Between now and Easter (4th April) I will be writing a series of weekly blogs on Jesus’ last eight days as he travels from the Jordan valley, up to the Temple in Jerusalem, through his confrontations with the authorities to his arrest and death, up to his appearance to his companions post-death.  

The blogs are based on my new book ‘Jesus the Troublemaker, obtainable principally from Amazon or bibleinbrief.org, and expand on my thinking and discoveries of each stage of the journey.

IN THE JORDAN VALLEY

“It was hot in the Jordan valley.”

That sentence was the spur back in September which got me to write ‘Jesus the Troublemaker’ instead of a different and drier book.  But it would have started at the same point anyway, because I had always been fascinated by the pen-portrait of Jesus that Mark in his gospel makes of Jesus at this point:

‘They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid.’ (Mark 10.32)

This image of Jesus striding grimly out in front, lost in his own thoughts, is really compelling.  In my book this is how Jesus, or Yeshua, explains things to his companions:

‘After walking a couple of hours, Yeshua gave the nod for people to have a rest. The twelve sat down around him, keeping an eye out for any possible hostiles they might need to defend their rabbi from. 

‘“Listen!” said Yeshua. “we are going up to Yerushalayim, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the leading priests and the Torah-teachers, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Goyim; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.”

‘The group sat stunned, mouths open, hardly able to move. There was a full two minutes’ silence. Then Yeshua stretched his back, got up and said, “Time to get moving.” ‘

This is the third time that Jesus foretells his death.  But did he really say it?  The clue for me lies in the phrase ‘after three days’.  In Luke 18.33 and Matthew 20.19 the phrase is ‘on the third day’.  I think the phrase got changed because ‘after three days’ isn’t correct.  Jesus died before sunset on Friday and was alive again by the early morning of Sunday.  So that’s about 38 hours, two days, not three.  You could just about say it was on the third day using the Jewish reckoning of time as from sunset to sunset.  So how can we explain the use of the phrase in Mark except that that was exactly what Jesus said?

Jericho

The next stop was Jericho.  This needed some research.  I found that it was a well-heeled place, where Herod had not one but three palaces.  Many of the Jerusalem aristocracy had their winter homes there.  But clearly there were workers’ homes there for those who looked after the local agriculture – dates, lemons, oranges etc.

Two things happened in Jericho, and I added a third.

1 Bar-Timaeus

A blind man , Bar-Timaeus, received healing.  But when?  Mark says it was when Jesus left the town, Luke says it was when he entered it.  When in doubt, I normally choose Mark’s account.  And Mark has the telling detail that, after Bar-Timaeus received his sight, he ‘followed him on the way’.  Or ‘on the road’.  I.e. he followed Jesus and the other disciples all along the way to Jerusalem.  And also became a faithful disciple with all those who worship according to  ‘the Way, which they call a sect’ as St Paul said at his trial in Acts 24.14.

2 Zacchaeus

Luke describes one of the most insightful stories of Jesus and his shocking acceptance of people.  Zacchaeus was a rich tax farmer – maybe today a CEO of a payday loan business.  But Jesus invited himself to stay as his guest, before Zacchaeus had said a word or given any sign of repentance.  Shocking!  Why did he do that?  I think it is simply because Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus.  In the Middle East then and now, no one with any pretensions of respectability would climb a tree.  Here’s how I treat it in my book:

‘Yeshua leant towards an elderly man near him and asked, “Who’s the man up that tree?” 

The man looked up and his mouth dropped open in surprise. With a grimace he said, “I can’t believe it. That’s – that’s Zakkai!What’s he doing in our part of town? And up a tree, in the name of Elaha!” 

“And just who is Zakkai?”

“Only the head of the tax farmers in the region.  And, by Aalah, doesn’t he farm the taxes well.  He’s a swindler, an extortioner, a miser and a Roman toady.  He’s got half our town in debt to pay for his rake-off.  His name Zakkai – Righteous – what a joke! And now, unbelievably, he’s climbing a tree!  Doesn’t he have any dignity?”

“I can see why he’s unpopular,” said Yeshua thoughtfully.  “But still,” he smiled disconcertingly, “he does climb trees.”

A couple of minutes later they reached the spot where Zakkai in an incongruously ornate cloak was clinging to a branch, trying to look as if he wasn’t there.  A few of the braver elements of the crowd spat in his direction.  

Yeshua stopped and called out, 

“Zakkai!”  

The little man almost fell off the branch with shock.

“Zakkai, you’d better shin down.  I’m staying at your place this weekend!”

The adoring crowd quickly changed their tune.  “Unbelievable!”  “Is he a real prophet?”  “You can’t trust Galileans.”  “What a fake!”.  Yeshua just stood there amid the turmoil, waiting while Zakkai tumbled down the tree.  He stood in front of Yeshua, twigs and leaf dust in his hair and on his torn robe.  Open-mouthed, trying to gather his wits.

“R-rabbi – you’re coming to my house?  Really?”

“If you’ll have me.” …

3 Sabbath

If the traditional date of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem is right, namely Palm Sunday, Jesus would have entered Jericho on Friday, stayed two nights with Zacchaeus and spent the Sabbath there.  He would certainly have gone to the synagogue.  And he would have been asked to speak.  What would he have said?  I had to make that up, using some of Jesus teaching from Matthew 21.28-32.

Alternative Dates

On the other hand, if John’s dating of the feast at Bethany is right, six days before Passover, that would give the following timescale:

• Wednesday Jesus enters Jericho.  One night with Zacchaeus
• Thursday Walk 18 miles to Jerusalem, enter the Temple late
• Friday Jesus clears the Outer Court of the Temple Feast at Bethany
• Saturday Possible visit to synagogue at Bethany/Jerusalem
• Sunday – Wednesday Disputes with the authorities, teaching
• Thursday Lamb sacrificed Last Supper. (Passover?)
• Friday Arrest and death
• Saturday Sabbath rest
• Sunday Resurrection!

I quite like this scenario.  However, it could equally be that Mark’s dating is correct, i.e. the feast happened two days before Passover, i.e. on Tuesday evening (which in Jewish reckoning would be Wednesday).  So I compromised, and stuck with the traditional dating of Holy Week.

Next Week

Next Friday I will do a blog on the emotional reactions  of Jesus as he journeys towards Jerusalem, as recorded by Luke.  Not often mentioned, but quite striking.

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Book Launch Monday 1st March

Do join me for the launch and bring all your questions!

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