FOUR DAYS TO EASTER!
Wednesday, Nisan 13. April 1 in 33 A D. March 31 in 2010.
Reading for today:
Matthew 26:14-16
Mark 14:10-11
Luke 22:1-6
Jesus very likely went back to Bethany on Tuesday evening. He had taught in the temple...and later on the Mount of Olives with just 4 of his disciples.
He had silenced the religious leaders for the moment by asking them a question about John the Baptist in response to their question about his authority. It was a good tactic. I know that I don't have to enter every debate - that there is a difference between responding to sincere searching or defiant defenses - one being constructive, and one not. Jesus had already made His claims clear. Their hearts were not receptive and He knew it. In fact, their only purpose in asking the question was to add one more arrow to their quiver with which to pierce Him. They were out for blood.
Wednesday is a quiet day as far as Biblical records show. Jesus may have spent the day quietly with friends in Bethany, may have spent the day alone in quiet contemplation, or 'more of the same' - - talking to people who came out to Him on the Mount of Olives. We don't know. What we do know is that the prince of darkness was working overtime in his attempt to destroy the Prince of Peace. Today's readings make that very apparent.
We've known for several days that the Chief Priests and Pharisees were looking for a way to kill Jesus. In the accounts we've read they didn't plan to do it during the Feast of the Passover because there were just too many people in town, and they feared a riot...but all of the events over the recent days were just too much for them. Jesus enraged them by not quelling the worshipping crowds on Sunday when He rode into the city in a way that declared His status as Messiah. Jesus had the audacity to overturn the money-changers tables and drive out those who were selling doves. Jesus dared ask the Chief Priests and Pharisees a question instead of answering theirs when they asked by whose authority He did these things. Jesus was going to cause them to lose their political place if they didn't silence Him. It was all about self-preservation in their view. They didn't realize they, the religious, were being used as pawns in Satan's plan.
They were searching for a way - - and Judas, one of his 'devoted' followers provided them exactly what they wanted. They must have thought it was "God's will" when it worked out so ideally for them! Luke tells us: 'Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.'
This is a Lola 'bunny trail' - but I have tried to understand what Judas' line of thinking really was. Was he in it for the glory - - believed that Jesus was the Messiah, and wanted to ride his coattails to personal aggrandizement and position? Did he start out good - and then fail because of too much temptation in being the one who handled the money for the group? Did he recognize Jesus truly was the Messiah and feel Jesus needed a nudge to pull out all the stops and be the militant-victor-type many believed the Messiah would be? Did Satan somehow deceive him into 'taking things into His own hands' to help that happen - convincing him that the end justified the means? Was he just purely self-centered and a tad miffed that Jesus reprimanded him for saying the Oil of Nard Mary poured on Jesus' head should be sold and given to the poor. Did he think it unfair that he didn't have that money at his disposal? I don't know.... We do know he had an unhealthy greed for money.... Perhaps that alone was his Achilles' heel.
We know that those who wanted Jesus destroyed were delighted with the arrangement, and that their scheme involved Judas' giving Jesus to them when no crowds were present so they could do their dastardly deed in secret. Plotting pitiful perpetrators of unparalleled proportion.
Back at the ranch - meaning what was happening with Jesus and his followers - we just don't know. In Jewish tradition the evening began the day, so they could logically have begun their preparation for the Passover feast after 6 p m on Tuesday - on what we would still call Wednesday, but I'll stay 'western' and deal with that tomorrow....
What I do know is that Jesus' heart was full - and heavy. Full of love for us, and heavy for all that was soon to come...he couldn't know exactly what the pain would feel like - but he knew it was going to be horrific. He knew the events and the timing. He knew He would suffer intense agony. All for you. All for me. What amazing love.
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