Opening prayer
Read the italicized passages of Scripture in Chapter 13.
Questions
- In his entrance into Jerusalem, in Revelation 5:5-6 and in Jonathan Edward’s sermon “The Excellency of Christ,” it is revealed that Jesus had several combinations of character traits that we would consider mutually exclusive (154-155). What were some of those combinations?
- What motivated Jesus to clear the court of the Gentiles (156-157)?
- What did the flaming sword at the entrance to the Garden of Eden represent (157-158)?
- How is the room in the temple called the Holy of Holies like the Garden of Eden?
- How were people shielded from God’s immediate presence in the temple (158)? Why were they shielded in this way?
- In both the Garden of Eden and the Temple, what was the only way to enter God’s presence (157-158)?
- What did Jesus do so that the glory of God could cover the whole earth (158-159)?
- How was the fig tree a parable against hollow religiousity? What is the problem with hollow religiousity? What are some examples of hollow religiousity? How did Jesus respond to hollow religiousity in the Temple?
- Timothy Keller writes “Jesus is saying that he wants more than busyness; he want the kind of character change that only comes from realizing that you have been ransomed” (161). What kind of character change do you need Jesus to make in you? How will realizing that you have been ransomed help you to make that character change?
- Who is helping you to grow to become more like Jesus? In closing, read aloud the last four paragraphs (starting with “At the end of Jonathan Edward’s sermon …” on page 161) of Chapter 13.
Closing Prayer
Farewell to Shadowlands 