Chapter 01
The Final Discourse
15.01.00.A. JESUS LOOKS MOURNFULLY OVER THE CITY OF JERUSALEM. Artwork by William Hole of the Royal Scottish Academy of Art, 1876. Alone on the Mount of Olives, Jesus looks westward across the Kidron Valley toward Jerusalem and the temple. His heart is sorrowful as He ponders the future of His people and His nation, yet He must prepare His disciples for the events that are about to transpire.
The time had come for the climax in the life of Jesus. The primary concern of the gospel writers was that the world would understand the meaning of His life, and especially, the dramatic events of the Passion Week. As previously mentioned, chronology was not as important to these writers as the work of Jesus that was about to unfold. This section begins with John who writes the portion of the discourse in which the major theme is the relationship of the believer with Jesus.