“Now My heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour?’ No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from Heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” John 12:27-28 (Matthew 21:12-16, Mark 11:12:19, Luke 19:45-48 and John 12:20-36)
Jesus’ time on earth is closing swiftly. As children praise Him, He begins to freely speak of His crucifixion. He also curses a fig tree in illustration of a Temple that has become useless and produces nothing of value.
There were some important facts all Jews understood from the prophets of old. They knew that the Christ would never die and reign forever. The fact that Jesus was human and His life was in danger caused them great confusion. The everyday man wanted desperately to believe, but could not reconcile death and the person they strongly suspected was the long awaited Messiah. In the lesson of the seed of wheat, Jesus explains why He MUST die.
Near the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, He cleared the Temple of merchants and money changers. On Monday before His death, He repeats this act. The Temple is precious, the earthly representation of God’s dwelling among men. The Pharisees have become hypocrites and are allowing the Temple to be a common marketplace with inflated prices for the connivence of onsite purchase. It was not appropriate to pay tithe or give an offering with money baring the likeness of the emperor. One must exchange their Roman money for Jewish money before giving to God. This could be done in the market for a reasonable exchange rate, but to save a few steps, (the synagogue was between the residential area and the commercial center of town) you could exchange your coins for a higher cost. Rich Jews were exploiting the poor. They were also selling sacrificial animals in the same manner. This behavior was despicable to Jesus. He cleansed the Temple, but angered those in authority who were profiting from these practices.
In the words above we are privy to a conversation between Father and Son. Jesus dreads His coming horrors. He is still human, yet He draws strength by going to His Father. His Father responds in loving, “We’ve Got This” mode. The darker our days become, the more we draw ourselves inward, thus cutting off our source of power and strength. Jesus drew closer and closer to God, pouring out His legitimate concerns and questions. In this manner He became immune to Satan’s fury as the two went face to face in battle for your soul.
Jesus modeled a life, moment to moment, of petition and prayer. We are invited to the same relationship with Our Father.
Love,
Gretchen