Matthew 21: 18-46
Once we left off yesterday, Jesus had dedicated destruction of property by flipping over tables of transaction and exploitation and uprooting the issues that shifted His Father’s home from being relational and filled with salvation. That left us to think about what tables we have to flip over, starting with among the ones in our hearts. What a mighty God we serve!
We decide up as we speak with Jesus who’s heading to the temple, and begins off the morning cursing a fig tree, condemning it saying it could by no means produce once more. Whereas we are able to argue about how harsh that is or isn’t, what’s irrefutable is that the tree wasn’t doing its job, and Jesus had sufficient. And it appears as if, as a result of He’s headed to the temple, He’s not going to be stopped by the timber that aren’t doing their job. He already handled that yesterday, and is about to come across it once more.
When Jesus arrives on the temple, He attracts a crowd as a result of, effectively, He’s Jesus. The group He attracts meets Him on the temple flooring, and Matthew’s Gospel begins off this encounter with the authorities questioning his authority. Those that are systematically in locations of authority and energy wish to know who or what validates Jesus as an authority determine. One may argue that there’s a problem right here of will. As a result of the Pharisees may’ve had the authority, however Jesus Christ, who’s amongst the folks, has the ability. It’s a harmful world when systemic authority is threatened by the individuals who have been empowered. I’m greater than certain that if we have a look at lived experiences Jesus reveals us that simply because you’ve authority, doesn’t imply you’ve energy. Our religion is one that always reminds us that human-given authority is not any match for God-given authority. And Jesus responds with a query, that frankly the one method it may be reconciled is with a divine reply.
We then pick-up Jesus who’s participating in what I consult with as the last word roasting session. He retains sharing these parables about working within the winery, AND the remedy of the employees. He likens himself because the son of God, to a servant, a employee within the winery, and a slave. He retains reinforcing that He’s with the marginalized least of those. Thanks be to God for a savior who continually positions himself to be for, with, and by the folks. It’s reassurance to us that irrespective of who you’re, so long as you’re doing all of your work within the winery, serving the dominion, Jesus says that you just’ll inherit the dominion of God. The Pharisees don’t like this, very like many trendy authority figures, and are plotting to homicide him. But when the phrases of Jesus be true: for Himself, for the folks, and for us; no plot, no plan, no assault, no assassination, can cease the work of the folks. Nothing can negate that we will inherit the dominion of God. Get to and hold to your work. Even in case you don’t have authority, you all the time have the ability to do your work within the winery.
This week isn’t over, and we’ve got just a few extra classes to study, however as we speak, take into consideration what it means to do your work anyhow. In any case, Friday quickly come….
