SIX DAYS BEFORE PASSOVER

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                       SIX DAYS BEFORE THE PASSOVER
        
        Passover comes on thursday this year (1999), the same as it did the
year Jesus was crucified in 30 A.D.  
        
        In 30 A.D. Jesus had just completed His final tour of the area north
and east of Jerusalem.  He had made a stop at Jericho, where blind Bartimaeus
was sitting alongside the way, and was healed of his blindness.  Quite a large
group of people were following Jesus in these last days as He approached
Jerusalem, where He knew He would be crucified.
        
        John 12:1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany,
where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.  
        
        It was on this trip to Bethany that Mary anointed His feet with the
costly perfume.  But when some found fault with what she had done, Jesus told
them to let her alone-- she had anointed Him for burial.
        
        To be sure, His burial was only days away now.  He was crucified on
Wednesday, the day before the Passover Sabbath.  The Passover Sabbath was a
high day-- between two regular sabbaths-- on Thursday that year.
        
        When Jesus left Bethany, He came to Jerusalem, where the throng laid
their garments in the path of the young male ass upon which He was riding.
The city was "moved" at His coming.  The same word is used for an earthquake.
It was a great movement of people-- even little children-- some of whom could
not yet talk plainly.  (Babes and sucklings)
        
        The cleansing of the Temple-- driving out the money changers and those
who sold doves-- was one of the first orders of duty for the Saviour in those
few last days that He had on earth as a mortal.  I believe he acted out a
prophecy-- that His Church will be thoroughly cleansed before the close of
this dispensation.
        
        In cursing the fig tree, Jesus prophesied the utter ruin of the nation
of Judah-- forever.  Also, in His weeping over the city, He pronounced
desolation upon Jerusalem by Divine Decree.  It can not be broken, no matter
how hard we try.
        
        The hatred of the national leaders was reaching an explosive pitch,
and they were desperately seeking an opportunity to put Jesus to death.  He
was doing great violence to their religious system,  and He MUST BE STOPPED.
Their opportunity came from an unexpected source-- Judas Iscariat.
        
        In the Spiritual tension that could be felt by everyone, the deepest
motives of hearts were brought to the surface, and a betrayal took place--
from within His own ranks.
        
        The world is feeling great tension today-- over much the same thing as
then.  "What will you do with Jesus?"
        
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