Lesson Outcomes.
By the end of this topic, you should:
- Describe the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem
- Narrate events in the cleansing of the temple
- Discuss Jesus’ teachings about eschatology
LESSON ONE: THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY OF JESUS TO JERUSALEM LK. 19:28 – 40
Learning outcomes.
By the end of this lesson, you should
- Explain why Jesus rode on a young colt into Jerusalem
- Discuss why Jesus wept over Jerusalem
- Describe what Jesus did when he went to the temple
- The triumphant approach to Jerusalem. Luke 19: 28- 40.
Jesus death had to happen in Jerusalem. Hence Jesus went to Jerusalem. He sent two disciples to a place where there was a colt (young donkey) that no person had ever ridden. They took it to Jesus. They threw their garments on the colt, and Jesus sat on it. As Jesus rode, people spread their clothes on the road. As
Jesus neared Jerusalem, a “large crowd of his disciples began to” praise God (vs37). The crowd said ‘blessed be the king who comes in the name of the lord’.
The Pharisees told Jesus to rebuke the disciples. Jesus told them if the disciples kept quiet the stones would start shouting.
Jesus made his entry into Jerusalem in a royal (kingly) procession. He was Israel’s humble king who came with peace and not a political leader. He rode on a donkey – a symbol of peace. This was unlike the political kings who rode on the horses during that time. b. Jesus weeps over Jerusalem. Read, Luke 41- 44.
When Jesus was near Jerusalem he wept. He then foretold the coming destruction of Jerusalem due to its rejection of the messiah.
The rejoicing of his triumphant entry to Jerusalem turned to mourning as he foretold the destruction of Jerusalem by Romans in 70 A.D.
Jesus goes to the temple. Read Luke 19:45 – 48.
Jesus went to Jerusalem temple and evicted traders. He told them that the house of God is a house of prayer not a den of thieves. Jeremiah spoke these same words during his temple sermon. The chief priests and scribes began planning how to kill Jesus.
LESSON TWO. PHARISEES, SCRIBES QUESTION JESUS. LUKE 20 1-47
Learning outcomes.
By the end of the lesson you should be able to: –
- Describe the question about the authority of Jesus
- Describe the parable of the tenants in the vineyard
- Describe the question about paying taxes
- Describe the question about resurrection
- Describe Jesus’ teachings against the teachers of law
- Describe the parable of the widow’s offering
- The question about Jesus’ authority. Read Luke, 20:1 – 8.
The Jewish leaders wanted to know from Jesus by whose authority he was doing all the things he was doing. In response Jesus asked them “did John’s right to baptize come from God or from human beings?” (Vs4).
They discussed among themselves and decided not answer. Jesus told them “neither will I tell you”. In response to his authority being questioned he told a parable. b. The parable of the Tenants in the Vineyard.
Read the parable in Luke, 20: 9 – 18. The tenants refused to pay the owner of the vineyard his share of the harvest. They threw out the servants he sent to collect his share of the harvest. When he sent his son, they killed him so that they can own the vineyard. Jesus asked the people… “What will the owner of the vineyard do to the tenants?”
The Question about paying taxes. Read Luke 20:19-28
Pharisees, and scribes (teachers of the law) and chief priests planned to arrest Jesus but they were afraid of the people. They sent spies to trick Jesus by asking this question-” …is it against our law for us to pay taxes to the Roman Empire, or not?
Jesus used the currency and told them “pay the Emperor Caesar what belongs to him and pay God what belongs to God.” (Verse 25)
This was a tricky question. Jesus here teachers people to obey the rules of the land and to obey God’s rules.
The Question about Resurrection
The Sadducees who did not believe in resurrection tempted Jesus with another question. They wanted to know this. When resurrection comes, who shall be the husband to a woman who was married to the first brother and inherited as a widow by the other six brothers?
Jesus told them the men and women who shall be worthy of resurrection shall not marry. They shall be like angels and cannot die (verse 34 to 38)
Jesus warns against the Teachers of the law
Jesus warned his disciples. Be careful and guard yourselves against teachers of the law, the scribes. They were hypocritical. They wore long robes, said long prayers, looked for positions of honor and exploited the widows.
The Widow’s Offering. Luke, 21: 1- 4
When people were giving offerings in the temple, a widow gave “two little copper coins”. Jesus said the
poor widow had given all she had. Likewise Christians should give to God not to be seen but from their hearts. It is not the quantity of the gift that matters but the attitude of the giver.
LESSON THREE: THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS ABOUT ESCHATOLOGY LK. 21: 5 – 38
Eschatology is from two Greek words, ‘eschatus’ and ‘logos’. Eschatus means end, Logos means study.
Eschatology means the study of the end times or in CRE the last days of Jesus. For biblical information, read Luke 21:5-38 and Mathew 24: 1 – 36 and Mark 13:1-31.
Learning outcomes.
After this lesson, you should:
- Identify signs of end times
- State uses of the temple during the time of Jesus
- Discuss ways in which Christians can apply the parable of the fig tree
- State relevance of Jesus’ teachings on eschatology
- Signs of the end times. Jesus gave many signs that will inform
Christians that end of the time has come. These were to happen at different times. The signs were:
- Destruction of the temple of Jerusalem by invading armies which shall surrounded it
- Hatred of disciples and Christians because they were followers of Christ
- Rejection of disciples by families because they were followers of Christ
- Betrayal of the followers of Christ
- Prosecution and imprisonment of Christians.
- Many false messiahs. People would come claiming to be the Messiah, the Son God
- Wars as nation rise against nations
- Eruption of natural calamities such as plagues, earthquakes, famines, great fear among people.
- Disruption in the sky and seas. Fall of strange heavenly beings from the sky and rise of seas.
- Natural calamities such as earthquakes, plagues, famines bringing despair and distress in all nations
- The times shall be announced by signs in the stars, moon, sun and sea
- Appear of the ‘Son of man ‘ in power and glory at the end of times.
Uses of the temple during the time of Jesus
During the time of Jesus, the temple was used for
- Child dedication
- Circumcision
- Purification
- Trading and business centre
- Worshiping and prayer
- a place for celebrating festivals such as the Passover and other major feasts
- a learning centre or school for religious purposes. For example disciples of the scribes learnt law in the temple.
The destruction of the temple symbolized the birth of Christianity. From that time Christians became the new temple of God.
The parable of the fig tree Lk.21: 29 – 33
Jesus used the parable of the fig tree to explain more about the end times. Appearance of leaves in the fig tree and other trees inform us that summer will soon come. When Christians see signs of the end times, they should know that the kingdom of God is about to come. Jesus told disciples to be watchful, alert, and praying for strength to endure the coming tribulations. See the previous teachings on watchfulness and readiness. Christians are to watch out and be ready for the end times.
Relevance of Jesus’ teachings on eschatology
These teachings assure and continue to tell Christians these messages from Jesus:
- There is life after death
- Christ will return to receive the faithful
- Christians are to be watchful, prayerful, and hopeful despite trials and tribulations
- Christians are assured of God’s protection from evil.
- Christians should prepare for the coming of Christ by leading a righteous life
- Do not lose hope
- Do not be pre occupied with the cares of this would for they never end
- Preach and spread the word of God
- Obey God’s commandment
- Help the needy
Revision questions
- Describe Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem according to Luke chapter 19:29- 30
- What does the manner of Jesus entry into Jerusalem reveal about the nature of his kingdom?
- What lessons can Christians learn from Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem
- State and explain why Jesus wept over Jerusalem
- Explain the cleansing of the temple
- Give reasons why Jesus cleansed the temple of Jerusalem
- What lessons can Christians learn from the cleansing of the temple?
- Explain Jesus’ conflict with the Jewish leaders
- Describe the parable of the tenants in the vineyard
- Explain the relevance of the parable of the of tenants in the vineyard
- Explain the question about paying taxes
- Explain the question about the resurrection
- What is eschatology?
- What will happen at the end of the world (eschatology) according to Jesus’ teaching in Luke’s gospel 21; 5-38
- How do Christians prepare for the second coming of Christ?
