For two days straight Jesus has made headlines in Jerusalem. On Sunday, he paraded into town like a king. Yesterday, Jesus acted like one. Every act was calculated to open the minds of the Jewish religious elite to understand WHO He was and what to expect was COMING next.

Surprisingly, Jesus was back in Jerusalem on Tuesday to teach, explain, debate, and challenge. Just 24 hours earlier, this Jewish guru cursed a fig tree and unleashed a holy fit in the temple courts.

Today, Jesus matched wits with the religious elite to indict the scribes and lawyers, legalistic Pharisees and liberal Sadducees. Like yesterday, Jesus was looking for fruit and called both sides to account. He revealed their interpretive errors on culturally divisive issues like marriage, resurrection, taxes, and authority.

His final judgment on these Ph.Ds in theology and law? "They know neither the Scriptures nor the Power of God  (Matthew 22:29)." Their "fruit" was ignorance, guilt, and shame.

Jesus used parables to put these Jewish sects directly in opposition to the TRUE KINGDOM OF GOD. There were TWO SONS: one who acted righteous and was not, the other who recognized his sin and obeyed (Matthew 21:28-32:). There's a VINEYARD rented to tenants who killed the landlord's slaves and son (Matthew 21:33-46). There's a WEDDING FEAST invitation that the elite guests ignore, who then kill the messenger (Matthew 22:1-14).

It's a stunning day of debate in which Jesus schooled the schooled. He silenced these theologians and lawyers to the point that "no one dared to ask him any more questions" (Matthew 22:46).

But Jesus wasn't done. He then leveled a holy rebuke on the Pharisees. They were arrogant hypocrites, blind guides, whitewashed tombs, murderers and vipers (Matthew 23). Then Jesus closed his case with a "desolate curse" upon the Jerusalem temple (Matthew 23:38, Daniel 9:27).

As Jesus departed Jerusalem at sunset, his disciples marveled at the temple's beauty. Josephus reportedly mentioned how the great white sandstones that compose the temple, especially in the setting sun, would light up the temple with blinding beauty. Jesus then prophesied the temple was destined for destruction. Then his disciples asked for the "sign" of his coming. Note it's singular, not plural. Jesus will give them many "signs" to show its destruction is close (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21), but THE SIGN is most clearly stated by Luke: "When you see the armies surrounding Jerusalem, you will know its desolation is near (Luke 21:20)." That's THE SIGN. When you see Jerusalem surrounded by the enemy. 

And in the spring of 70 A.D., that's exactly what happened. Since 66 A.D., Nero had waged war on the Jews with the intent to destroy the entire race. For three and a half years his armies worked their way through Judea and finally arrived at Jerusalem. Like a python, they slowly began to squeeze the city of its food, water, military protection, and other essential resources. During the summer of 69 A.D., Rome moved in strong on Jerusalem. By August, Roman soldiers were inside the city and by mid-September "not one stone was left on another," except one outer wall (now known known as the "wailing wall"). 

Roman armies ransacked, plundered and desecrated their holy city and temple. Jesus called it. And it happened right on time. Their generation did not pass away until it ALL occurred (Matthew 24:34).

JESUS WAS BRINGING A "NEW KINGDOM" AND A "NEW JERUSALEM" (THROUGH A NEW COVENANT).

On Saturday, Jesus was royally anointed. On Sunday, he entered Jerusalem as king. On Monday, he cursed a fig tree and expelled temple money changers (his first act as king). On Tuesday, his final day in the temple courts, he schooled the righteous elite and cursed their temple for destruction. THE END WAS COMING.

It begs a question: IS YOUR RELIGION A PRISON OR PLATITUDE?

We all follow someone or something. Many follow a religion. Many more follow their culture. And yet the few who find Truth, Peace, Joy and Life...follow the King Jesus.

Do you believe it?