Thought for 25 March

 Mark 11:18

When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done,

they began planning how to kill him.  But they were afraid of him because the people were so enthusiastic about Jesus’ teaching.

This week, beginning yesterday has a vitally important place in the Christian calendar.  Yesterday we remembered how Jesus was given a hero’s welcome into Jerusalem.  The people would have been hoping for a military leader in a uniform becoming of his rank, mounted upon a fine horse ready to lead his followers into battle against the occupation forces from Rome.  What they got was a humble man modestly dressed, riding upon a donkey.  There’s a few things about the entry into Jerusalem I find difficult to get my head around.  If this is what the people were expecting, why was the entry into Jerusalem celebrated so enthusiastically?  Why did some of these people who had laid the palm branches on the ground before him turn so hatefully against him within a matter of a few days?  If Jesus had already been recognised as a threat to public order, why had the Romans not stopped his entry into Jerusalem.  If his teaching offended the heads of the Church to such a degree, why had they not tried to prevent his entry to the city?  Men and women far more intelligent than me could no doubt offer meaningful explanations, but could it not just be that what had to happen in God’s plan just had to happen and nothing in this world could prevent it playing out?

Today’s reading refers to the heads of the Church challenging the authority of Jesus when he cleared out the money changers and merchants from the Temple saying that it should only be a place of prayer and that that these people who had set up their stalls within it had turned it into ‘a den of thieves’.  It appears that the behaviour within the temple was acceptable in the eyes of the leaders and teachers of religious law at that time.  It makes me wonder how the Lord would view the leadership of his Church in present times with attendances and buildings in decline and fewer and fewer children hearing the stories of Jesus and singing his praise.

When the leaders asked Jesus what authority gave him the right to do what he had done when clearing the Temple, he answered them in a question.   He asked them if John’s baptism came from heaven or was it merely human.  It was a question that the Church leaders were unable to answer because if they said it came from heaven, they would be asked why they didn’t believe John.  If they answered it was merely human, the people would not accept that because they regarded John as a prophet.

We need to put aside time for Holy week, time to read about the things Jesus taught and the things that he did in that week leading up to his trial, torture and execution and all the time realising that throughout this week, the Lord knew what lay ahead and had to carry that burden around with him.

Prayer – Almighty God, we believe Jesus has all authority.  We want to live more and more each day under that authority, yielding to your will and doing your work in this world.   Keep us from the sort of religious superiority and spiritual shortsightedness that was demonstrated by the religious leaders whose pride and practice prevented them from recognise Jesus as being sent by God. May we keep the our hearts and minds on him every moment of each day. In Jesus' precious and powerful name, we pray. Amen.