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A Lesson from a Fig Tree

(Matthew 24.32-35; Mark 13.28-31)

29 Then Jesus told them a story:

When you see a fig tree or any other tree 30 putting out leaves, you know that summer will soon come. 31 So, when you see these things happening, you know that God's kingdom will soon be here. 32 You can be sure that some of the people of this generation will still be alive when all of this takes place. 33 The sky and the earth won't last forever, but my words will.

A Warning

34 Don't spend all of your time thinking about eating or drinking or worrying about life. If you do, the final day will suddenly catch you 35 like a trap. This day will surprise everyone on earth. 36 Watch out and keep praying that you can escape all that is going to happen and that the Son of Man will be pleased with you.

37 (A) Jesus taught in the temple each day, and he spent each night on the Mount of Olives. 38 Everyone got up early and came to the temple to hear him teach.

A Plot To Kill Jesus

(Matthew 26.1-5,14,16; Mark 14.1,2,10,11; John 11.45-53)

22 (B) The Festival of Thin Bread, also called Passover, was near. The chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses were looking for a way to get rid of Jesus, because they were afraid of what the people might do. Then Satan entered the heart of Judas Iscariot,[a] who was one of the twelve apostles.

Judas went to talk with the chief priests and the officers of the temple police about how he could help them arrest Jesus. They were very pleased and offered to pay Judas some money. He agreed and started looking for a good chance to betray Jesus when the crowds were not around.

Jesus Eats with His Disciples

(Matthew 26.17-25; Mark 14.12-21; John 13.21-30)

The day had come for the Festival of Thin Bread, and it was time to kill the Passover lambs. So Jesus said to Peter and John, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us to eat.”

But they asked, “Where do you want us to prepare it?”

10 Jesus told them, “As you go into the city, you will meet a man carrying a jar of water.[b] Follow him into the house 11 and say to the owner, ‘Our teacher wants to know where he can eat the Passover meal with his disciples.’ 12 The owner will take you upstairs and show you a large room ready for you to use. Prepare the meal there.”

13 Peter and John left. They found everything just as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

Footnotes

  1. 22.3 Iscariot: See the note at 6.16.
  2. 22.10 a man carrying a jar of water: A male slave carrying water would probably mean that the family was rich.

29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God(A) is near.

32 “Truly I tell you, this generation(B) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.(C)

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,(D) and that day will close on you suddenly(E) like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray(F) that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple,(G) and each evening he went out(H) to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives,(I) 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.(J)

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus(K)

22 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,(L) and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus,(M) for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan(N) entered Judas, called Iscariot,(O) one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard(P) and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money.(Q) He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

The Last Supper(R)(S)(T)(U)(V)

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.(W) Jesus sent Peter and John,(X) saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

“Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them.(Y) So they prepared the Passover.