This man is dangerous - say Leading Priests, Teachers of religious law and other Leaders.
The King is preaching in the Temple today - how I admire his courage after yesterday.
The King teaches
The Temple is packed, sweaty bodies rubbing against friends and strangers. Children wriggling to find space, the elderly clutching onto anything or anyone they can.
The mood among the people is mixed, some are excited to hear the King teach, while others weary and scared. Some strain to hear the message, others discourteous, mocking his words. There in the corner of my eye, I can see furtive glances. Priests, Teachers and other Leaders watching and waiting.
Animosity
There is a lull in the teaching and the King stops. I can see him sensing the animosity oozing from the Religious Leaders. I watch him stare then turn back to the people. Voices recede into a static hush; arms, animated moments earlier drop to people's sides and heads having nodded enthusiastically, cease. A wave of silence breezes through the Temple, something is about to happen. The tension mounts, and you can cut it with a knife, as young and old eyes focus on the King. Then his finger points at the learned men. In unison, an unseen force turns all heads toward its target.
The King's warning
The King speaks directly, "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people's faces." (Matthew 23:1-36)
I watch as their faces portray thunderous indignation. One after the other they throw questions at the King, trying to catch him out. But the King outwits them. What a man! You would have had to be there to see it, what a contest! Rumblings of discontent ripple from the Leaders and I can hear whispers, they are faint so that I decide to move closer. Did they really say "plotting to kill?" Panicked I rush closer to the King. I don't know what to do.
Just then the King calls to his disciples and tells them to get ready to leave. Quickly, they flock to him and I trail after them. They amble towards the Mount of Olives and I stealthfully hide behind a large dusty rock and listen, hungry for more teaching. There is no wind so I can hear without a flow of disruption. The commanding voice of the King speaks earnestly with a passion, sometimes sitting, sometimes standing.
He is absorbed intimately in communicating imperative truths. (Matthew24-25) The disciples seem curious, asking questions to learn more. I, on the other hand, do not understand what is being taught and feel an unsettling loneliness. There is no one for me to confide in, to help me grasp the importance or meaning of his words.
However, as I sit here I know that the power of the King's teaching is what I need and HE is WHO I need. I can't go back now, the only path is to go forward with my King wherever that takes me.....
This week is Holy Week a time to ponder on the events leading up to Christ's death and Resurrection. We too are on a journey not necessarily to the same grotesque end, but nonetheless to a place that requires sacrifice, forgiveness and love to walk there.
Come and join me each day as I accompany Jesus on His journey.
God bless,
Margaret
Labels: Courage, encouragement, Holy Week, leaders, Leading priest, Matthew 23:1-36, Matthew 24-25, Mount of Olives, teachers, teaching, Temple
He is absorbed intimately in communicating imperative truths. (Matthew24-25) The disciples seem curious, asking questions to learn more. I, on the other hand, do not understand what is being taught and feel an unsettling loneliness. There is no one for me to confide in, to help me grasp the importance or meaning of his words.