Imagine Holy Week live as a onlooking first century person in Jerusalem while Jesus descends on a donkey and the crowd is wildly enthusiastic. What ensues over the coming days would not have matched the anticipation of your heart. I think we should lean in to what it may have been like for them and ask ourselves, our family and our believing and/or unbelieving friends some critical questions.
THE SCENE:
The dust hasn't even settled in the arid climate of Jerusalem. Some people are celebrating, Pharisees are sneering and casting their judgmental glances at the carpenter turned prophet, while the disciples are feeling jubilant. Jesus, for all the pomp and circumstance, can't seem to adjust to the joy everyone (except the religious leaders) appears to be displaying. In fact, as the donkey slows under the burden of Jesus' body he begins weeping. His heart is sorrowful while everyone is celebrating. Must have been a strange sight to behold.
He brings the twelve along to daily teach in the temple. The throngs of people excited at his not-so-glamorous entry are now hanging on his every word. In advance of this he actually had what appeared to be a temper tantrum and a purging of sorts where those in the temple for personal gain were reminded in no uncertain terms: "This place is for prayer, but you want profit, GET OUT!" (paraphrase for sure). It led to the mystique. This man, he is so compelling and completely out of the ordinary. He seems a little unhinged, but he's so measured, how can this be?
In an effort to rescue God from his sovereignty, the religious elite ply their trade by asking leading questions seeking to destroy. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they ask. In what had become rather pedestrian for many of those who REALLY KNEW Jesus, he simply answers their question with a question, "I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?"
Gamechanger.
The outwardly placid but inwardly raging Pharisees opt for the path they think will provide the least resistance and in effect answer, "...they did not know." Not wasting any time nor lending any credence to their worthless interrogation Jesus replies, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
This man does not seem unhinged. Its like he's a step ahead of EVERYONE, including those unbelievably intelligent Pharisees. I mean, who wins an argument with them? And wins without even answering their question.
Authority and purity. Jesus wept over Lazarus' death and over a city that did not perceive the warnings provided for them. In the first case, he purged the tomb of the dead man and all rejoiced. In the second case he purged the temple so that it could serve its original purpose.
Ask yourself: Is there something God may be wanting to purge from my life in order for me to serve the original purpose for which he created me? I Corinthians 6:19-20 reminds us that we are the temple and what our purpose is. He makes his dwelling IN US.
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