Ben Wilson

So after Jesus has healed the sick who have come to see him, he takes what little food they have, five loaves of bread and two fishes, and he blesses it and puts it into baskets and tells the disciples to go feed it to the people. And miraculously, the loaves and fishes keep replenishing and 5,000 people are fed from these few loaves and fishes.

It is after this incident that Jesus walks on water in the midst of a storm, causes Peter to walk on water for a brief period of time as well. And then he performs the same feeding miracle again, except this time he feeds 4,000 people with seven loaves and a few fishes. Okay, this marks the beginning of Jesus' preparation for the end.

It is after this incident that Jesus walks on water in the midst of a storm, causes Peter to walk on water for a brief period of time as well. And then he performs the same feeding miracle again, except this time he feeds 4,000 people with seven loaves and a few fishes. Okay, this marks the beginning of Jesus' preparation for the end.

He now begins to speak more openly to his disciples of who he is. He asks them who people say he is. And then he asks them who they, his disciples, think he is. And his foremost apostle, sort of number two, Simon Peter, answers, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus acknowledges that he's correct.

He now begins to speak more openly to his disciples of who he is. He asks them who people say he is. And then he asks them who they, his disciples, think he is. And his foremost apostle, sort of number two, Simon Peter, answers, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus acknowledges that he's correct.

And this is actually the first time that he has acknowledged in the Gospels that he is the Messiah. Jesus in these last days tends to spend more time teaching his disciples rather than large crowds. It's as if he's trying to prepare them to be able to carry on the work in his absence, knowing that he will soon die.

And this is actually the first time that he has acknowledged in the Gospels that he is the Messiah. Jesus in these last days tends to spend more time teaching his disciples rather than large crowds. It's as if he's trying to prepare them to be able to carry on the work in his absence, knowing that he will soon die.

Along with his followers, Jesus travels from Galilee to Jerusalem, and he's received in Jerusalem at first with rapturous acclaim. It is a triumphant entry into the city. People spread their garments before him so that his mule doesn't have to tread on the ground, and they put palm fronds on the path before him, which was a celebratory thing.

Along with his followers, Jesus travels from Galilee to Jerusalem, and he's received in Jerusalem at first with rapturous acclaim. It is a triumphant entry into the city. People spread their garments before him so that his mule doesn't have to tread on the ground, and they put palm fronds on the path before him, which was a celebratory thing.

Even so, most of these people don't think of him as the Messiah. When they are asked by bystanders, who is this man? His supporters in Jerusalem. So these are not his close disciples, but just kind of more casual supporters. They respond, Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth, of Galilee. So he's popular with the people. One of the first things he does once he enters Jerusalem is go to the temple.

Even so, most of these people don't think of him as the Messiah. When they are asked by bystanders, who is this man? His supporters in Jerusalem. So these are not his close disciples, but just kind of more casual supporters. They respond, Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth, of Galilee. So he's popular with the people. One of the first things he does once he enters Jerusalem is go to the temple.

The temple was the center of Jewish worship. It was really the center of their world. It's hard to overemphasize how important the temple was, but it was also more than that. It was a symbol of the entire Herodian regime, meaning the regime of Herod and the Sadducees who supported him. N.T.

The temple was the center of Jewish worship. It was really the center of their world. It's hard to overemphasize how important the temple was, but it was also more than that. It was a symbol of the entire Herodian regime, meaning the regime of Herod and the Sadducees who supported him. N.T.

Wright says, The temple became de facto the cultic shrine organized by those who had made a somewhat unsteady peace with Rome. Okay. And Jesus considers these people illegitimate. He's trying to say that he is going to bring the kingdom of heaven, right? Not them. So here's what Jesus does.

Wright says, The temple became de facto the cultic shrine organized by those who had made a somewhat unsteady peace with Rome. Okay. And Jesus considers these people illegitimate. He's trying to say that he is going to bring the kingdom of heaven, right? Not them. So here's what Jesus does.

He goes to the temple and it says, quote, he began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple and overthrew the tables of the money changers and the seats of them that sold doves. and would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

He goes to the temple and it says, quote, he began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple and overthrew the tables of the money changers and the seats of them that sold doves. and would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him, for they feared him, because all the people were astonished at his doctrine.

And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him, for they feared him, because all the people were astonished at his doctrine.

Okay, so Jesus has struck a blow at the heart of Jewish worship, saying that it's illegitimate, that these people have made it a place for money changers and a den of thieves. And so from this point on, the Pharisees and Sadducees are now going into overdrive, thinking about how they can get rid of Jesus.