Focus: The Passion Week Of Christ (Pt.2)

Text: Act.1:3

"To whom also he shewed himself alive after his PASSION by many infallible proofs…"

On this Tuesday morning, Jesus moves back to Jerusalem from Bethany. On the way Peter with a sense of wonder points to the withered fig tree, and Jesus seized the opportunity to school them on faith. Faith is key for the Christian; he levels mountains and takes care of life's issues by his faith. God is present and active where there is faith. As we honor God by our faith, God honors us for our faith.

Jesus arrives Jerusalem and heads straight to the temple where He is met by the chief priests, scribes, and elders. The temple is their seat of power, and remember that yesterday Christ stunned them by chasing out of the temple those who see worship as business, and the temple operators tolerated them. Now they confront Him with a question, "Who gave thee this authority to do these things?" (Mk.11:28). Jesus quickly handled their question with another question, "The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?" (Mk.11:30). By that question He put them in a tight spot, and while they are still trying to figure out what to answer, He tells them three parables that hit them so hard, even pricking their conscience.

After that, He faced the Herodians, the Sadducees, and the Pharisees. The Herodians asked Him, "Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?" (Mk.12:14). The Sadducees asked Him a question about the resurrection, because they do not believe in the resurrection. The Pharisees asked, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" (Mt.22:36). Jesus by His answers put them in their place. They failed in their desperate attempt to pin Him down with hard questions. It is indeed a Tuesday of arguments and antagonism against Jesus. On this day He declares series of "woes" against scribes and Pharisees. On this day the Greeks came looking for Him, the Jews reject Him, Judas conspires with the Jewish authorities to do away with Him, Jesus discourses about the end times, and commends a widow for offering to God her two mites.

After all said and done, Jesus leaves the temple with anguish in His soul and pity for the people, for He says, "…how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Mt.23:37). This is a missed opportunity which has dire consequences. 

He has shown them love, healed their sick, carried their children, helped the helpless, restored their hopes, and pointed them to God, yet they are bent on going down the path of self-destruction.

I pray for all of us, that we do not take the grace and love of God for granted, that we do not miss our divine opportunity, and that we feel the heartbeat of Christ and be fully drawn to Him. In this Passion Week the grace of Christ is sufficient for us, His power is at work in us, His presence is our constant reality, and His joy gives us strength.

Scriptures: (On faith: Mt.21:18-22; Mk.11:20-25; On the challenge of Christ's authority: Mt.21:23-27; Mk.11:27-33; Lk.20:1-8; On the three parables: Mt.21:28-22:14; Mk.12:1-11; Lk.20:9-18; on the three questions: Mt.22:15-40; Mk.12:13-34; Lk.20:20-40; On the question they couldn't answer: Mt.22:41-46; Mk.12:35-37; Lk.20:41-44; On the woes against the religious leaders: Mt.23; Mk.13:38-40; Lk.20:45-47; On the widow's mites: Mk.12:41-44; Lk.21:1-4; On the Greeks looking for Jesus: Jh.12:37-50; On the end times: Mt.24:3-25:46; Mk.13; Lk.21:5-38; On the Judas' conspiracy with the rulers: Mt.26:1-4; Mk.14:1-2,10-11; Lk.22:1-6).

by Bishop Moses E. Peter