Tag Archives: Holy Week

Stand Before the King 

Tuesday’s Final Call

Beloved, imagine walking beside Yeshua on that Tuesday of Holy Week. The air in Jerusalem crackles with tension. The Temple gleams in the sun, but beneath its grandeur lies corruption. As He enters, the eyes of the Pharisees follow Him—sharp, suspicious, and seething. Yet He walks forward with resolve. The Lion of Judah does not shrink. He speaks—not to flatter—but to awaken, to expose, and to call to repentance. On this day, Jesus confronts hypocrisy openly.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites…” (Matthew 23:13, NASB). His voice echoes through the Temple courts. These were not curses, but cries of heartbreak. Yeshua, the Holy One, saw past robes and rituals into hollow hearts. He saw men who spoke of righteousness but did not know God. And now He speaks to you, to me—not to shame us, but to set us free.

Jesus confronts hypocrisy, and He begins with His own people.

He exposes when we pray long prayers in public but neglect secret communion with the Father. He rebukes when we tithe the smallest herbs but withhold forgiveness. He weeps when we speak of revival but refuse repentance. He is not looking for fans—He is looking for followers who will love Him in truth. Even today, Jesus continues to confront hypocrisy, calling us to deeper authenticity.

“You clean the outside of the cup, but inside you are full of robbery and self-indulgence” (Matthew 23:25, NASB). Yeshua’s words are fire—not to destroy, but to refine. Have you allowed Him to confront the unseen? Are there corners of your heart you’ve kept hidden? This is not the hour for shallow living. This is the hour to burn with holiness.

After silencing every trap and exposing every facade, Yeshua turned His face to the Mount of Olives. There, He revealed the end of the age. He told His disciples of wars, famines, and false prophets. But more than signs, He gave warnings: “Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13, NASB). Then He told of ten virgins—five wise, five foolish. Of servants entrusted with talents. Of sheep and goats divided by how they lived.

These stories are not for the archives. They are for today.

He is still calling. Still warning. Still pleading: “Be ready. Be faithful. Be real.” You cannot borrow oil at midnight. You cannot fake fruit at the throne. And you cannot serve two masters and still say you know Him.

Beloved, today is your Tuesday in the Temple. Let the King walk through your soul. Let Him turn over every table of pride, every counterfeit praise, every dead work. Let Him cleanse the court of your heart. This is not judgment—it is mercy in motion.

Jesus confronts hypocrisy, not to condemn you, but to claim you as His own.

You were not saved to look holy. You were saved to be holy—set apart, Spirit-filled, and flame-lit. You were made to live with a clear conscience, a tender heart, and eyes locked on eternity.

O King who sees through all my ways,
Burn off the chaff with holy blaze.
Let no pretense in me remain—
Just love that dances in the flame.

Prayer

Father, I open the gates of my heart to You. Search me. Know me. Strip away every layer of pretense. I repent for seeking appearances over intimacy, for speaking truth with my lips while my heart drifted far. Cleanse me, Yeshua, as You cleansed the Temple. Let my life become a house of prayer, a vessel of Your Spirit, a flame burning in the dark. I yield every corner to You—make me real. Make me ready. Let me be counted among the faithful when You return. In Yeshua’s holy name, amen.

See Also

The Quiet Before the Cross

“And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.” — Matthew 21:17, NASB

As the weight of the world’s sin drew closer to His shoulders, Yeshua did something unexpected.

He walked away.

After a long day of ministry in Jerusalem—cleansing the Temple, healing the blind and lame, teaching with fire, and confronting the religious elite—He didn’t stay in the city to strategize or gather a following. He didn’t perform miracles that night. He didn’t organize defenses against the coming betrayal.

Instead, He returned to Bethany.

“And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.” (Matthew 21:17, NASB)

There is no record of teaching that night. No dramatic events. No great signs or wonders. Just rest.

A Place of Refuge

Bethany, a village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, had become a place of refuge for Yeshua. It was the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus—people who loved Him deeply and received Him without condition. He had recently raised Lazarus from the dead there (John 11). A supper had been hosted in His honor. Mary had anointed His feet with costly perfume, weeping in worship (John 12:1–8). These were not crowds—these were covenant friends.

And so, the King of Glory, knowing the time of suffering was near, sought shelter in communion.

He wasn’t escaping the cross. He was preparing for it.

He wasn’t retreating in fear. He was abiding in love.

Resting in Bethany

This quiet evening is often skipped in Holy Week reflections. Yet it holds a treasure for those who are willing to pause.

Yeshua chose stillness.

Yeshua chose rest.

Yeshua chose presence.

Before enduring agony, He spent time in peace. Before sweating blood in Gethsemane, He dwelled in the comfort of friends. This wasn’t laziness—it was obedient stillness. This was the posture of trust.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10, NASB)

“In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15, NASB)

We are not stronger than our Savior. If He needed rest, so do we. If He withdrew to be with those who honored the presence of God, so should we.

Application for Today

How often do we walk into battles without stopping in Bethany?

How many times have we tried to carry tomorrow’s cross with today’s strength?

We live in a culture that glorifies motion—more work, more action, more content, more noise. But God doesn’t anoint noise. He anoints nearness. He empowers those who kneel before Him. He strengthens those who rest at His feet.

Bethany teaches us that we don’t fight spiritual battles by charging ahead—we win them by abiding first.

So where is your Bethany?

Who are your Marys and Marthas—those who help you press into God’s presence?

Are you resting before you’re running?

Or striving before you’re still?

In stillness You waited, O Lord of Light,
Where the faithful whispered and lamps burned bright.
No throne, no crowd, no crown of acclaim—
Just love in the shadows, and peace in Your name.

Prayer

Father, teach me to return to Bethany.

When pressure rises and battles loom, call me into stillness. Let me sit at Your feet like Mary. Let me serve in love like Martha. Let me believe like Lazarus, who once lay dead but now lives by Your word.

I do not want to run ahead of You—I want to rest in You. I want to hear Your heartbeat before I face the cross You’ve called me to carry.

Help me become a person of Your presence.

In the name of Yeshua, my Rest and my Redeemer,

Amen.