The Final Week of Jesus’s Life
LentBible Study
Resource:
Various Christian definition websites
Max Lucado’s, The Final Week of Jesus’s Life
Session One - Sunday: Triumphal Entry
Matthew 21:1-11
21When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,2saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me.3If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.[a]”4This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
5“Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
6The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them;7they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them.8A very large crowd[b]spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.9The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?”11The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.” / Popularity is fickle. As Jesus entered Jerusalem during Passover Week, the adulation and expectation of the people was intense.
Questions:
- See verse 3: What does the Lord need from you as we prepare this Lent season?
- If you could have been a fly on the wall, how would you have greeted Jesus of Nazareth?
- Hosanna means “Save, please.” How does Jesus enter your life and how has he saved you?
Session Two - Monday: Clearing the Temple
Mark 11:12-19
12On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry.13Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.14He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
15Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves;16and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.17He was teaching and saying, “Is it not written,
‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’?
But you have made it a den of robbers.”
18And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching.19And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples[a]went out of the city. / The trouble with righteous anger is that it is much easier to be angry than to be righteous.
Questions:
- Think of times in your life when you perceived a need. Maybe the answer to your prayer was no. Any temptations to proclaim a curse? Explain.
- How does Jesus's“righteous” anger compare with your own anger or that of others?
- Has there been a time when you too needed to leave a place even in the dark because others were out to get you?
Session Three - Tuesday: Teaching at the Mount of Olives
Matthew 24:1-31
24As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple.2Then he asked them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
Signs of the End of the Age
3When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”4Jesus answered them, “Beware that no one leads you astray.5For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’[a]and they will lead many astray.6And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet.7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines[b]and earthquakes in various places:8all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.
Persecutions Foretold
9“Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name.10Then many will fall away,[c]and they will betray one another and hate one another.11And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.12And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold.13But the one who endures to the end will be saved.14And this good news[d]of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.
The Desolating Sacrilege
15“So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand),16then those in Judea must flee to the mountains;17the one on the housetop must not go down to take what is in the house;18the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat.19Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days!20Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath.21For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.22And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.23Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’[e]or ‘There he is!’—do not believe it.24For false messiahs[f]and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.25Take note, I have told you beforehand.26So, if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.27For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.28Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
The Coming of the Son of Man
29“Immediately after the suffering of those days
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from heaven,
and the powers of heaven will be shaken.
30Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see ‘the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven’ with power and great glory.31And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. / A prophecy is a message inspired by God, a divine revelation. The Bible says that prophets “spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit.” (2Peter 1:20, 21) So a prophet is one who receives God’s message and transmits it to others.—Acts 3:18.
Questions:
- What are some common themes of Jesus's prophecy?
- How did his audience receive his prophecy?
- How can his example help you to discern true or false prophets today?
- How have you faced emotional torture for the Gospel of Jesus Christ? How does one endure to the end?
Session Four - Thursday: The Last Supper
Matthew 26:17-30
17On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?”18He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’”19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
20When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve;[a]21and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”22And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?”23He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.24The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.”25Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”
The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
26While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”27Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you;28for this is my blood of the[b]covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.29I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. / The Passover is the Jewish celebration of God’s liberating the Israelites from Egyptian slavery in 1513B.C.E. God commanded the Israelites to remember that important event each year on the 14th day of the Jewish month Abib, which was later called Nisan.—Exodus 12:42;Leviticus 23:5.
Questions:
- What causes betrayal? How does it take root in a person and grow from anger to hate and from hate to suffering?
- How do you respond to a crisis?
- What does Jesus's response to a crisis teach you about our Triune God?
Session Five - Thursday: Betrayal & Arrest
Mark 14:43-72
43Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.44Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.”45So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him.46Then they laid hands on him and arrested him.47But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear.48Then Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit?49Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.”50All of them deserted him and fled.
51A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him,52but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.
Jesus before the Council
53They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled.54Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire.55Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none.56For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree.57Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying,58“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’”59But even on this point their testimony did not agree.60Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?”61But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah,[a]the Son of the Blessed One?”62Jesus said, “I am; and
‘you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of the Power,’
and ‘coming with the clouds of heaven.’”
63Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses?64You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?” All of them condemned him as deserving death.65Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” The guards also took him over and beat him.
Peter Denies Jesus
66While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by.67When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.”68But he denied it, saying, “I do not know or understand what you are talking about.” And he went out into the forecourt.[b]Then the cock crowed.[c]69And the servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.”70But again he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean.”71But he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know this man you are talking about.”72At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept. / Those closest to us have the power to hurt us in deep, personal ways that others do not.
Questions:
- What does being a loyal friend mean to you?
- What pressures in your life test your loyalty to Jesus?
- What types of false testimony have you endured in life or for the sake of the gospel?
- Have you endured a beating for being a follower of Christ Jesus?
- Look deep. In what ways have you denied Christ Jesus? And what was it like when your “cock crowed?”
Session Six - Friday: Trial
John 18:28–19:16
28Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters.[a]It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters,[b]so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover.29So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”30They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.”31Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.”32(This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)
33Then Pilate entered the headquarters[c]again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”34Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?”35Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?”36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”37Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”38Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”
Jesus Sentenced to Death
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him.39But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”40They shouted in reply, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a bandit.
19Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.2And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe.3They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face.4Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.”5So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”6When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.”7The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.”
8Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever.9He entered his headquarters[d]again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.10Pilate therefore said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?”11Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”12From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.”
13When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat[e]on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew[f]Gabbatha.14Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!”15They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.”16Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. / “Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.”
John F. Kennedy
Questions:
- In what ways is Christianity distorted to fit other agendas and ideologies?
- What tempts you to compromise your faith?
- With the concept of “fake news” filling our media coverage, what is truth?
- What ways have you been pressured to give in to the demands of many even when you knew that the right course of action?
- Crucifixion was a horrible death. It was a great sacrifice by Christ. How can & should we sacrifice for our Lord?
Session Seven- Friday: Crucifixion
Matthew 27: 32- 62