Jesus is nearing Jerusalem. Currently in Jericho (distance to Jerusalem is approximately 16 miles, Jesus takes time to walk through the town and meet with Zacchaeus (name translates to "pure one"). Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, risks ridicule as he climbs a tree to see Jesus. His climbing a tree reminds me of a child-like action-- the faith of a child exhibited in Zacchaeus! Would you risk ridicule to see Jesus? Jesus calls him out by name- laying claim on Zacchaeus- and invites himself to Zcchaeus' house for a stay! Oh how scandalous!How wouold you respond if Jesus invited himself into your home for a stay? Zacchaeus repents and turns from sinner to salvation! Both Jesus and Zacchaeus model on how to receive people.
The three servant story is a little (!) confusing! One point to highlight is that it wasn't the servants that hated the king, it was the people (v 14). Each servant was given the same amount of money to invest. We are each given the same "words of God" and its up to us on how we use them to increase the yield. The first two did what the king requested- basically invest his money and give him the profits. They were rewarded with more "work" as they were given town to oversee (vv 17-19). Similar to life- you do good work and people give you more to do, but in this case- doing good work for the kingdom (of God) rewards you with more work for the kingdom (of God). The last servant- didn't do anything- and disobeyed the king. The result is severe punishment (v 22). God gives us give and we are asked to multiply and magnify those for the kingdom of God. We have options- like the servants. But be warned that disobeying God has negative consequences. I read a quote somewhere- don't remember so I can't give credit- "Light received brings more light; light refused brings the night." Are your receiving or refusing the light?
We now come to Palm Sunday, Jesus' triumphant entry to Jerusalem and the beginning of Passion week. Jesus and the disciples have been to Jerusalem many times, but this time was different. Jesus requests a donkey colt to ride into town...he could have walked...but kings enter towns on usually a stallion. Jesus chose a donkey colt, humble and mild- symbolic of Jesus. Plus from the prophet Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.The words of v 42 are still something I focus on when I talk about Palm Sunday..."If you only knew..." People didn't get it, do we get it? Would we have understood? And Jesus is weeping. How does it make you feel that Jesus weeps for Jerusalem? Does Jesus weep for us?
The final scene for this chapter is the Temple. Jesus wants the temple to be a place of prayer for all people. The market place was in the court of the Gentiles, the only place they could go and pray has turned into a farmer's market. Jesus' anger shows that Jesus cares even for the Gentiles. How many of our sacred places have turned into marketplaces? Do we commercialize God too much sometimes?
Today is going to be a beautiful sunny day! Enjoy the day that we are blessed with!
Shalom+
Pastor Paul
This is a good chapter - and a very familiar one! The stories in this chapter are often told over and over. It is hard to think about or respond to your questions about what we would do to see Jesus or how we would feel if He wanted to come for dinner because we are looking at it from the benefit of hindsight. However, if I lived during that time and had not seen any of the miracles that Jesus performed, I don’t know. And it does seem that most of the parables involve miracles and THEN conversion and faith. Except for the people who are asking for the miracles, who did it out of pure faith - but the followers? Is that what drew people to Him? The miracles and/or promise of an instant better life? They heard about the miracles first and then came to see/hear Jesus? Even in vs. 11 says “they” (who I am thinking are not only the apostles but all the disciples who were following him) expected an instant Kingdom of God on earth! Instant gratification? So comes the parable of the coins! It is not instant - there will be tasks to be performed. Bring others to God (the 10 pounds). So we bring more, we are rewarded. We bring none - are we then punished as the servant who did not increase the coins? That’s the part that is confusing to me. Why did Jesus point out that the servant who did not increase the coins was punished by taking away what he had? And why did Jesus say in the parable that those who did not want that person to be King were then slain? Is that to point out to us that if we do not believe and serve God we will be punished with ultimate death? Receive or refuse the light? Sometimes both - or the third option -totally ignore it! It makes me sad to think of Jesus weeping - both for Jerusalem and for me! I love the line in the song that Counting Crowns sings “Break my heart with what breaks yours”. Could we survive all that sorrow? And was it not only the thought of changing His father’s house into a market place that made Jesus angry? Was He also angry because after all the work He did and all the sacrifices He did, they were still not getting it? Do we commercialize God too much? Maybe. But doesn’t it say somewhere in the Bible that we must go where the people live? Then we must, in this time, approach the people in a way that they understand. After all, Jesus came to the Jews as a Jew - not blond and blue eyed - but as one of them! Does that make sense. The rest of the readings are going to be Sad.
ReplyDeleteGreat comments! Thanks...and Yes, the rest of the book is quite dramatic and traumatic!
DeleteI am b eginining too feel sad with reading now as I know what is coming and this is hard for me to read.
ReplyDeleteZacchaeus was not a good man or liked by his peers but Jesus called out to him and zaccaeus repented of his sins and gave back 4 times what he stole from the people Jesus forgave him.
I think that reading about the servants that were given coins that the first two added to them as jesus wants us to grow in our faith and do works for him.. the third servant just hid the coins and they very stagnant if he had ever put them in the bank so interest could have acculumated the king probably would have not punished him??? because some work would have been done.
Jesus entering Jerusalem was a glorious event the people loved him because they thought he was going to save them from the Romans but when that did not happen they turned against him.
They held is against him also because the criticized their way of using the temple. it must have been very hard for the people and disciples to understand all that was happening even tho Jesus had told them what was coming "Hind sight is always better than foresight"
It is always good to read the nice stories, but, like you sad, we all know what is coming...but then again- We all know what is coming!! Great thoughts and comments!
DeleteThe parable of the servants being given coins is very hard to understand. What is it meant to teach us? I can see where each person is given gifts and graces that they are meant to use and grow from. If you use your gifts wisely you are rewarded. If you don’t you are the loser. But why was the person who became king a hated person and not a benevolent one? And why was the king so evil that he wanted his enemies slaughtered?
ReplyDeleteSuch a strange ending for a parable of Jesus.
Thinking about how long after Jesus’ resurrection this book was written, how could the author write these parables and accounts of things accurately. Could the author have been several people thinking back and recalling what they had heard happened?
Hmmm...I see your thoughts Cathy. In my opinion, like you say, all the texts of the New Testament were written well after Jesus' death. The Gospels were written in 60-90 AD; the epistles slightly before this. Most of the stories are second hand accounts. So what was the author trying to remember/ teach us! Great movement in thinking Cathy!
DeleteI found something interesting. This same story is in Matthew- chapter 25 vs 14-30. At the end of this version, vs 30 says “as for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness , where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
ReplyDeleteThis story had a master who gave money to slaves. It seems easier to see that Jesus wants us to do the best we can with what God gives us in life.
Maybe?? That’s my guess...
It is good to compare stories between the different Gospels. We can see lots of similarities, but then there are those slight differences. One author is trying to say one thing, a second author is trying to say something slightly different. Each gospel was written by a different author to a different audience. When I teach to one group I say one thing, but when I teach to a different group I may say slightly different things- depending on their levels and beliefs. Make sense? You are starting to see the complexity of reading and discussing the Gospels! Now, read the same story in three or four different translations! That will really open your eyes! Great thinking Cathy!
ReplyDeleteKnowing what I know today,I would risk ridicule, and probably do and yes Jesus would be welcome in my home, he knows everything about me anyway. Hopefully I am receiving his light, by studying and praying. Yes even in the church's today there are many sinfully things going on. God loves us so much he weeps. We still sin, but it is not mans way but God way.
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