Jesus gave his final discourse following his final departure from the Temple – Mark 12:41-13:4.
The ‘Olivet Discourse’ is the last recorded block of Christ’s teachings given on the Mount of Olives following a series of confrontations between him and the Temple authorities, and his final departure from the Temple itself. And his conflicts with the religious leaders set the stage for his trial and execution at the hands of the Roman governor.
Continue readingWhen he left the Temple for the last time, Jesus pronounced its coming desolation to his opponents.
Before his final departure from the Temple, Jesus fielded challenges from the “scribes and Pharisees,” the main Jewish sects of his time. These amounted to confrontations that helped set the stage for his arrest and trial and his execution at the hands of the Romans. As he left the building for the final time, he pronounced its impending judgment.
Continue readingThe cursing of the barren fig tree symbolized the coming destruction of the Temple and the fruitlessness of Israel – Mark 11:12-26.
The Gospel of Mark divides the story of the barren fig tree into two sections, placing the “cleansing” of the Temple between them, and thus, the two events are inextricably linked. The fruitlessness of the fig tree and its subsequent cursing highlighted the spiritual state and destiny of the Temple, and Christ’s actions foreshadowed its destruction.
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