring me a penny, that I may see it” (Mark 12:15). When they brought the coin, Jesus asked them whose name was on it. They responded, “Caesar.” Jesus responded by saying, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17). Of course, they were amazed at his answer.

Next, the Sadducees came to him and asked about the resurrection (they did not believe in a final resurrection). They posed the instance of a man who was married and then died and left a widow without children. According to Moses’ teaching, it was customary for the brother to take the woman to be his wife, to continue the family line. If this happened a few times, with each brother dying and not leaving any children and the next man marrying her, who would be her husband in the resurrection? (Mark 12:18-23)