The Petrified Soul

Jesus appeared a number of times to His disciples after the resurrection. But He did not stay with them long. He would come and go. Jesus provided the strength and direction that they needed. But He was trying to get them used to operating without His physical presence.

Jesus had breathed on them, and the Holy Spirit had entered these first Christians. As Jesus said before His death, He would not always stay with them. He was going back to the Father. And the Holy Spirit would give them power and direction. The Holy Spirit would guide them in all truth.

It was under this new paradigm that the disciples were discovering what life was to be like. They were receiving new revelation and walking in a greater sense of spiritual awareness. But they still had a lot to learn. The Gospel itself was not clear to them. Many of the insights we now accept as common doctrine were developed under the Apostle Paul's ministry.

The disciples were trying to discover how to live without Jesus' physical presence. And they were attempting to understand what Jesus' message really was. These were Jews trying to grasp a new reality despite years of tradition and religious baggage.

Naturally, Simon did what he had always done before meeting Jesus. Simon went back to his nets. He went back to what he knew. They had to go on with their lives. Their reaction shows how hard it can be to get away from our past. It can be difficult to walk in the newness of life that God calls us to live.

Although this is not likely what Jesus had in mind for their future, He had compassion on them. Jesus did what He had always done. He met them where they were at and challenged them to where they should be.

Simon said, "I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing."

It's a good thing that Jesus called Simon to be an apostle because he didn't seem to always be a good fisherman. After toiling all night long, they caught nothing. These men must have been depressed. They must have felt like failures.

Everyone can relate with the sense of disillusionment that follows repeated failure. When you don't know what to do and nothing seems to work, that can be a difficult place to be.

Jesus showed up at just the right time and made the men breakfast. He served them at their point of need. He showed them how to be a success and what they had been doing wrong. They were fishing for the wrong thing. He confirmed their call to be fishers of men not fish.

Jesus stood on the shore and called out, "Children, you don't have any fish, do you" (NASB)?

The word here in the Greek is paidion {pahee-dee'-on}. It means a young child, one who is immature in his thinking. Other translations interpret the word as "friend" or "fellow." But it appears that Jesus is purposefully trying to draw attention to their lack of understanding. Some might think of this as even mocking them. As always, Jesus had a reason for talking to them like this. He wanted them to see that they had gone back to thinking like ordinary men and left the deeper understanding they had learned from Him.

Like any guy who is struggling with something, the men replied back with a one word answer, "No." They had not caught any fish. They probably weren't in a good mood and were wondering why this guy was bothering them. They could not see it was Jesus. And they didn't recognize His voice.

The stranger (Jesus) instructed them to put the nets on the other side of the boat. You can see these men wondering who this guy thinks he is. Why should they listen to him? This spot must be tapped out. There was no fish to be found. But they decided to take a change one last time.

The fishermen let down their nets and were surprised by the results. The catch was so big they struggled to haul it back to the boat. John immediately recognized by the miraculous catch that the man on the shore was Jesus. He said to Simon, "It is the Lord."

Sometimes we struggle to identify God working in something until we see something miraculous. Then we know it must be God.

Simon did what he always did. He acted impulsively. He wanted to be with Jesus, and He was not willing to wait on the boat to get to shore. Simon was naked in the boat as he worked. He immediately put on his fisher's coat and jumped into the water. Simon swam as fast as he could to get to Jesus. He didn't beat the others to the shore by much because the boat was only 100 yards from land.

When they got ashore, they saw a fire of burning coals with fish on it and some bread. Jesus had made them breakfast. He wanted to refresh and to care for His beloved disciples.

Jesus instructed them to bring some fish from the catch. Simon helped bring the nets in and did just what Jesus asked. It was like old times again. If only for a few moments, the world must have seemed right again to these men.

The net was full of large fish. Jesus always seemed to know how to do everything well. Despite the large catch, the net was not torn.

Nobody dared asked the stranger who he was. It was clear. Or was it? Somehow the Gospel accounts indicate that even those who knew Jesus well struggled to recognize Him after His resurrection. Maybe it was his resurrected, spiritual body. Maybe he physically looked different. Regardless, there was a touch of doubt mixed with faith.

Jesus distributed the food. This was the third time He had appeared to the disciples since He was raised from the dead. It was a reunion, a restoration and a homecoming. They came back to where it all started to go forward to the next horizon. The disciples and Jesus had spent many great moments along these shores. And now was the time for the disciples to begin to enter into their own season of ministry.

While the disciples were locked up in a house hiding from the Jewish leaders, Jesus appeared to them. Jesus somehow came and manifested himself in the midst of them. Jesus' entrance shocked them. The door was locked. The Gospel of Luke records that they were terrified and assumed that they were seeing a spirit.

Seeking to reassure His beloved disciples, Jesus spoke words of peace to them. Jesus wanted them to see and know that He was real. He showed them his hands, feet and side.

At first these men didn't believe it was really Jesus. They were amazed and not sure what to make of the situation. Jesus asked for something to eat and ate in their presence. These men were glad when they finally believed it was really Jesus.

As Jesus expounded on the Jewish Scriptures and explained how the recent events fulfilled prophecy, the disciples' eyes were opened to the spiritually reality they had not understood.

Then Jesus did something profound. He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Ghost." At that moment, these men were filled with the Holy Spirit and transformed. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross made it possible for the disciples to become pure to the point that God's Spirit could take up residence inside them. They became the first human temples - the fullness of what God had intended all along.

Jesus instructed them on their new power and position. He was calling them to carry the Gospel to others. They carried words of life and freedom from sin. By simply deciding who to share the message with, they were deciding who would receive forgiveness and who would not. We carry this same responsibility today because God has called us to be his messengers. Our silence can condemn others to a destiny of destruction and damnation.

Jesus said to His disciples, "If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven" (NIV).

Just as suddenly as Jesus appeared, He vanished. The disciples were left trying to make sense of Jesus' words, His appearance and their future.

Losing someone close to you can cause shock and even leave permanent scars. Sometimes it can be hard to recover from a deep, personal lose. The grieving process can take years. Imagine if you watched someone die who had inspired you like nobody else in the world. Imagine if you lost your best friend and teacher. What if you had seen him die a gruesome death at the hands of evil men? What if you worried about suffering the same fate?

If Simon was confused during the trial, how would he feel after Jesus died? Guilt, shame and confusion must have flooded his mind. Jesus' death changed everything. As long as Jesus was alive, there was hope. Maybe a group would help set Him free. But once He died. That was it. Or was it?

What about Jesus' promise about raising from the dead? Jesus predicted everything. But Simon did not want to hear it because the reality was beyond what he could bear. It didn't make sense. He was learning the lesson that God's ways are indeed hire and harder to understand than the ways of man.

Personally, Simon must have found it hard to live with himself. His last moment with Jesus was a word of betrayal followed by Jesus' look of love. Simon had denied Jesus at His lowest moment. He failed to be there when Jesus needed him the most.

The morning after Jesus died good news came to Simon. What was he to make of it? Mary Magdalene and other women visited Jesus' tomb only to discover it empty. The guards were gone, and the stone had been rolled away. They at first though someone had stolen the body and reported this to the disciples.

Simon decided to go to the tomb. He had to see for himself. He and John both ran to the tomb. John got there first and waited to go in. Simon looked inside and saw an empty tomb. All he saw were linen grave clothes laying by themselves. The Gospel of Luke records that Simon departed and wondered in himself what had happened.

Although the events of the day are not completely clear, it appears that Mary Magdalene returned later in the day. An angelic messenger appeared to her and some other women. The angel said, "Tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you."

Jesus met Mary Magdalene in the garden and confirmed this word to her. She and the other women went and told of their experience to the disciples. The promise of seeing Jesus must have encouraged the disciples. But they couldn't overcome the reality of what had just happened. They stayed locked in a house afraid of the Jewish leaders.

Understandably, the didn't want to get their hopes up or put themselves in danger. They were trying to cope with events of the last few days and were looking for answers.

Simon must have wondered if Jesus were indeed risen. He had seen the grave clothes. Mary seemed sure of seeing Jesus and hearing from an angel. But what if she was only imaging things.

Simon was about to have his answer.

After seeing Jesus simply yield to the guards, it can be easy to understand how Simon would have been confused. He likely had a thousand things going through his fragile mind. He had to be questioning everything now?

Would Jesus break free? If put on trial, would Jesus be found not guilty? Would Jesus die or be imprisoned? Was He not really the Messiah? Why didn't Jesus fight?

How does all of this fit into what Jesus had predicted about His death and resurrection? Was resurrection even possible? Jesus had brought others back from the dead. Could He do it for Himself?

Simon may have felt somewhat betrayed. Jesus was always a mystery in some ways. But this was too much. Simon had been close to the man for about three years. Yet He never expected this.

Simon followed the crowd holding Jesus from afar off. They took Jesus into the high priest's palace. Simon went in the court yard and sat with the servants. He wanted to see the end.

Simon kept his distance because he did not want to be discovered. He certainly didn't want to be on trial with Jesus. Yet, he had to know what would happen. Not only for his own peace of mind, but for the sake of the others too. As a leader of the group, the other men would look to him for answers. And he probably didn't have many at that point.

It can be difficult to piece together exactly what happened next. The Gospels provide different details and are written to different audiences. One thing is sure, Simon was not the rock that Jesus was through the entire ordeal. Jesus responded in calm, spirit-led actions. Simon responded from his soul, doing whatever necessary to save his neck. Jesus acted from purpose. Simon reacted from confusion.

Simon may have made a number of denials that night. All of them may not have been recorded in Scripture. Terror-stricken and anxious to clear his name, Simon likely repeated his denial a number of times to different people.

The soldiers first took Jesus to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time. Annas was the previous high priest. He was removed from power by the Romans in A.D. 15. Many Jews still considered Annas the true high priest. It isn't clear why the soldiers took Jesus there first. But they did. Maybe it was an initial interrogation to see what Annas could get out of Jesus before the entire Sanhedrin heard the accusations.

The soldiers then take Jesus to Caiaphas' house. It appears the entire Sanhedrin, all the Jewish religious leaders, were gathered for the trial. The entire scene would have seemed out of place to the Jews. First, trials did not take place at night under the cover of darkness. Unless the leaders wanted to keep everything secret, a trial would not have taken place at the high priest's house.

The trial took place on the eve of a festival day - not the best time for a trial. Normally, verdicts were not rendered on the same day as the trial. And the way the trial was carried out went against the customs of that day. It would have seemed like a mockery of justice. The thing that tipped the scales was Jesus' own words.

The high priest, who presided as the judge, asked Jesus a question based on his authority as high priest. Caiaphas said, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."

As a devout Jew, Jesus would have been legally required to answer the question since he was charged under a divine oath. Jesus affirmed that He is the Son of God. Caiaphas tore his priestly robes and declared that Jesus had spoken blasphemy. The other leaders called for Jesus' death.
According to the Gospel of John, Simon was not first allowed into the courtyard. Another disciple, who was known to the high priest, had to first go and make arrangement with the servant at the door. The attendant asked Simon if he was a disciple of Jesus. Simon replied, "I am not." This was the first denial.

Many scholars believe John was the other disciple with Jesus that night. Nobody knows for certain. He was certainly aware of what happened because his Gospel provides details missing from some of the other accounts. John also recorded it was cold that night. Servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Simon stood there too warming himself.

The high priest asked Jesus about His disciples and His teachings. This would have probably made Simon uncomfortable. Simon may have wondered even more if he would be discovered too. Jesus responded that He had always spoken openly and not in secret. He refused to defend himself or directly answer the charges. Instead, Jesus called on the high priest to question the witnesses and the people who heard what He had preached.

While getting warm around the fire, a servant girl asked Simon if he was one of Jesus' disciples. She claimed that she saw him with Jesus. Simon denied it again. He said, "I don't know Him." Others pointed out that Simon had a Galilean accent, which they claim signaled that He was likely a follower of Jesus.

Throughout the night, Simon denied having ties to Jesus. He called down curses on himself and swore that he did not know Jesus. A relative of the man whose ear Simon had cut off recognized him and said, "Didn't I see you with Jesus in the olive grove?"

The events of the night must have kept on coming back to haunt Simon. He must have thought, 'What if people recognize me as the guy with the sword?' Maybe Simon recognized the servant who was the relative of the person he had attacked. The story about the attack and the healing must have circulated around the crowd.

Upon his final denial, the cock crowd again. Jesus had predicted, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will disown me three times." A number of scholars have indicated that cocks were know to crow two times during the night. The first crowing occurs near midnight while the second take place hours later near daybreak. This interpretation means that Jesus was basically indicating Simon would deny Him before the next day begins.

The Gospel of Look paints a picture of how the moment must have broken Simon. Just as Simon was speaking his last denial, the rooster crowed. Jesus turned and looked at Simon. Then he remembered how Jesus had prophesied the denial. Simon left the courtyard and wept bitterly. Simon became aware of his own sin. While denying Jesus, Simon was focused on not getting caught. He was not aware of his sin. It appeared that he had forgotten the prophecy.

Simon became aware of his sin when Jesus looked at him. Something happens when our eyes catch those of the Lord. We see our failings how we fall short of His love. We don't feel worthy of His love. We can't look Him in the eye. Jesus' gaze of love breaks us. That is what happened at that moment. Simon had a rude awakening of his real self.

The Greek word used to describe how Jesus looked at Simon is "emblepo." This word means to look at with the mind, to consider. Jesus did not look at Simon with eyes of anger or even disappointment. His gaze broke Simon because it conveyed a sense of understanding. Jesus knew were Simon was in his heart and his actions. He had predicted what would happen. Even Jesus' gaze exuded a sense of love, mercy and forgiveness.

Maybe it was this look that let Simon knew everything would be Ok. Unlike Judas who had done the same sin as Simon, Simon eventually was restored. He did not hang himself and die in sin as Judas did. Simon was broken by his sin, but he was restored by Jesus' love and sacrifice on the cross.

When it came time for the guards to arrest Jesus, Simon was the only one who took action. He aggressively stepped up to defend Jesus. This might seem odd when you consider all the predictions that Jesus made about His death. But one must remember the political reality of that day.

Many people were looking for a political, possibly a military leader, to rise up and defeat the Romans. The Jews wanted freedom from the Romans, and some probably thought Jesus might be the guy to do it. Jesus presenting Himself as the Messiah would have certainly led some people to look to Him as a revolutionary leader. He talked about the Kingdom as He went from town to town.

Before being arrested, Jesus had cleansed the Temple by overthrowing tables and physically pushing the money changers out of the area. This was most certainly interpreted by some as a violent act. The Romans and religious leaders may have considered this the beginning of a revolt. It sure would have caused a stir around the Temple. Simon saw this act and maybe he remembered it as he rushed to defend His Lord.

Earlier in the day, the disciples had discussed with Jesus the issue of taking swords for protection. They could have been concerned about a backlash over the Temple cleansing or many of the other controversial things that Jesus had said and done. Given the amount of money involved in the Temple practices, Jesus' cleansing could have easily angered the wealthy rulers as well as the Romans, who wanted to keep peace at all costs.

Jesus had said things in the past that could have been viewed as the rhetoric of a revolutionary leader. He said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34).

These were the words of a fighter not a pacifist. Few would have ever though of Jesus as He was. Instead, most would have suspected He played the role of a miracle worker just to build up popular support before trying to lead a rebellion. Who would have thought that His Kingdom was really from another world? Who could have anticipated the spiritual battle taking place beyond the awareness of the physical world? Why would anyone think there could ever be victory in the cross?

The men who came for Jesus were ready for anything? They came with weapons ready to pounce and were likely surprised by Jesus' reaction. According to Matthew 26:55, Jesus said, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me."

The Gospel account in Luke records how Jesus admonished His disciples to sell their cloak to buy a sword. Then the disciples said that they had two swords. Jesus replied, "That is enough."

Obviously, two swords would not do much against the Roman army or even the High Priest's guards. Jesus' call to arms would make sense if He were leading a rebellion. But He wasn't. Jesus let the guards take Him without a fight. Besides, Jesus didn't need swords. He could have called on angelic warriors at any time He so desired.

Jesus' reply about two swords being enough is equally strange. Maybe Jesus knew the thoughts these men had about military conquest. It almost seems like Jesus was sarcastically appealing to their desires in the hopes to help them see how fruitless it would be. If that was His point, they didn't get it.

When the men approached Jesus, the disciples asked, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" Simon must not have waited for a response because he lept to action. Simon struck the servant of the high priest and cut his ear off. Instead of fight his way free, Jesus helped the enemy. He healed the man's ear and told Simon to sheath his sword.

Jesus said that those who take up the sword will die by the sword. Then He asked Peter, "The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?"

All the disciples ran and forsook Jesus after this. Mark records that a young disciple left his clothes and ran away naked to avoid being captured. They all fled when it became clear there would be no battle.

Simon was ready to die and fight for Jesus. He certainly was not a coward. When the guards rushed Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, Peter drew his sword. Battling like a hero in armed combat was one thing, but dying a painful and humiliating death on the cross was
quite another.

If you had been Simon, what would you have thought when Jesus told you to sheath your sword? The natural instinct is to fight not to just surrender, especially for a guy like Simon. Jesus had talked about a Kingdom. But when the time for action came, He folded and gave up. This would have been hard for Simon to understand. It certainly was not what he expected. Jesus' words and actions that night challenged everything he thought was right.

How could Jesus have gone down without a fight? What was the secret plan? Simon must have wondered what he was missing? None of it made sense.

Simon had to be close to Jesus. He felt lost without Him. But at this moment, Simon likely felt lost because of Him. He had to see what was going to happen. Whether it was curiosity or still His deep passion for Jesus, Simon followed at a safe distance.

From telling the disciples to buy swords to instructing Simon to put his weapon away, the events of the evening would have left the disciples confused, scared and somewhat in shock.

Simon never wanted to be far away from Jesus. From walking on water to cutting off a man's ear, he was the kind of guy who would do whatever it took to be with Jesus. Simon may not have understood a lot, but he knew that Jesus was the real deal. Life followed wherever Jesus went. Simon would rather die than live without Jesus.

During the Last Supper, Jesus mentioned that He was getting ready to go away and they could not follow where He was going. Simon wanted to know where Jesus was going.

Jesus responded, "Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards." This was not good enough for Simon. Maybe that would be OK for the others. He didn't want to wait.

Simon countered, "Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake."

It doesn't appear that Simon was putting on an act. In only a few short hours he would draw his sword to defend Jesus. He was ready to fight, but he was not ready for the cross. Not yet.

Simon still had too much of the world in him. He needed to be made new. Simon's response to the arrest showed that he still did not understand many of the upside down principles of God's Kingdom. The disciples could not follow Jesus because only He was able to bear the burden of the world's sin.

Seeing what would happen, Jesus told the truth. This must have deeply hurt Simon. Jesus told him what he needed to hear. In a strange way, Jesus' rebuke was an act of mercy. It let Simon know that Jesus understood what he would do and still loved him. Jesus said, "Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee, that they faith fail not, and when thou are converted, strengthen thy brethern."

Simon insisted that he would never deny Jesus even if all the others did. You can just see his voice rising as he stands to proclaim his loyalty. Simon's boast went away when Jesus let the mob take him without a fight. Simon was ready for a brawl but not a sacrifice.

Jesus' words to Simon show the mark of true love. He would not lie to Simon even though that would have been the best thing at the time for Simon's ego. Our own sense of self worth is not a high priority to God. Christians are called to find their identity in the words of God not the opinions of man or even our own track record. Jesus never shied away from tough words when they were necessary. He modeled out here the ability to speak the truth in love.

Jesus demonstrated his authority and awareness of the spiritual battles taking place over His disciples. He prayed for Simon and stood up against Satan on his behalf. He provided direction for Simon after his fall. Jesus knew the men's limitations. That is why He told them, "No." This little word is one of the hardest things to say to those we love. But sometimes it is the most loving thing we can say.

Many people worry about pretenses and social expectations. They are concerned about what is perceived to be proper by society. Jesus never seemed to care about those things much. He frequently went against social custom when He wanted to make a point or challenge His disciples. Jesus was never radical just to be radical. He lived each moment with purpose as the one sent to show the world the Father's love and usher in God's Kingdom on earth.

People's feet tended to get really dirty during first century Palestine. Most people walked everywhere they went. This included Jesus and His disciples. By the end of the day, their feet would be really disgusting. When people entered into a home, it was the custom for the host to provide for a servant to wash the guests. This distasteful task was generally delegated to the lowliest servant in the household, usually a slave.

Washing feet showed respect to the guest and refreshed the traveler. Jesus did this act because it appears that the host had failed to do it. Normally, feet would be washed as people entered a house. It almost certainly would have been done long before they would have eaten.

Jesus washed His disciples feet after dinner. He took the opportunity to demonstrate an object lesson on servant leadership. He set aside his garments and surrounded himself with a towel. Taking the position of a lowly servant, Jesus washed their feet. This would have likely caused the disciples to look around at each other wondering what Jesus was doing. His action was most improper. Simon was the only disciple to call Jesus on this fact.

Simon refused to let Jesus wash his feet. This may have been the most inappropriate act that Simon ever saw Jesus do. He could not let it stand. Jesus explained that Simon may not understand this act now, but he would later.

Simon still refused. He said, "You will never wash my feet."

Jesus responded just as strongly. He said, "If I wash thee not, thou has no part with me."

Hearing this, Simon did the only thing he could do. He asked for Jesus to wash all of him because he wanted to be completely with Christ. Jesus rejected this because it was not necessary. Then the Master asked the disciples to consider why He had done this act of service to them.

Jesus outlined a new leadership style - one that requires leaders to serve and lead by example. He called His disciples to wash each other's feet and to not worry about making power plays. Leaders in God's Kingdom realize that their authority comes from God. They are secure in who they are. They know who sent them. They lead from the front and are the type of person that others want to follow.

Jesus called His disciples to abandon the principles of worldly leadership and to be ambassadors of a better Kingdom. He did this in both word but in deed.

As the time of Passover drew near, the disciples wanted to know what Jesus planned to do during this special celebration. In typical Jesus form, He instructed two disciples to help make preparations. Jesus involved His disciples in the day-to-day work of ministry. Jesus never did everything for them. Jesus provided direction and power while calling them to take an active role.

This time, Jesus called Simon and John to go and make preparations. He gave them explicit instructions, which might have sounded a bit odd. Jesus did not give them an address of where they would be celebrating the Last Supper. Scholars debate the location and who might have owned the house. Many believe it was a follower of Jesus or possibly even a relative or friend of one of the disciples. Nobody knows for sure. It is curious that Jesus did not give Simon and John the name of someone to contact.

Rather Jesus gave them a sign to follow. These instructions required the men to have faith in the words of Jesus. He said, " Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. And wheresover he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, 'The Master saith, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?'"

Jesus told them what they would then find. And it happened exactly as He described it. Just like what happened in this story, God will provide direction for those who call Him, "Lord." While we may not have such detail, we will know if we are in the right place. Sometimes we will just have a small piece of information to work from to find the next step.

Simon and John were assigned to make the Passover preparations. This would have likely included taking the lamb to the Temple to be prepared for Passover. They would have gone back to the area where Jesus had recently cleansed the Temple. Maybe the area was still abuzz over what He had done.

At the very least, they would have seen the priests prepare the lamb. This act foreshadows what was about to happen to Jesus as he would be sacrificed on the cross for the sins of the world. The area would be covered in blood. A priest would have caught the blood from the dying lamb. The blood would have been sprinkled on the altar.

While this was going on, the Levites would have chanted Psalms. Imagine these words, "Save now, I beseech thee Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be He that cometh in the Name of the Lord."

These words may have sounded deeply significant to Simon and John. Their minds likely flooded with many of Jesus' sayings and predictions. I can imagine them trying to process His teachings and being overcome by a number of different thoughts. Would they think back to this as Jesus was hoisted onto a cross?

People tend to be easily impressed by big things. This is especially true of buildings and structures. During the time of Jesus' earthly ministry, the Temple was an impressive structure. One of the largest houses of worship in the world, Herod made it even bigger.

The craftsmanship of Herod’s temple was amazing. Each stone was quarried and chiseled miles away from the Temple Mount. Joints fit together perfectly. The stones were massive; some weighed up to 570 tons. Stones were up to 10.5 feet high, between 11 and 14 feet thick, and 45 feet long.

Considering what builders had to work with in those days, modern engineers marvel at the size and craftsmanship of Herod's Temple. It stood as a testimony to Herod’s drive, wealth and power.

Jesus' disciples took notice of the Temple's size. As they walked out of the Temple, a disciple said, "Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!"

Jesus wasn't impressed. He knew what was going to happen. His prophetic words must have been like a knife in the heart of his followers. The Temple was the center of Jewish society and culture. It was the house of God, where sacrifices took place. It was the bridge between God and the Jewish people. How could God allow it to be destroyed again?

Jesus said, "Seest thou these great buildings? There shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."

As Jesus spoke these words, the disciples must have been stunned. They waited to privately ask him about this prediction. Maybe Jesus' words were a parable. Simon and a few others approached Him wanting an explanation. They wanted to understand His words and what would be the sign of their fulfillment.

Jesus then delivered a strong warning about the destruction of the Temple, the great tribulation and Christ's second return. Jesus spoke of a great deception. He talked about wars, famine, earthquakes, and persecution for His followers. As if the destruction of the Temple was not enough, Jesus spoke about a time when everything would be in chaos. Although necessary, this warning must have been hard for them to hear. These men had a role to play in bringing God's Kingdom to earth.

Just like the stones of the Temple, each believer has a unique place in God’s Kingdom. God has carefully shaped each of us, fitting us together in a way that strengthens our communities. Unlike the Temple stones built for Herod’s glory, the spiritual house of God’s children will last forever.

The Jews and the Temple were meant to be a light of God’s love to the world. Instead, they lost the focus of their mission. They began to use the Temple for their own ends. The leaders became proud and exploited even their own people.

God allowed the Temple to be destroyed because He was doing a new work. Jesus ushered in the Kingdom of God and a new reality. There no longer needed to be sacrifices. Jesus took care of that on the cross.

The Temple would no longer be confined to one place. Instead, the Temple became the people of God not a building. God made the human heart filled with the Holy Spirit as His new house.

If Herod's Temple still stood, many people would be tempted to worship it instead of God. The Temple was destroyed so that people could experience the fullness of God's glory on the earth as they became the place where God's Spirit rests.

Every space is sacred ground when you are the Temple. This reality changes everything. It causes every new day, every conversation, and every challenge to have a sense of spiritual significance. There is no such thing as sacred vs. secular. Everything becomes spiritual for those who walk in the Spirit. This does not cheapen what it means for something to be of the spirit. No, it elevates every moment to be a time when you experience oneness with God.

Simon came to understand this spiritual reality. He wrote, "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ...Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."

Knowing what was about to happen, Jesus must have been under tremendous strain as his arrest approached. He went to a place that had been an oasis for Him. During this time of extreme stress, Jesus turned to the Father in prayer.

Interestingly, the garden of Gethsemane was known for its olive trees. Just like the pressure of olives in a press, Jesus was emotionally crushed. He was overcome by sorrow and the burden of His mission. Jesus said to Simon, James and John, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me."

The time when he needed His disciples the most, their humanity failed Him. They were there, but they could not understand His burden. Overcome by exhaustion, they could not stay up with Him to pray even one hour.

Everyone knows the agony of times when we struggle to stay awake to help a friend. Sometimes despite our best effort, we fall asleep. Even those closest to Jesus could not help Him in this hour.

Jesus went a bit further, fell on His face and prayed. He asked the Father to let this burden pass is possible. Ultimately, Jesus prayed that God's will be done. In the key moment, Jesus submitted to the will of His Father. He not only demonstrated submission. He also took responsibility for cleaning up a mess He had not made.

Can you image how Jesus must have felt to return to see His closest followers asleep. He told them how deeps was His sorrow. All He asked was for them to pray and stand with Him for one hour. These were the same men who pledged to die for Him. These were the men He was getting ready to die a horrible death to save. It could have been easy for Jesus to judge them. But He loved these men and understood their limitations. Yet He still challenged them to press beyond their physical limits.

Jesus asked, "Simon, what could ye not watch with me one hour?"

Jesus challenged Simon to be on his guard and to pray. In a few words Jesus accurately described the human condition. Simon is a great example of zeal without power. Jesus said about Simon, "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

This happened not once but three times. Jesus from prayer to find His disciples asleep. Their eyes were heavy. The Gospel of Mark indicates that they did not know how to answer Jesus' rebuke.

Being in agony, Jesus prayed and sweated drops like blood. God sent an angel to minister to Jesus. This strengthened Jesus as His time drew near.

The final time that Jesus approached His disciples, He encouraged them to sleep on as if to say that He understood why they were overcome by weakness. Even in a time of extreme stress, Jesus showed love to His disciples.

Jesus knew how to turn any situation into a teachable moment. During the last week of His life, Jesus did this with a simple fig tree. While going from Bethany to Jerusalem, Jesus was hungry. He spotted a fig tree with leaves on it. He approached the tree as if He expected to find something to eat on it. But Jesus was surprised to find the tree full of leaves with no fruit.

Fig trees are known to always produce fruit before leaves appear. Even though it was not yet the season for figs, this tree appeared to be in full bloom. But there was no fruit to be found. There was neither old nor new fruit.

At the very least, Jesus should have expected to see a small crop of knobs that were not real figs but forerunners that grew to the size of green almonds. These tend to be eaten by hungry peasants. Called taqsh, these are a sign of the fully formed appearance of true figs some six weeks later. If leaves appear without any taqsh, that is a sign the tree will not produce any fruit later in the season.

Jesus recognized that this tree was not living up to its purpose. Even though it looked healthy, it was not. A tree that does not bear fruit goes against the design of nature. In Genesis, the Scriptures indicate that God instructed trees to bring forth fruit after its kind. Fruit is necessary for new life and the natural process.

This unfruitful tree was a lesson to the disciples and to us today. Trees that do not bear fruit will be cut down and cast into the fire. These trees are in rebellion against God's design and His plan. These are not good trees.

Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, the fig tree stands as a symbol of Israel and in some cases Jerusalem itself. God had intended the Jews and His temple to be a light to the world. They were supposed to declare God's glory among the nations and draw all men to repentance. Instead, they had become unfruitful like the fig tree in this story. They missed the time of God's coming. The Temple had been corrupted and needed to be cleansed. Obviously, this must have been on Jesus' mind as He approached Jerusalem. Late that day, Jesus overturned the tables and cast the money changers out of the Temple.

The fig tree offered more than just a civics lesson on Israel. It provided a faith lesson for Jesus' disciples. Jesus spoke to the tree and put a curse on it. The tree withered and died. The next time they passed that way, Simon noticed the tree. He pointed out that it had withered away. They were amazed at how quickly the tree had died.

Jesus said, "Verily, I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this, which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer,
believing, ye shall receive."

On the surface, the lesson seems hard to believe. Jesus beckoned the disciples to accept a reality beyond what they could see. He called them to accept something far greater than what they can do on their own. The key is to believe.

Since their initial interactions, Jesus has dared the disciples to believe in the power of God within them. Jesus had great faith in His disciples because He trusted the Father. More than simply trust God, Jesus called the disciples to trust God in them, the hope of glory.

When you understand the culture of Simon's day, the words of Jesus take on a political reality that would have seemed impossible. Jesus spoke about the ability to move mountains. What if he was talking about a literal mountain not just some theoretical concept? Beyond the shear physical size of the task, what if the mountain Jesus spoke about was a sign of worldly power?

Pilgrims going to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday from Bethany would have walked over the Mount of Olives. On a clear day, you can see both the Herodian to the south and the Dead Sea to the east.

The Herodion, a man-made mountain fortress built by Herod the Great, was built on the location where he won a decisive battle over the Hasmonaeans to become the king of the Jews. The huge fortress was built by excavating one mountain and using the material to build another. It was such a great feat of engineering that it was said of Herod that he could literally "move mountains."

The entire palace complex covered nearly fifty acres, making it one of the largest palace complexes in the ancient world. Originally, it was seven stories high, with an eastern tower that stood more than 40 feet higher.

Jesus standing on the Mount of Olives used Herod's mountain to make a point. The kingdom of God is stronger than the kingdom's of men. It's as if Jesus looked at the fig tree and said, "That's nothing. You have the power to stand up to evil rulers, even cruel Herod." Jesus was teaching them about their authority and His power.

At first Jesus' statement about moving a mountain may not make sense. But when you understand the political reality behind what He said, the true message becomes clear. Jesus knew Him time was short, and His disciples would need encouragement to stand up against the religious leader, Herod and even Rome.

Jesus appeared to keep raising the bar as He taught. Just when He had said something that seemed impossible to accept, He would come out with something even more difficult.

Earlier in the passage, Jesus challenged the disciples' view of importance by proclaiming a little child as closer to entry into God's kingdom than a mature adult. In those days, children were loved by parents, but they were not valued by society. Jesus challenged the prevailing world view by His illustration.

Then Jesus taught on forgiveness, which sparked a very good question by Simon. Jesus outlined acceptable guidelines for forgiving others. Simon asked, "Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Some historical accounts record that the standard teaching within Judaism during that day was three instances of forgiveness demonstrated a forgiving spirit. Some rabbis may have called for four times. Simon doubled the common standard and added another instance just to be generous. Surely, that would be enough.

Jesus must have surprised Simon when He said, "Not seven times, but seventy times seven." That's a lot of forgiveness. The point seems to be that we should not keep score. Instead, God's people should be known for limitless forgiveness for those who are truly sorry. Developing a heart attitude of forgiveness should be the hallmark of God's people.

Jesus went on to tell a parable about a servant who was forgiven a huge debt by a king and then later demanded payment from another person who owed him a small debt. The servant demonstrated no real mercy and had the person with the small debt thrown in prison. The king heard about what had happened and then had the unforgiving servant thrown in prison.

Jesus compared us to the unforgiving servant compared to the great mercy shown all men by God. He said that we would all be treated the same was as the merciless servant unless we forgive others from our heart. While this may seem impossible, we must realize that Jesus never preached a lifestyle He expected people to be able to do on their own. The very work of God's people requires God's help and spirit to accomplish.

The wicked servant lacked mercy because he forget how great a debt he had been been forgiven. When we come to understand our guilt and sin before God, we are much more likely to forgive others who harm us. Christians must come to the point that they see the heinousness of their sin and their responsibility for killing Jesus, God's beloved Son. When we know ourselves as truly corrupted by sin, we see that we are all in the same boat.

Forgiving God from the heart seems even more difficult than just mumbling mere words. In some cases, such as a violent crime or deep betrayal, this might seem impossible if it were not for God's power. Forgiveness is important for both the guilty person and the person who has been wronged. It begins the road of restoration and allows healing for all involved. Sometimes when we end up forgiving someone, we become the one who gets set free from pain and bitterness.

Ultimately, Simon learned that the key to God's grace to flow to his life is that he extend that same love and mercy to others. This is among the most important lessons that Jesus taught Simon.

Christ's disciples were never meant to just gather God's blessings for themselves. They were supposed to be vessels that God used to bring blessing on the whole world. This is the message that many Jews had forgotten. Their way of life was never meant to be just for them. They were to be a bright light to the darkness around them.

May the Church today not lose sight of this principle! God has blessed us so that we can share His love with the whole world.