Chapter 5.

Holy Tuesday Morning

On the Mount Of Olives

 

 

In His “Olivet Discourse”

Jesus Outlined the Future

For His Disciples.

 

Jesus led His disciples to the Mount of Olives.  As they rested there, in the late morning, some of His disciples asked Him to explain how the future would unfold.  They wanted to know, “When will the Temple be destroyed?” ... “How will the ‘Kingdom of God’ be taken from Israel and given to others?” ... “Where are You going?” ... “When are You coming back?” ... and “When will the world end?” 

... as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? 

(Mark 13:3-4)

Matthew relates ...

... as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?  (Matthew 24:3)

And, Luke states ...

... they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?  (Luke 21:7)

 

Jesus’ response focused on the “Church Age”, from His Cross to His Second Coming.  He spoke of events that would occur over thousands of years.  Thus, when He made predictions like, “they shall deliver you up”, “you” did not exclusively point to the Apostles.  It pointed to thousands of Christians who have faced and the many Christians who will yet face persecutions during this “Church Age”.

 

 

False Messiahs Will Appear.

 

Mark says ... 

... Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  (Mark 13:5-6)

Matthew states ...

... Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  (Matthew 24:4-5)

And, Luke declares ...

... he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.  (Luke 21:8)

 

 

There Will Be Wars And Famines

And Natural Disasters.

 

Mark says ...

... when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. 

(Mark 13:7-8)

Matthew discloses ...

... ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. 

(Matthew 24:6-8)

And, Luke remarks ...

... when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.  (Luke 21:9-11)

 

 

Christians Will Be Put On Trial,

Beaten, And Even, Killed.

 

Jesus said, “Christians will be arrested and put on trial.  When you are interrogated, let the Holy Spirit prompt your answers.”

... take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.  (Mark 13:9-11)

Matthew remarks ...

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.  (Matthew 24:9)

And, Luke says ...

... before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.  (Luke 21:12-15)

 

 

Christians Will Be Hated

By Family Members And Acquaintances.

Iniquity Will Abound,

But, the Gospel Will Be Proclaimed Worldwide.

 

Mark discloses ...

Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  (Mark 13:12-13)

Matthew remarks ...

... then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 

(Matthew 24:10-14)

And, Luke declares ...

... ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.  (Luke 21:16-17)

 

 

Believers Need Not Fret.

If Destroyed, They Will Immediately Get

New, Immortal Bodies In Heaven.

 

Luke says ...

... there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls. 

(Luke 21:18-19)

 

 

Jerusalem And the Jewish Nation

Will Be Destroyed.

 

Jesus predicted the destruction of Jerusalem.  It  occurred in A.D. 70.  The city was leveled and any survivors were taken captive and sold as slaves into many nations.

... when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.  And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.  (Luke 21:20-24)

 

 

In the End Time,

Jerusalem Will Be Surrounded Again ...

By the Armies Of the Antichrist.

 

Abruptly, Jesus looked thousands of years into the future to a day that is yet to come.  Before that day, a ruthless politician will become the absolute ruler of the whole planet.  He will reign for 7 years.  In the early years of his reign, he will allow the Jews to rebuild their Temple in Jerusalem.  But, in the middle of his reign, he will decide to eradicate all the religions of the world.  He will enter the Temple and declare to everyone on Earth, “I am god!  Worship me!”  He will be the “abomination of desolation standing in the holy place” spoken of by Daniel, the prophet.  Christians call this tyrant the “antichrist”.

 

Jesus taught, “When the antichrist declares himself to be god, believers should flee Jerusalem, immediately.”  We know that the last 3 and 1/2 years of the antichrist’s reign will be filled with the catastrophes described in “The Revelation” written by the Apostle John.  Mark states, “In those days there shall be afflictions such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.”   The antichrist will become maniacal.  He will conclude that the Jews are the cause of all his woes and summon his armies to Israel from all over the globe.  Again, Jerusalem will be surrounded, as it was in A.D. 70.  But, this time the whole world will be in overwhelming turmoil. 

... when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.  (Mark 13:14-20)

Matthew discloses ...

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet [Daniel 12:11], stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.  (Matthew 24:15-22)

 

 

Again, False Christs Will Arise.

 

Mark states ...

... then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. 

(Mark 13:21-23)

Matthew says ...

... if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.  (Matthew 24:23-26)

 

 

When I Come To Defeat the Antichrist

And Inaugurate the Millennial Kingdom,

I Won’t Come Secretly.

 

Matthew relates ...

For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (Matthew 24:27)

 

 

When You See the Signs

I Have Described,

You’ll Know My Return Is Near.

 

Matthew remarks ...

For wheresoever the cacase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.  (Matthew 24:28)

The King James Version of this verse is puzzling.  The New Living Translation rendering is easier to understand.

Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.

 

 

My Return Will Look Like This ...

 

As we have indicated, Jesus will return to Earth at the end of the “Seven-Year Tribulation” era.  Jesus described the scene into which He will descend. 

... in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 

(Mark 13:24-26)

Matthew states ...

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  (Matthew 24:29-30)

And, Luke says ...

... there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  (Luke 21:25-27)

 

Jesus remarked ...

... when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.  (Luke 21:28)

 

 

I Will Gather Together

All the Saved of All Times.

 

Mark reveals ...

... then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.  (Mark 13:27)

Matthew declares ...

... he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.  (Matthew 24:31)

 

 

The Generation On Earth

When These Signs Appear

Will See My Return.

 

Mark has Jesus saying ...

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.  (Mark 13:28-30)

Matthew has Jesus saying ...

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.  (Matthew 24:32-34)

And, Luke says ...

... he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.  (Luke 21:29-32)

 

 

Heaven And Earth Will Pass Away,

But My Words Will Endure.

 

Quoting Jesus, Mark discloses ...

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.  (Mark 13:31)

Matthew remarks ...

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.  (Matthew 24:35)

And, Luke declaress ...

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.  (Luke 21:33)

 

 

Watch And Pray For My Return.

No Man Knows the Day Or Hour Of It.

 

Blessed are those who are found doing the Lord’s work when Jesus comes.

... of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.  (Mark 13:32-33)

Matthew states ...

... of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.  (Matthew 24:36-47)

Mark relates ...

For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.  (Mark 13:34-36)

Matthew declares ...

... if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  (Matthew 24:48-51)

Luke says ...

... take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.  (Luke 21:34-36)

And, Jesus concluded His prophecies with this command...

... what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.  (Mark 13:37)

 

 

 

Jesus Told

the Parable Of Ten Virgins,

5 Wise And 5 Foolish.

 

Jesus told a parable in which “oil” is precious.  In the Scriptures, “oil” is often a synonym for the “Holy Spirit”.  In this story, the 5 wise, Christian girls have enough oil; the 5 unsaved, foolish girls have none.  Using this parable, Jesus warned, “You cannot get into Heaven and the ‘Marriage Feast of the Lamb’ unless you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you.  Be prepared!  Watch for My Second Coming!”

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.  (Matthew 25:1-13)

 

 

 

Jesus Told a Parable About

Properly Using God-given Talents.

 

Jesus said, “Use your God-given talents. Don’t bury them.  He that buries them will be excluded from Heaven.”

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap

where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  (Matthew 25:14-30)

Thus, Jesus taught, “A believing man uses his God-given funds and abilities to do the Lord’s work.  He will be invited into Heaven.  An unbelieving man will not use his God-given funds and abilities to do the Lord’s work.  He will be cast into Hell.” 

 

 

 

Jesus Described the

“Great White Throne Judgment”.

 

Jesus’ parable about God-given talents raised the question, “What is the ‘Lord’s work’”?  Jesus made that clear by giving His disciples a glimpse of the “Great White Throne Judgment”, which will transpire at the end of the Millennium.  Christ’s description of this event is recorded in Mathew 25:31-46, quoted below.

 

Some wrongly assume that this passage points to the time when Christ will come to vanquish the antichrist and his armies at Armageddon and begin His Millennial Reign.  But, that cannot be.  Consider these facts:

1.    In Matthew, chapter 25, Christ says “all nations”

 will be gathered before His throne.

2.    In “The Revelation”, the Apostle John indicates

 that unbelievers who perish before the Millennium

 will not be living on the Earth when the

 Millennium begins.  Therefore, “all nations”

 could not be gathered before Christ at that time.

... the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished ...  (Revelation 20:5)

Note: Here, “lived not again”  means “lived not again upon the Earth”.  During the Millennium, believers will dwell upon the Earth: unbelievers will dwell in Hell.

3.   Unbelievers will re-appear after

the close of the Millennium, in what is known as the “second resurrection” or the “resurrection of the unjust”.  Then, “all nations” will be gathered together before Christ. 

 

Also, in “The Revelation”, John details the judgment that Jesus described to His disciples.

^... I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (Revelation 20:11)

 

Notice.  This “Great White Throne Judgment” will not take place on planet Earth.  Here, Jesus is not enthroned on Earth, deciding who will enter the Millennial Kingdom.  The Millennium is over.  Our present Heavens and Earth have “fled away”.  Earth is not available for further habitation.  Therefore, this Judgment takes place on a huge surface elsewhere in God’s gigantic Cosmos.  If our present-day demographers are close to correct, there will be 15 to 20 billion souls standing before the Great White Throne.  John continues ...

... I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  (Revelation 20:12-13)

 

Remember, Jesus gave His disciples the glimpse of the Final Judgment recorded in Matthew, chapter 25, to explain what He had taught in the Parable of the Talents.  The “Lord’s work” is clearly delineated in this passage.  However, we must always remind ourselves; we are not saved by doing good works, rather, we who are saved strive to do good works.  Our good works demonstrate our saving faith. 

 

Matthew states Jesus’ depiction of the Final Judgment ...

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

   Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

   Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.  (Matthew 25:31-46)

 

 

 

Luke Summarizes Jesus’ Ministry

From Palm Sunday To Noon Tuesday.

 

Luke says ...

... in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives. And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.  (Luke 21:37-38)

 

 

 

Jesus’ Enemies Were In a Quandary.

 

Passover Week was to begin in 30 hours, and Jesus was still a free man.

Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.  (Luke 22:1-2)

 

 

 

The “Feast Of Unleavened Bread”

Was 2 Sunsets Away.

 

Late Tuesday morning, Jesus noted that the “Feast of Unleavened Bread” was at hand.  It would begin at sundown on Wednesday evening when families gathered to share their annual Passover Meal.  In advance, bakeries and household cooks were busy preparing loaves of unleavened bread, because observant Jews did not want to have any leavened bread in their homes on Wednesday.  If unleavened bread is set next to leavened bread, it contaminates it.

... it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.  (Matthew 26:1-2)

Mark says ...

After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread ...  (Mark 14:1a)

“After two days” in these verses means “after two days are over”.  And, in the Jewish culture of Jesus’ time, a day was over at sundown.  So, the Feast would commence after both “today’s sundown” and “tomorrow’s sundown” on Wednesday.  Jesus was Crucified on Wednesday and buried shortly after sundown.  He knew He would be in His tomb in about 32 hours.  (For more details, see the chapter entitled “Good Wednesday”.)

 

 

 

Jesus’ Enemies

Plotted His Death.

 

Mark notes ...

... the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.  (Mark 14:1b-2)

Matthew discloses ...

Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.  (Matthew 26:3-5)