GETTING READY FOR PASSOVER

Another wonderful day listening to our Lord teach again wasn't it? Speaking with the chief priests, elders, Pharisees, Saduccees, lawyers must be tiring at times. They always seem to ask him questions to "catch" him in a quandary but he is brilliant! Always able to answer their questions the way he sees fit. He's masterful at either asking them a question back, answering the question directly or by answering in a parable. I loved it yesterday when they asked him, "By what authority and who gave you the authority do you do these things?" His response was priceless. I will also ask you one question. If you answer me then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. His question was to them was the baptism of John from heaven or men? Did you see them all huddle together and go to great length to discuss what and how they should answer.

Okay, I admit I snuck over to where they were to listen to them. I heard them discuss something about if they said John's baptism was from men, a lot of people would be upset with them because a lot of people believed John the Baptist to be a prophet and they didn't want to aggravate the "crowd." Then I heard them discuss if they said it was from heaven then they would be telling the "crowd" that essentially Jesus's authority was from heaven also and as they were the religious leaders how detrimental that would be for them personally. So, they wimped out and answered him that they didn't know by whose authority John's was from.

What about Jesus's prophesy yesterday, saying that the temple would be completely destroyed. I can't imagining that happening can you? ( Footnote: A.D. 70 the temple was completely destroyed by the Romans.)

I'm so grateful we were able to go to the Mt of Olives again. I love it up there. But, again he gave another prophesy this time about the end times of what it will look like before His coming. He said there would be wars and rumors of wars, nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, famines, pestilences, earthquakes in various places, and many deceived by false prophets. He said many of the false prophets and christs will do great signs and wonders to deceive. He told us to be careful. He even said that many who follow him and love him - their love would grow cold but the ones who endures to the end shall be saved. It reminds me of the seeds parable were he said some seed would fall on rocky soil and sprout up quickly but because they didn't have roots they would wither away.

I'm excited about tonight - we get to celebrate Passover together in Jerusalem! I look forward to a great time together and listening to Jesus lead us in Israel's amazing story of God's faithfulness and goodness in saving us from slavery in Egypt.