Jesus’ Last Confrontations
Jesus is in the region of Judea on the other side of the Jordan. He went here after nearly being stoned. This is His last confrontation with the Pharisees, prior to going to Jerusalem.
I discovered that things are out of order again; at least it looks like that to me. These events look like they are between the Feast of Dedication and the resurrection of Lazarus. I’ll put them in order for the book, when the time comes. For now, we will take a step back in time.
Jesus has fewer Pharisees to deal with on the far side of the Jordan. But they still come. And they are still trying to trap Him. They still fall short. Let’s rejoin our story as Jesus smacks them down again and embraces the hearts of the children.
Holy Spirit, guide this journey again today. It is interesting to me how, as we come closer to the day of celebrating Jesus’ birth, that You and I are approaching His death. Hold me fast as I walk the stories that began before creation, and culminated in the fulfillment of God’s eternal promise. Take me where You will.
♥ ♦ ♥
Jesus’ disciples are keeping a watchful eye out. It wasn’t long ago that they walked with Jesus, right through the hands of an angry mob, ready to stone Him. Those memories live on in their nightmares. But Jesus refuses to live in fear or to allow His disciples to as well.
A group of Pharisees are approaching Jesus’ encampment. Simon and Peter jump to their feet. Each intent on protecting Jesus. Changing Simon’s name to Peter didn’t fully change his personality or desire to protect Jesus.
Jesus calls to them. “It’s alright. Let them come.”
Both men relax their shoulders, just a little. They stay alert though, watching for the first signs of trouble. They nod to one another, understanding radiating between them. “They won’t hurt Jesus. This I swear!”
Jesus stands tall as the Pharisees near Him. He has been teaching a group of people most of the day. He waits to see what the Pharisees have for Him today. Without preamble, they launch into their latest ‘trap’.
“Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” (Matthew 19:3).
Jesus looks at them with absolute authority and knowledge. “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:4-6)
“We have Him now” they think. Their leader continues on with the questioning. “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” (Matthew 19:7).
Jesus shakes His head and answers; “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery” (Matthew 19:8-9).
Jesus’ voice rings with authority as He says these final words. As quickly as they came, the Pharisees leave. This time though, their heads are not held high. Their big ‘idea’ to trap Jesus in front of the people has fallen flat; again.
As the Pharisees retreat, Jesus’ disciples come closer to Him. Their hearts are troubled after hearing Jesus’ answer.
“If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry” (Matthew 19:10) Andrew says.
Jesus smiles. He knows that what He has said is not easy, but remaining separate is not easy either. With complete sincerity he answers their concern.
“Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it” (Matthew 19:11-12).
Peter breathes a sigh of relief, for he is already married. And he wouldn’t trade his wife for anything, except Jesus. Jesus’ words don’t condemn him.
While the disciples are digesting Jesus’ words, several parents have gathered their children and make their way towards Jesus. Matthew and Bartholomew step in their path.
“Don’t bother the Teacher. Give Him space. Take these children back.”
“We only want Jesus to bless them” one of the fathers says.
“He doesn’t have time…”
Jesus calls out from behind them; Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14).
Matthew and Bartholomew step aside and the parents walk past. Jesus opens His arms as the children approach. Most break free of their parent’s hands and go running to Jesus. He enfolds them all as they cling to Him. His face is radiant as He strokes their heads and returns their embrace.
He pronounces blessings over them, individually and corporately. “This is the future of Israel. A childlike faith is required to enter into the Kingdom of God. Anyone who receives one of these little ones in My name, receives Me.”
Jesus looks up at the parents and others standing around watching His display of love. “Be careful that you don’t cause on of these little ones to sin. For their angels are watching over them at all times. Train them up in the ways of the Lord. Be their example, their teacher, and their corrector when needed.”
It takes a while, but the children finally disengage from Jesus and return to their parents and to their play. Jesus watches the last of them retreat back into the crowd. His heart is full. He has received as much as He gave from this encounter.
Not long after the children go off to play, an obviously rich man steps up near Jesus.
“Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16)
Jesus knows his heart. He is seeking acknowledgement of what he has ‘already done’ as worthy of eternal life. “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17).
“Which ones?” (Matthew 19:18a) he asks while ringing his hands.
Jesus begins to list the commandments relating to man’s relationship with man. “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 19:18b-19).
The young man breathes a sigh of relief, but he still knows in his heart that something is missing. “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” (Matthew 19:20).
Jesus looks him straight in the eyes and says, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21).
The man’s face goes white as the blood drains from it. “I CANNOT do this” he says in his heart as he turns and walks away. “He doesn’t understand what He is asking of me.”
The disciples watch him as he walks away. Jesus sees them watching without understanding the truth of the matter. He speaks the hard truth.
“Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:23-24).
The disciples are astonished by Jesus words. “Who then can be saved?” (Matthew 19:25).
Jesus looks at each of them before answering. “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
Peter is thinking all this over. He gives voice to his thoughts. “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” (Matthew 19:27).
Jesus again looks at each of them “Truly, I say to you, in the new world,[b] when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first” (Matthew 19:28-30).
Jesus knows that they don’t fully understand. He chooses a parable to help them along the way to understanding; knowing that they won’t fully understand for some time to come. He is planting seeds in their hearts.
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius[a] a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:1-16).
No one says anything. They all ponder this for a while, wondering how this story will work into their lives with Jesus. They are certain that it will, someday. But for now, it doesn’t make sense to them.
(to be continued)
So much of what Jesus said wasn’t understood until after His death and resurrection. I truly believe that it was the Holy Spirit that opened their eyes and hearts. He opens our eyes to understand too. Jesus’ words make no sense in the natural order of things.
Who ever heard of paying a man who has worked an hour the same as you would a man who worked all day? NOT something you would see in the business world. But loving someone who comes to Jesus today as much as He loves His disciples; THAT’S God! He cherishes each of us from the moment we come to Him. And He gives us all the reward of eternity with Him. Yes. There will be different ‘rewards’ concerning the ‘treasures we store up in Heaven’ during our time on earth. But spending eternity with Him is FAR MORE precious than anything else.
Father God, thank You for Your promises. Thank You that I will spend forever with You. There is NO greater gift. And it IS a GIFT! It is not something that I earned. THANK YOU for thinking of me from the very beginning. I PRAY I still have child like faith.
