TUESDAY
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18)
After Jesus entered Jerusalem on Tuesday, he and the religious leaders had confrontations in the Temple. He started out by teaching the people, but the chief priests and the elders interrupted him, asking, “What right do you have to do these things? Who gave you such right?” Instead of a direct answer, Jesus countered with a question about John the Baptist’s right to baptize–was it from men or God? Either choice for an answer placed them in a difficult position. They started to argue among themselves, “What shall we say? If we answer, ‘From God,’ he will say to us, ‘Why, then, did you not believe John?’ But if we say, ‘From human beings,’ we are afraid of what the people might do, because they are all convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” The chief priests and elders looked foolish to the people. They were embarrassed.
Then came the Pharisees with a question about payment of taxes to the Romans. They thought for sure he could not answer without alienating some of the people, but his answer left them speechless and they went away also.
Next the Sadducees showed up with a trick question about the resurrection. A woman became a widow many times, each time remarrying. Whose wife would she be after the resurrection? Jesus’ answer dumfounded them: people don’t marry in heaven; they are like the angels. For good measure, Jesus added a firm word about life after death, because the Sadducees did not believe in such. They didn’t dare ask any more questions.
After further teaching to the listening crowds, Jesus turned to the Pharisees and delivered one condemnation after another because of their hypocrisy, finally saying, “You snakes and children of snakes! How do you expect to escape from being condemned to hell?” (Matthew 23:33).
The leaders were embarrassed by Jesus’ questions and incensed at his accusations. Their determination to kill him was strengthened.
Jesus’ strong stand and blunt words guaranteed his arrest, trials and crucifixion. He did it for us. Are we taking a strong stand for him?
March 26, 2013 (Tuesday)
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