April 16-Holy Tuesday

Good Holy Tuesday to you. the Tuesday of Holy (Passion) week. This was a very busy day for Jesus and one that must have left Him disheartened. When we read through the events of this day, it leaves us saddened on His behalf. This is the day just after He’d cleansed the temple, and told them they had been over charging the people to the point of stealing from them. The very ones who should have been helping to get people to God were keeping people away from worship because they didn’t have enough money. He’d just had enough of their hypocrisy. 

On this day, Jesus would condemn the religious authorities and at the same time let them know that He was indeed God. The cleansing of the Temple on Holy Monday caused the Pharisees to question Jesus’ right to do “these things” since He had not received His authority from the religious leaders . . .they wanted answers to which they believe they were entitled. 

They wanted to force Jesus to say that He had divine power from God then He could be charged with blasphemy, even arrested. But Jesus, much smarter than those snakes, agreed to answer their questions if they first answered whether John the Baptist’s work was human or divine. If divine, John’s preaching affirmed Jesus as divine. If human, those who followed John would riot. It was the Sanhedrin’s responsibility to know the difference between true and false prophets, yet they shamefully admitted they didn’t know. Thus, Jesus did not answer their question.  

“When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?” “I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?” They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn’t believe John. But if we say it was merely human, we’ll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.” So they finally replied, “We don’t know.” And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.”

‭‭Matt 21:23-27

Jesus gave His life—no one took it. He warned the crowds and disciples about the hypocrisy and unbelief of the nation’s religious leaders. Jesus pronounced seven condemnations (“Woes”) addressing the false religion that was abhorrent to God. When a (Mosaic) Law expert was sent to question Jesus about The Greatest Commandment, Jesus quickly summarized the entire Ten Commandments into two. The Old Testament established these two points: Love for God and love for others who are made in God’s image.

Lord Jesus, help us to recall the events of your last Tuesday as a man as we go about our day. Teach us the lessons we need to learn from these events and break our hearts like yours broke over the lost and dying, over those so blind that they cannot see and those who refuse the truth when confronted directly with it. There are no words or acts that we can offer to thank you enough for laying down your life that ours might be spared. We praise you Savior, Lord, Messiah. You are Jehovah, the Blessed Prince of Peace and we worship and adore you Jesus. Amen and amen. 

Love you dear one,

Pam.