Mk 11:20-21
It is Tuesday of Holy Week, and our Lord got up early as the people of those days did. As their days started early at dawn and ended early at dusk. Him and His disciples leave Bethany, and headed back to Jerusalem, and when they came down the steep hill, they see the fig tree Jesus had cursed the day before. As mentioned yesterday, the fig tree represents the Jews and their lack of producing fruits, which are faith, justice and charity.
As Jesus and His disciples continue their journey to the temple, the Temple Leaders questioned Jesus’ authority. Mk 11:27-33.
Jesus got His authority:
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. 14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1,14).
These temple leaders tried to trap Jesus by asking Him a question. Jesus turned their question on them. They had a problem with Jesus saying He was God, and the Father and Him is one, and He is the only way to God the Father.
He was God in the flesh, and so when Jesus spoke, He spoke with God’s authority. Today, Jesus continues to speak with Authority as God, but are we listening to Him ? Do we question Jesus’ authority, or do we obey Him?
Since the leaders did not answer Jesus’ question, He did not answer theirs. Jesus continued with his teaching by telling them parables after parables ; to teach them about their wicked ways, and if they did not change, like the fig tree, they will perish. Unfortunately, the Jews did perish, and 40 years later, one million of them perish in an unnecessary war. The temple leaders were all about rituals and sacrifices(outward acts), and did not have faith or justice or charity in their hearts. They did not recognize Jesus for who He is, their long awaited Messiah.
As we walk with Jesus today on His final journey, can our lives be a lesson to teach others about Jesus? Do our family and friends see Jesus by the way we live, and by how we treat one another? Let us spend today in prayers, and fasting, and be more like Jesus.
Happy Tuesday of Holy Week!