August 2, Matthew 21
The last week before the cross began as the prophecy said it would, with Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. When he went to the temple the following morning and disrupted the thriving commerce of Passover week at the
temple, the soundtrack playing in Jesus’ mind was prophecy. The Jewish authorities were upset because the miracles were undeniable. They expressed their displeasure at all the incessant singing about the “Son of David.” Jesus answered their complaint with another prophetic reference. When the posse of chief priests and elders questioned his authority, Jesus knew they wouldn’t answer the question he asked in return about John, because they had rejected John, whom the people held as a prophet.
The weight of the prophecies was crushing the Jewish leaders. On top of the voice of prophecy, the parables Jesus spoke were bearing down on them as well. The stories were about them. In case they missed the point, Jesus told them tax collectors and prostitutes would enter the kingdom ahead of the pious religious authorities, and that God would take the kingdom away from them and give it to others. Adding to their frustration was the tide of popular opinion that was at least saying he was a prophet, and some venturing to identify him as the long awaited Messiah, the son of David.
So the prophecies were pointing to Jesus’ true identity and vouching for his authority. The parables were revealing the attitudes and predicting the actions of the leaders. When people oppose God’s plan and reject his chosen one, what should they expect except a humiliating defeat? The characters were all in place. The week-long drama of the final confrontations between Jesus and the establishment would play out, and Jesus would be condemned, killed and buried by the end of the week. The hypocritical leaders would appear to have won for a very brief time. But the resurrection would bring them decades of trouble leading ultimately to the destruction of their whole way of life as well as their forfeiture of a place in Messiah’s kingdom.
The barren fig tree Jesus encountered on his way into the city one morning is probably included to signify the barren situation of the Jewish leaders. But out of that dramatic incident, the Lord teaches his followers about the power of faith. The priests and scribes didn’t believe when they had seen with their own eyes. Jesus promised those who did believe on him would do some more dramatic things. When they wondered how the fig tree withered at the word of Jesus, he taught them to expect to be able to do even more, saying, “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
Do Jesus’ words convict you, or convince you? Do you hear a promise of punishment, or a promise of power?
From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide
for Your Journey Through the New Testament,
Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used
by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—August 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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