25-1214p - Detailed Summary

Jim explains that the morning sermon covered Old Testament lessons from ancient Jericho, including pre-incarnate Jesus' interventions to protect Israel and his lineage. This evening focuses on events in and near Jericho during the final days of Jesus' life before the cross. About five days before his last Passover, Jesus and his disciples pass through Jericho, where Jesus demonstrates intimate knowledge of its history and performs unique miracles. It is here that Jesus, for the third time, plainly tells his disciples what awaits him in Jerusalem.

Jim quotes Mark 10:32-34. The disciples follow Jesus toward Jerusalem in amazement and fear as he leads resolutely ahead. Jesus takes the twelve aside and declares that the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes, condemned to death, handed over to the Gentiles, mocked, scourged, spat upon, killed, and rise on the third day.

The disciples are in awe of Jesus, whose face is set like flint toward Jerusalem. Jesus is determined to become the perfect sacrificial Lamb of God, fulfilling his mission to redeem mankind from sin.

As Jesus enters Jericho, two blind men, including Bartimaeus, cry out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" despite the crowd’s rebukes. Bartimaeus persists louder. Jesus stops, calls him forward, and asks what he wants. Bartimaeus addresses him as Rabboni—meaning "my great master"—and asks to regain sight. Jesus restores their vision instantly, declaring, "Your faith has made you well." Their first sight is Jesus himself. Both men, now seeing, praise God and follow him, joined by the witnessing crowd.

Crowds gather in Jericho to see Jesus. Zacchaeus, a short chief tax collector, climbs a sycamore tree for a view. Jesus looks up, calls him by name, and says he must stay at his house today. Zacchaeus gladly obeys. Critics murmur that Jesus guests with a sinner. Moved by Jesus' kindness, Zacchaeus repents immediately, pledging half his possessions to the poor and fourfold restitution to those he defrauded. Jesus declares salvation has come to this house, for Zacchaeus is a son of Abraham, and the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.

The next day, Sunday, Jesus and the disciples leave Zacchaeus' home for the 15-mile walk to Jerusalem, arriving late near Bethany by the Mount of Olives. Jesus sends two disciples to fetch an unridden colt, instructing them on what to say if questioned. He rides it into Jerusalem as King, fulfilling tradition for sacred purposes and royal entry, as David and Solomon rode donkeys. Crowds spread garments and palm branches, shouting "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" This marks Palm Sunday, beginning the four-day public display of the spotless Passover lamb—foreshadowing Jesus himself.

Jesus enters the temple, observes its state, but departs for Bethany as evening approaches, likely staying with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Monday morning, returning from Bethany, Jesus hungers and spots a leafy fig tree afar. Expecting early fruit near Passover season, he finds none—only leaves—and curses it: "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." The disciples hear this.

In Jerusalem, Jesus drives out buyers, sellers, and money changers, overturning tables and dove sellers' seats, forbidding merchandise through the temple. With zeal for his Father’s house, he declares it should be a house of prayer for all nations, not a den of robbers. He teaches there throughout the day. Evening comes, and they leave the city.

Tuesday morning, en route to Jerusalem, Peter points out the fig tree withered from the roots. Jim explains this as a real-time object lesson. In Jericho, Jesus gave sight to blind men who then praised God and bore fruit. To Zacchaeus, Jesus brought living water, transforming a barren life into fruitful salvation. Believers must bear fruit for God, or risk being cursed and lost. Meditating on God’s word day and night leaves little room for worldly pursuits; priorities shift to prayer, study, obedience, worship, and good deeds that glorify God.

Pursuing God transforms believers into his image, inevitably producing fruit. God meets needs when trust is placed in him. Fruit takes time to appear, as trees mature over years. Psalm 1 likens the godly to trees planted by streams, yielding fruit in season, leaves not withering, prospering in all. Deep roots withstand floods; faith in God endures life’s torrents, emerging stronger. The Spirit shapes believers into God’s image, producing good fruit and resilience against storms.

Believers must avoid reverting to old sinful ways or producing no/bad fruit. This is Jesus' only recorded curse, teaching that God expects fruit as evidence of Spirit-led life. Christ judges living and dead, holding keys of life and death. In John 15:1-8, Jesus describes himself as the true vine, Father as vinedresser, believers as branches. Fruitless branches are removed; fruitful ones pruned for more fruit. Abiding in Christ produces much fruit; apart from him, nothing. Non-abiders wither, are gathered, and burned. Abiding brings answered prayer and glorifies God, proving discipleship.

Without fruit, or with bad fruit, believers risk eternal loss—repent immediately if this describes you. Jericho stories show the wicked can repent and live, the disobedient become fruitful. God expects fruitfulness. Romans 11:22 warns of God’s kindness to those continuing in it, severity to those cut off. "Once saved, always saved" is refuted; Christians can fall. Encourage one another to persevere. Jim closes with blessing and offers the invitation, inviting needs for prayer as the congregation stands to sing.