Jesus in Jerusalem

I am considering the time in Jesus work when He entered into Jerusalem on the ass. My initial observations are from the gospel of Matthew. But I it's also important to note that only John's gospel records both the first and the second occasions of Jesus purging the temple.

It is interesting to observe how, after Jesus enters into Jerusalem, He then spends time in the temple. He does and says significant things then.

Firstly, He purges the temple:

Matthew ch. 21v 12 ¶ And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,
16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

There is no mention of His own people, the Jews, receiving Him. They seem to have challenged the claim the children made regarding Him, v15.

Now, he leaves the Temple. He have left it because the Jews did not accept Him, or He was leaving anyway.

It is significant what verse 17 tells us:

17 And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

Why did He "leave them"? Well, no one had invited Him to stay with him or her. Ideally, it should have been the Jews who recognized Him as their Messiah, and given Him corresponding honour. But we know that He knew He would be welcome at Bethany. Do I make to much of this point? Well, if I do, then it is to show that He did the teaching He needed to, as He needed to. But he was not given the honour He deserved. Perhaps without the hospitality of those in Bethany, He would have "had no place to lay His head".

18 ¶ Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.