Leading Priests,Teachers and Leaders plan to kill the King - Holy Week Day Three

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

https://www.facebook.com/MargaretKazmierczakAuthorBlogger/

www.margaretk.co.uk

 

 

Mayhem as King goes mad in Temple court

Eyewitness account

Last night I had the most wonderful sleep, dreams filled my mind of the triumphant entry the King made yesterday into Jerusalem. I had hunkered down close to the house the King stayed in overnight. I wanted to be near him.

The fig tree 

The King left early this morning with his friends, so I followed him at a distance. He must have been hungry, I know I was. On the road to Jerusalem, he stopped and appeared to be talking to a fig tree. His gesticulations implied a frustrated tone, I could hear something about a tree without fruit being useless, then it withered and died (Matthew 21:18-19).

The Temple

Their journey ended at the Temple. I stayed near to the group mingling with the heaving crowd. There were money changers everywhere, emphatically pronouncing their services. Animals bleating, birds screeching, deafening noises that added to the chaos. 

Chaos

Then the King exploded, he upturned tables scattering money in a blaze of anger. Animals frightened, scuttled from the Temple, knocking people over. Indignant traders yelled, trying to stop the mad man, pulling at his robes. But the King was too powerful. His abhorrence so apparent that no one could control him. Sweat poured off his brow, as he toppled the last table. From the depths of the King's stomach, an aggrieved compelling voice rocketed out above the crowd.   

My Father's house

“Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” (John 2:16)

There were some Jewish leaders nearby and they turned on the King saying, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”

“All right,” the King replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”    (John 2:18-19)

The truth of the barren tree

Wow, this man knew how to stir up a hornet's nest. I began to see the significance of the fig tree. A barren tree that bears no fruit simulates a desolate heart that knows the right words but doesn't know the Truth. 

As I watched the King sit, weary with exertion, his hands covering his tears, I felt an overwhelming love for him. He knew, he just knew what was going to happen and his heart bled. 

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

https://www.facebook.com/MargaretKazmierczakAuthorBlogger/

www.margaretk.co.uk

King enters Jerusalem on a Donkey - Read all about it.

The King enters Jerusalem on a Donkey

Have you heard the news? 

The King has entered Jerusalem on a Donkey. I mean, what is going on - a King riding a donkey? 

People were shouting and waving palms, it was amazing. Talk about making an entrance with a contradiction. I thought Kings rode magnificent horses. But then this is no ordinary King. 

A King who breaks the rules

We shouted Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! (John 12:13). It was crazy. People pushing palms aside to see, others laying them on the ground in front of the donkey. One man tried to touch the King but his loyal band of followers were tight around him. 

Boy, I love this man. He doesn't do things by halves. He is going to change things around here in a mighty way, I can feel it. If any King can save us it will be this humble man. 

A glimpse of love

How do I know? The King's gentle eyes captured mine as he passed. For a moment all of time stopped, the intense shouting dimmed and I felt gripped by His love. No army could conqueror a force so powerful and liberating. When his gaze released me I experienced a form of drunkenness, a hazy warmth washing over my entire body. Then I knew the truth - love would save us not swords or force.

The King's gentle eyes captured mine as he passed

The journey

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

www.margaretk.co.uk