Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Walking through Holy Week: Hiding in plain sight

When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, he knew that He was going to die on the cross. We saw yesterday how the Pharisees felt threatened by Jesus and how they wanted Jesus' followers to shut up. Let's see what Jesus did after He got to Jerusalem.

45 Then Jesus entered the temple area. He began chasing out those who were selling there. 46 He told them, "It is written that the Lord said, 'My house will be a house where people can pray.'—(Isaiah 56:7) But you have made it a 'den for robbers.' "—(Jeremiah 7:11)

47 Every day Jesus was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests and the teachers of the law were trying to kill him. So were the leaders among the people. 48 But they couldn't find any way to do it. All the people were paying close attention to his words.

Discussion

  • Where did Jesus go first?
  • When Jesus was 12 and went to Jerusalem for Passover and didn't leave with Mary and Joseph, where did they find Him then?
  • What did
    Jesus do in the temple in vv 45-46? Why?
  • What did Jesus do in the temple in vv 47-48?
  • Did Jesus hide from those who wanted to arrest Him?
  • Did Jesus stop preaching and teaching because people wanted to arrest Him?
  • Why didn't the people who wanted to arrest Jesus arrest Him in the temple?
    • Where could they easily have found Jesus to arrest Him?
    • Do you think they still feared that they couldn't control the people who were following Jesus?
  • Do you think Jesus' actions in this passage show how the people in the temple had lost sight of what should be done in the temple? Do you think these people were disobedient to God?
  • Do you think Jesus' actions in the temple showed how He remained obedient to God even when He knew He was going to be arrested?
  • Are there times when you are not doing what God wants you to do or doing something God doesn't want you to?
  • Is it hard sometimes for you to be obedient when others around you are making it hard to do so?
  • Can you trust Jesus to help you be more obedient?

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