From the second to the third Passover festival 1 study
From the 3rd Passover to the start of the final week 1 study
The last week before the arrest 2 studies
From the second to the third Passover festival
-
PER162
Sending out the twelve apostles
Pericope 162 recounts Jesus sending out the twelve apostles in Galilee, a few weeks before Passover (March AD 32). Reported by Matthew (10.1-15), Mark (6.6-13) and Luke (9.1-6), this episode shows the disciples sent out two by two to preach the kingdom, heal and cast out demons. Each evangelist brings his own perspective to the travel instructions and the nature of the mission.
Matthew 10.1-15 (King James Version) :And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.And when ye come into an house, salute it.And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
From the 3rd Passover to the start of the final week
-
PER220
The Messiah Jesus sends out 70 disciples
Jesus sends seventy disciples on an evangelistic mission (Luke 10.1-16), a unique event in the gospels. From Bethany beyond the Jordan, around November 32, he extends his mission beyond the Twelve. The instructions recall those given to the apostles, with a more universal scope. Jesus warns of the risk of rejection and condemns the blindness of the Galilean cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum.
Matthew 10.1-15 (King James Version) :And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.And when ye come into an house, salute it.And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
The last week before the arrest
-
PER282
Cursing of the Barren Fig Tree
On Monday, March 28, AD 33, on the road from Bethany to Jerusalem, the Messiah Jesus curses a fig tree covered with leaves but bearing no fruit, and it withers at once. This act, reported by Matthew and Mark, is a miracle-parable symbolizing Israel: a great show of religion, but no real fruitfulness. Framing the cleansing of the Temple in Mark, this episode announces divine judgment on a barren piety.
Matthew 21.18-19 (King James Version) :Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
PER283
Announcement of the Destruction of Jerusalem
In Luke 19.41-44, Jesus approaches Jerusalem, weeps over the city and foretells with precision its future destruction by the Romans in AD 70. Only Luke reports this episode in this form. Jesus laments that Jerusalem did not recognize its divine visitation. This passage reveals both the compassion of the Messiah and the gravity of rejecting divine revelation, and it belongs to the last week before his arrest.
John 13.1 (King James Version) :Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org