THE KING’S TABLE
HOLY CONSECRATION 2024
Dates: Wednesday, February 14, 2024 until Sunday, March 31, 2024
45 Days of Consecration is designed to help us grow in our relationship with God and become better in body, mind, soul and spirit. It includes fasting, daily prayer, scripture readings.
Theme: "STAYING FOCUSED ON GOD"
Week #6 The King's Table - Following Jesus During His Last Week before the Crucifixion
On Palm Sunday, six days before the crucifixion, Jesus made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey as prophesied in Zachariah 9:9:
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Both the Old Testament prophecy and Jesus’s fulfillment are chronicled in all four Gospels (Matthew 21:1-9; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19). READ EACH GOSPEL
The Triumphal Entry
21:1-9 “Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
“Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
So, the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!” That evening, Jesus made His way back over the Mount of Olives to the village of Bethany and the home of his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Throughout His ministry, He often chose to stay with His closest friends. Their home was one of those. Each evening during His last week, Jesus slept at their home (Mark 11:11; Luke 19:37).
ACTVITY: Read the rest of the chapters.
Day 1 - MONDAY
In the morning, Jesus cursed the out-of-season fig tree for having no figs. That seems fair. However, it was really symbolic. In the Old Testament figs represented the nation of Israel. Jesus was declaring that the nation of Israel had become spiritually bankrupt. Israel was dead out of season.
The Fig Tree Withered
Matthew 21:18-22 “Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.
The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree
And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”
So, Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.
Mark 11:12-14 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
Read Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-19: Luke 19:45-46
Then, in the afternoon, Jesus entered Jerusalem and cleansed the Temple. The temple courts had devolved into a marketplace for the buying and selling of animals to be sacrificed on the Temple altar. There, moneychangers plied their cheating trade. What was once a sacred place had become a pigsty.
Jesus was incensed: “This is my father’s house and you have made it a den of thieves”,
ACTVITY:
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Describe what Jesus saw as he entered the Temple and how that made him feel?
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What are some of the emotions you imagined Jesus feeling that you could relate to?
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How did Jesus react to what He saw?
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What did He do immediately? What did He call the Temple?
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How do you think it felt for worshippers coming to the Lord’s House to worship and sacrifice?
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Have you ever experienced anything like Jesus experienced, at home, school, work, church? Journal it.
Day 3 - Tuesday was a busy day.
Jesus spent all day in Jerusalem sparring with religious leaders, teaching parables, and healing the sick.
He taught the Parables of the Great Supper, the Good and Wicked Servants, the Ten Virgins, the Two Sons, The Owner of the Vineyard, The Wedding Banquet, and the Ten Talents
The Authority of Jesus Challenged
Matthew 21:23-29
“When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”
“I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?”
They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn’t believe John. But if we say it was merely human, we’ll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.” So they finally replied, “We don’t know.”
And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.
THOUGHT: In Jesus’s time as in our time people look for the outward sign of authority – education, title, position, connections. But Jesus’ authority cam from who he was, not from any outward and superficial trappings. As followers of Christ, God has given us authority – we can confidently speak and act on his behalf because He has authorized us!
ACTIVITY: Are you using you authority and how? Give an example/
Parable of the Two Sons
“But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go.
“Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied, “The first.”
Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.
ACTVITY: Reflection- It is dangerous to pretend to obey God when our hearts are far from Him because God knows our true intentions. Our actions must match our words. Have you ever obeyed God, but your heart wasn’t right? Did you feel God was pleased with you service?
Parable of the Evil Farmers
Matthew 21:33-46 “Now listen to another story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. At the time of the grape harvest, he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop. But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same.
“Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’
“But when the tenant farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ So they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him.
ACTIVITY: Write down your thoughts on this parable.
Matthew 22:34-37 Jesus also declared the Greatest Commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and your Neighbor as yourself”
The Religious leaders spend much of Jesus time trying to trick him up and trap him asking him questions about Paying Taxes (Matthew 22:15-22); The Resurrection (Matthew 22:23-33); and about the Greatest Commandment.
The Greatest Commandment - Matthew 23:34-40
“Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
ACTIVITY
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What is the first Greatest commandment? Write it out. Why is it the First Greatest Commandment?
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What is the Second Greatest Commandment? Write it out. Why is it the Second Greatest Commandment?
Day 4 – WEDNESDAY is a serious day
The highlight of the day occurred during the evening. Jesus was anointed by Mary in Bethany (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8).
Think about what a special moment this was for Jesus. In 36 hours, He would be on the cross—and the only person who figured out the crucifixion and coming resurrection was Mary. The disciples had no idea what was going on!
Imagine the understanding looks between Jesus and Mary as she washed his feet with perfume and worshiped.
Suddenly, Judas spoiled it all: “What a waste! And she’s spending it on you!” Can you imagine how much that hurt?
Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has done a marvelous thing. She’s anointing my body for burial while I am still alive and can enjoy it.” Frankly, I’d rather have one rose right now while I can enjoy it than 10,000 after I’m dead and gone. I imagine that Jesus felt just like that.
They did not bathe often in those days. I’ve often wondered if Jesus got a whiff of Mary’s perfume as He hung on the cross. Then, He looked down from the cross and there was Mary. He must’ve thought, “God, bless her, she’s the only one who has figured it out.”
Later that night, immediately after supper, Judas arranged to betray Jesus (Mathew 26:14-16):
Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
ACTIVITY - What is the price of your oil. List some things God has done in our life. Put the expereince, the hurt. the pain, the patience, the joy, mourning, the struggle, the breakthrough, etc. in a bottle and write down all the ingredients in your bottle. What you name your fragrance?
Day 5 - THURSDAY
Jesus and His disciples observed the Passover and the Lord’s Supper in the Upper Room (Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-30; John 13:1-30).
On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. - Matthew 26:17-30
ACTIVITY – What hymn do you think would be appropriate here at this time? Journal it.
Luke tells us that immediately after sharing the bread and wine, the disciples began arguing over which of them was the greatest (Luke 22:31-38). Jesus was giving His life away, and they were arguing about who was the best!
ACTIVITY - Can you imagine how much that hurt? Journal it.
Then Jesus predicted Peter’s denial, and Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same (Matthew 26:31-35).
But Jesus knew. He knew they would run.
That evening, Jesus gave His farewell discourse to the Disciples: “All men will know that you are my disciples by your love for one another” (John 13:35). (Also see Matthew 26:31-35; Mark 14:27-31; Luke 22:31-38; John 13:31-16:33).
Jesus shared that he was going away. The disciples were quite dismayed.
Philip said, “You can’t leave now! We don’t know where you are going, and we don’t know how to get there, and besides, we don’t even know who you are!”
Jesus said, “Philip, you still don’t know who I am?”
He’s making the handoff to entrust his men with the ministry. They are on the one-yard line and they are fumbling the ball. They are not even sure who he is! He must go to the cross still wondering whether or not they’ll get it (John 14:5-14).
Finally, before leaving the Upper Room, Jesus prayed His intercessory prayer for his disciples in John 17:
“I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I’m coming to you. Protect them by your name that you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one.
I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those you gave me.
I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:6-19, paraphrased)
Jesus took His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane. While He prayed in agony, begging God to avoid the cup of suffering, He asked them to pray for Him. Because He was fully human (as well as fully God), He actually needed their comfort and support.
But they fell asleep and left Him all alone.
Can you imagine the disappointment in his voice as he replied, “Could you not pray for me one hour?” The disciples failed, so God sent angels to comfort Jesus (Matthew 26:30, 36-46; Mark 14:26, 32-42; Luke 22:39-46).
ACTIVITY – Could you have prayed for one hour before this consecration? How about Now? Write down your prayer for Him.
Judas betrayed Jesus. Jesus said to Judas, “Must you betray me with a kiss?” John identified the kiss as a “passionate lover’s kiss.”
Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” (John 18:2-9)
Jesus was arrested and taken to the house of Annas and then to Caiaphas the high priest early Friday morning.
Day 6 – FRIDAY Seven Last Sayings
ACTIVITY Come to service tonight at the King’s Table at 7 PM
Day 7 - SATURDAY
Jesus was in the tomb.
He preached to the spirits in prison.
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; which he went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly did not obey when God’s patience waited. (2 Peter 3:18-20)
There is a lot of discussion about what Christ may or may not have done on Saturday. Some use this verse to postulate that Jesus preached the gospel to the Old Testament people who lived before Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Therefore, they had the opportunity of surrendering their lives to Christ as Lord and Savior.
Others teach that He went down into hell and experienced the horrors and suffering there. Maybe He just stayed in the tomb.
We just don’t know for certain what He was doing on Saturday.
SUNDAY – RESURRECTION! LOOK AT GOD!!!
ACTIVITY - Come to church celebrate Resurrection Sunday!