Wow! Today was a really strange day! Not at all what I
expected! Yesterday ended with killing the fatted calf and today began with yet
another great feed; Martha’s unleavened bread is to die for. Then we headed
into Jerusalem again. No big crowds today, but the anticipation in the group
was massive. I noted that the women,
especially Martha’s sister Mary, were as excited as the men. Some of them are also
keen to be involved in the war—I heard them talking about Deborah last night. I
am not so sure, but Yeshua doesn’t seem fazed at all. They are getting more
involved since Mary sat at his feet. He is so inclusive. Anyway, we were well
fed and ready for war!
All except for Yeshua who hadn’t eaten with us; he was
starving, the result of another night praying on the Mount. I really think he
should have had a feed and got some sleep for the conflict ahead.
As we headed toward Jerusalem we walked past a fig-tree and,
hungry as he was, Yeshua wanted a feed. He chose it because it was covered in
leaves and so should have had fruit on it—even though it was early in the
season for fruit. But he found nothing there. We were surprised that he was
really annoyed. We heard him speak to the tree, cursing it with barrenness, and
then moving on. I had never seen him do anything quite like it before. Normally
he speaks words of life and fruitfulness. As usual, there is likely some double
meaning in this—perhaps it is symbolic of the end of the Romans. Whatever, he seemed
in a bit of a mood. As I thought about it, that pleased me—he needs to be full
of fire to be ready to attack the Romans. They won’t go down easily! As it
turned out he was fired up, but not to do what we expected.
We entered Jerusalem again. We were keyed up. After all, today
was the day he would begin the revolution, or at least get preparations under
way. He led us to the temple, not that surprising—the ideal place to call the
people of Israel to his side. The leaders were gathered watching him. But none
of us, them included, expected what happened next. He went into the outer court,
the court of the Gentiles. He pulled out some cords of rope he had brought with
him and wandered around, looking intense. He wove them together as he walked—perhaps
in preparation for a sign I thought. Suddenly, without warning, he went
ballistic. With great force, he took what I now know was a self-made whip, and started
driving out the sellers, overturning the tables of those who took the money
from the pilgrims for sacrifices, and the seats of the pigeon sellers. The whole
sacrifice system ground to a halt, such was his force! He cried out, “My house
shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations” and “you have made it a
den of robbers.” We all recognised the words—they were the words of the
prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah. Their words were not well received 600–700 years
ago, what was he doing?
As you would expect, he was soon challenged by the
leaders seeking a sign. Now was his moment! I wondered what he would do? I am
sure it would be good. Instead of a sign however, he said something about
destroying the temple and raising it up in three days—what the? It is
enough to stop the sacrifices! Destroy the temple! Whose side is he on? Naturally
they asked how he could rebuild a temple that had taken 46 years to build in
three days! He gave no answer. Yeshua talks in riddles. Why didn’t he just do a
sign to demonstrate who he is?
I was stunned and totally confused! I wondered, “are you crazy
Yeshua? If you want the leaders and men of Israel to join you, this is not the
way to do it! Shutting down the sacrifice system and provocation is not the way
to get them involved in the revolution. They will kill you!”
The other disciples and I looked around terrified. The
leaders, the Pharisees, Sadducees, members of the Sanhedrin, priests and
Levites, withdrew and stood in huddles talking. To say that they were furious
is putting it mildly!—they looked thoroughly murderous! I thought they would
arrest him there and then, but they held back. I am not sure why. I wouldn’t
have blamed them if they had attacked him. I even thought about stopping him
myself.
I even wondered if he was having a breakdown? Many leaders believe
he has a demon—this kind of looked like he does! I have no idea what to make of
it all! Unless this is some crazy preamble to revealing who he is? I still have
hope, but only a glimmer!
After a few hours of this mayhem he turned and left the
Temple courts. I still don’t know how he got away with it. We followed him back
to Bethany in total disarray. This was not what we expected. A day that had started
so glorious and hopeful is now in ruins. He will really have an uphill climb
now to win the leaders over. Who is the real enemy here? He seems hell-bent of
antagonising his own people—I thought it was all about the Kingdom of Israel! Where
was this going?
Now we are back in Bethany. This time the food doesn’t
interest me. I think I will go for a walk with some of the guys to see if we can
make sense of it. Our hopes are in tatters! Where is this going?
Comments