Monday, January 30

Wise and brave

Scripture: Matthew 21

Matthew 21:45–46 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. 46 They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, because the crowds regarded him as a prophet.

Observation

Everything Jesus does in this chapter seems designed to provoke a confrontation. 

  • The triumphal entry was a prophetic drama which stirred the crowds with messianic expectancy. 
  • Cleansing the temple and setting up shop there, teaching and healing the sick. 
  • Cursing the fruitless fig tree—another prophetic action, for Israel was often represented by a fig tree, and later in the chapter Jesus told the religious leaders that the kingdom of God would be taken from them and given to those who would bear its fruit. 
  • Questions about his authority—who gave him the authority to do these things? Jesus answered with a question that put them in a bind.
  • The two stories Jesus told were understood by the religious leaders to be about them, and they wanted to arrest him.

All of this seems like an intentional provocation. Why? Jesus knew that his time had come; he says this repeatedly. He had come to give his life as a ransom for many—it was time. Jesus was no martyr; he was a sacrifice. No one took his life; he gave it for us.

Early in his ministry, Jesus often told people he healed not to tell anyone. Scholars believe this was to avoid feeding a messianic frenzy and to give him time to train his disciples. But now, the time has come, and he forces the issue. He gives his life for us.

Application

First, admiration for Jesus. He knew what he was about, what he had come for, and bravely advanced his cause at the highest personal cost. May I be so brave as I follow him.

Second, know the time. There was a time to be unseen, and a time to force the issue. Jesus knew when his time had come and deliberately provoked a confrontation that would lead to his death. I want to know the time—know when to speak and when to be silent; when to confront and when to let it go. Give me wisdom Lord!

Prayer: I love you Lord and I want to be as wise and brave as you. I can never do that on my own. Fill me with your Spirit and make me more like you!