Dear Friends,
If you wanted to change a major policy in our nation today, there are two ways you could go about it. One way would be to travel widely and speak throughout the fifty states to get a majority of people to agree with your ideas. A second way would be to travel only to Washington, DC. There you would have to convince only 51 senators and 218 congressmen to agree with you. You may succeed in the first way, but if you do not succeed in the second way nothing would change. That is essentially the dilemma that Jesus faced as the final months of His life and ministry. He had the people behind Him, but He needed to convince the rulers in order to make Israel His Kingdom.
In the final months of His life and ministry Jesus had the overwhelming support of the people throughout Israel. However, that meant little compared to the support of the Sanhedrin, Israel’s ruling council, which resided in the capital city of Jerusalem. Although He had faced hostility from many influential leaders in that city in the past, He was now going to provide them with more and more evidence supporting His identity as the Jewish Messiah. As armies bomb their adversaries into submission, Jesus was about to launch several powerful “miracle-bombs” into Jerusalem to compel Israel’s leadership to recognize Him as their divine King.
When you complete this week’s reading in Section 184 (page 173), the Man Who has worked miracles throughout Israel for three years will have only five more days to live.
Attached below is a BRAND NEW TIMELINE/CHART which you may print out which displays the key events of the last 3-4 months of His ministry.
In order for you to be prepared for this coming Sunday’s discussion please pre-read Section 165 (page 153) through Section 184 (page 173).
This week’s lesson title will be: Jesus “Miracle Bombs” Jerusalem Into Believing – Sections 165 – 184.
Here is a review of the lesson titles we have used in previous weeks:
Jesus Begins His Ministry With A “Bang” – Sections 27-42
What Began With A “Bang” Begins To Have “Bumps” – Sections 43-56
The “Bumps” Become A “Brouhaha”: The Sabbath Controversies – Sections 57-62
The “Brouhaha” Becomes A Verbal “Barrage” – Sections 63-72
Jesus’ “Barrage” Is Answered With A “Bomb” – Sections 73-92
Their “Bomb” Causes Jesus To “Bifurcate” His Ministry – Sections 93-108
Jesus “Begins” His “Break” With Contemporary Judaism – Sections 109 – 111
Jesus “Broadens” His “Break With Contemporary Judaism – Sections 112 – 123
Jesus “Brings” Their “Belligerence” To Jerusalem – Sections 124 – 129
Jesus “Brings” Their “Belligerence” To Jerusalem, Part 2 – Sections 130 – 143
Jesus “Beaconing” Becomes Even More “Blunt” – Sections 144 – 152
Jerusalem Is Brought To The Boiling Point – Sections 153 – 164
Here is this week’s Table Discussion Question, which addresses what most people today misconceive about Jesus:
In what ways is Jesus’ life and ministry misunderstood by people today?
What in our studies has challenged or changed your former conceptions?
