letter from exile 16
God’s Word: Luke 19:45-48 & 22:1-6
45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.”
47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.
…
22 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.
3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.
Reflection:
Our reading takes us squarely into the events of Jesus life that directly precede his trial and crucifixion. We see that Jesus is really starting to make some noise. He was so disruptive that really religious people wanted to have him murdered. That feels extreme, doesn’t it? Why is it so important that we pay careful attention to these stories?
Without them, Jesus is not “crucifiable.” I know that is a weird way of saying it, but let me explain with a short “poem” that was published by an unknown author 25 years ago in a major newspaper.
He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman.
He grew up in still another village where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was 30.
Then for 3 years he was an itinerant preacher.
He never wrote a book.
He never held an office.
He didn’t go to college.
He never visited a big city.
He never traveled 200 miles from the place he was born.
He did none of the things one usually associates with greatness.
He had no credentials but himself.
He was only 33 when the tide of public opinion turned against him.
His friends ran away.
He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial.
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.
While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing, the only property he had on earth.
When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
19 centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race and the leader of mankind’s progress.
All the armies that have ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned put together have not affected the life of man on earth as much as that one solitary life.
There is not one square inch on this planet that has not been touched by the life of Christ Jesus.
Isn’t that something? There is not one square inch on this planet that has not been touched by the life of Christ Jesus. This means that everyone has an opinion about the “real” Jesus. In our modern, politically correct culture, we have attempted to reimagine Jesus as a nice guru, who went from city to city helping the helpless. He is a role model, or the “best” of humanity. And this is most certainly true, but if he is not more than that, then why in the world was he brutally murdered?! Nobody would have been afraid of him. Who wants to kill a weak, but nice man, who helps poor people and lepers?
The version of Jesus that our modern culture imagines doesn’t account for his crucifixion. Why have him killed? Here’s why: because Jesus can look kings in the eyes and say, “worship me.” Indeed, he can look you in the eyes and say, “your life, your dreams, your identity ARE MINE.”
If you prefer the guru Jesus, then you will use him to make you feel “safe” during a pandemic, but you will walk away when your money and recreational options return.
If your heart is soft, you will bend your knee. If you are proud, you will have him murdered through disbelief. If you prefer the guru Jesus, then you will use him to make you feel “safe” during a pandemic, but you will walk away when your money and recreational options return.
Do you know the real Jesus? The one who cleaned out temples? Guess what? He died on a cross to clean out our hearts too. Do you know him?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I confess that my heart is inclined to tame and domesticate Jesus so that he does not force me to change. I am good at employing sophisticated reasoning to ease my conscience and justify my disbelief. Have mercy on me, Holy God. Holy Spirit, I invite you to clean out my soul. Make me fully yours. Exalt Jesus in my life, Amen.
Praying outside of ourselves:
Pray for endurance and encouragement for healthcare workers who are working overtime with dire cases in major cities.
Pray for Christians to have courage to speak about Christ with their unbelieving friends.
Pray for God to use this pandemic for non-believers to take a “peak” at an online church service and see the “body of Christ”.