Week Two - Day 1
Today's Reading -- Matthew 21:18 to Matthew 23:39
Yesterday, Jesus had a big first day in Jerusalem. First he made his triumphal entry riding on a donkey as the crowds shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!" Then he set about putting things right at the temple, driving out the merchants and money-changers before turning his attention to healing the blind and the lame. Jesus then headed out to Bethany, a short walk up and over the Mount of Olives, for a good night's rest.
He was to need it, for the next day he faced multiple challenges to his authority, this teachings, his commitment to the nation of Israel, and his theology. It seemed like every religious group within Judaism was waiting to take a crack at him. The chief priests, the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the scribes all tried to trip him up. And Jesus did not gain himself any friends from within these groups as his parables attacked them as unwilling to listen or to respond to the invitation to participate and celebrate with God.
Then, Jesus turns things around as he launches into a series of even "woes" against the scribes and Pharisees (chapter 23). Seven "woes" and six "hypocrites!" later, there can be no lingering doubt that Jesus is challenging their teaching, practices, compassion and pride. All of this, Jesus laments, is being played out in the holy city Jerusalem.
You might think that all of this was enough for one day; but we shall see that Jesus has much more to do withdrawing once more to Bethany.
He was to need it, for the next day he faced multiple challenges to his authority, this teachings, his commitment to the nation of Israel, and his theology. It seemed like every religious group within Judaism was waiting to take a crack at him. The chief priests, the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the scribes all tried to trip him up. And Jesus did not gain himself any friends from within these groups as his parables attacked them as unwilling to listen or to respond to the invitation to participate and celebrate with God.
Then, Jesus turns things around as he launches into a series of even "woes" against the scribes and Pharisees (chapter 23). Seven "woes" and six "hypocrites!" later, there can be no lingering doubt that Jesus is challenging their teaching, practices, compassion and pride. All of this, Jesus laments, is being played out in the holy city Jerusalem.
You might think that all of this was enough for one day; but we shall see that Jesus has much more to do withdrawing once more to Bethany.
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