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Tag: jerusalem

  • Your Mistake – Leaders Handling Controversy

    Your Mistake – Leaders Handling Controversy

    Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.

    Matthew 22:29 NLT

    An Answer to Controversy

    How do leaders under constant scrutiny of the public eye handle controversy?

    Perhaps a leader or two from our times may come to mind. A typical scenario: A leader makes a statement, then media analyze endlessly, opponents criticize constantly and the controversy recycles. It’s always an “us versus them” scenario, with spins in the marketplace of public opinion. What is true, what’s best, what is or should have been required?

    I could point out the obvious that God is a ruler or leader above all things and all mankind. Yet many would question even this prerequisite to leading others in the paths of righteousness and prevailing in the truth.

    No man has ever been such a controversial leader as Christ Jesus. He was proclaimed as ‘King of the Jews.’ We won’t see many leaders follow in His example; for our Lord was crucified on a Cross.

    The crucifixion of Jesus Christ seems like our biggest loss of any leader ever, but in truth His Sacrifice is a victory over sin. No other man could do that!

    Jerusalem in the time of the Passover

    Few places become more important for celebrations of religious festivals than Jerusalem. Israel’s most important celebration is the Passover, a celebration of the miracles of the Lord in Egypt. When the Hebrew people escaped Pharaoh they could not have done it without the Lord. Moses may be given much credit, but the scriptures record how many miracles of God made freedom possible.

    Two-thousand and some years ago an upcoming leader among the captive jews in their own land challenged the teaching of Jerusalem’s authorities. Jesus of Nazareth made pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover festival from another captive part of Rome’s empire.

    No man was ever so controversial as Jesus and even to this day no man is more controversial than Jesus.

    Jesus, Son of Man, has been teaching among the Jews for three years. He had taught in Jerusalem before, but by now Jesus has crowds following Him. Christ Jesus creates not only converts but also controversy.

    A Triumphal King of Controversy

    Jesus a King of controversy approaches Jerusalem

    Crowds of worshipers lay palm branches before this King of the Jews, followed by multitudes to the gates of Jerusalem guarded by Romans. The good news spreads quickly to those who do not know Him. Jesus spoke truly the words of controversy many suppressed in their hearts. His words ignited a new hope in their down-trodden lives.

    Furthermore, many followers witness the recent resurrection of Lazarus in nearby Bethany to others in the crowd. Here comes a King with power!

    On Monday Jesus storms into the Temple, overturning the tables of its merchant money changers. The crowds have all heard of Jesus controversial teaching of the past three years. Followers echo His words.

    Matthew 10:

    34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword… 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household… 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

    Matthew 11:

    16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? …18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

     20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.

    Matthew 12:6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

    38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

    Jesus IS Controversial

    No human intellect can stand against the immeasurable knowledge of God. Yer many attempt to find flaws in scripture or in the answers of Jesus. In fact, the religious authorities do not even agree with each other.

    For three years Jesus of Nazareth challenges pharisees, sadducees, scribes and rabbis. He taught on the mountains, by the seashore and in synagogues throughout Galilee, Samaria and Judea. Even the names of these Roman provinces differed from cultural references by the captive jews.

    Controversy: who rules over this captive promised land?

    After making the entrance of a King and entry into the Temple with all Authority, Jesus will answer accusations of those in power. He answers with truth, even though Jerusalem’s powerful leaders seek to murder the innocent Son of Man.

    Matthew 22:

    15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17 Tell us, then, what you think…

    The Passover Sacrifice

    The true controversy of Christ will be a Passover Sacrifice which changes the relationship of Almighty God to created sinners.

    Jesus Christ IS the Good News of Easter and the resurrection. The King or Kings and Lord of Lords leads His subjects differently than every man.

    He IS God With Us! Controversial to any created man or flesh, who will not bow down to the Creator King.

    To be continued…

    Your Mistake – You don’t know the Scriptures

  • Times of Difficulty – 2

    Times of Difficulty – 2

    Signs of the Times

    [Introduction to this this series – part 1, in case you missed it.]

    Matthew 16:

    And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

    Pharisees, teachers, men of authority, including Sadducees who wielded great power over corporate worship want to debate with Jesus. Knowing the great signs Jesus has done for others they ask to see a miracle. (Perform for us, if you are the Son of God.) Show us a sign.

    He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’  And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’

    You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

    An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.

    Are we so different? Are we not learned men and enlightened women? What sign of the risen Christ do we show those who live ungodly lives?

    Prophesy of Jesus

    Later Jesus would warn those of the present day of the Apostles, Pharisees, Sadducees and Roman occupiers even more things of these last days.

    Luke 21:

    5 And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

    7 And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”

    Jerusalem

    8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray.

    For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’

    Do not go after them.

    9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”

    Did Rome destroy Jerusalem and the Temple? Have many gone after false prophets who have led astray?

    Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution

    10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

    11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences.

    And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

     

    12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness.

    How soon we forget our unity in terror and faith under God.

    24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

    The Coming of the Son of Man

    25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

    27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

    To be continued…

     

  • for it was not the season for figs – 6

    for it was not the season for figs – 6

    When I would gather them, declares the LORD,
    there are no grapes on the vine,
    nor figs on the fig tree;
    even the leaves are withered,
    and what I gave them has passed away from them.”

    Jeremiah 8:13

    Jesus’ Lament over Jerusalem’s crowds

    Recall the fig tree and all the symbols of Jerusalem. You can almost hear Jesus lamenting:

    “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!

    How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

    See, your house is left to you desolate. – Matthew 23:37-38

    Even as Babylon had devoured Israel from the Euphrates to the Jordan, Rome ruled with an iron hand. Even as Jeremiah prophesied against Judah (now Judea), the crowds knew Jesus could save them from Rome.

    Not just Jesus but the crowds of Jerusalem as well ALL knew scripture (so much better than 21st c. christians.

    Deuteronomy 9:5

    It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the Lord your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

    Perhaps you can hear Jesus preach this to the crowds who wanted a King to defeat the Rome who ruled Galilee, Samaria and Judea.

    The Lord says: I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the Lord your God..

    “Break up your fallow ground,
    and sow not among thorns.
    Circumcise yourselves to the Lord;
    remove the foreskin of your hearts,
    O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem;
    lest my wrath go forth like fire,
    and burn with none to quench it,
    because of the evil of your deeds.”

    Again, thorns and the fire, not the fig tree bearing fruit.

    You may have guessed it:

    This is not Jesus preaching about Rome prior to cursing a fig tree. It well could have been Jesus’ commentary on preaching of the Prophets from scripture.

    Repentance of scripture — from six hundred years earlier — from the Prophet Jeremiah who was ignored and then rejected in Judea — and dismissed in this day of first century Judea as warnings of Scripture are frequently rejected and dismissed in these last days of the 23rd century.

    Jeremiah’s warning to Jerusalem

    6:9 Thus says the Lord of hosts:
    “They shall glean thoroughly as a vine
    the remnant of Israel;
    like a grape gatherer pass your hand again
    over its branches.”
    10 To whom shall I speak and give warning,
    that they may hear?

    Again, the vine. The fruit of Israel taken by its enemies.

    And that is exactly what happened as Babylon defeated Jeremiah's Judah.

Powerful Rome ruled over Jerusalem, not the Jews. The Temple was symbol of political power, not actual rule.

    “Certainly worship of the Lord had become symbolic lost hope for Israel.”

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com

    “A great prophet has arisen among us!”

    The crowds following Jesus to Jerusalem knew of the recent resurrection of Lazarus in Judea!

    They knew of Jesus’ miracle of raising a boy from his coffin in Nain of Galilee.

    Scripture is witness of the great prophet Elijah raising a child from the dead.

    Jesus Resurrecting the Son of the Widow of Nain (oil on canvas) by Pierre Bouillon

    A King and Prophet rides into Jerusalem, then later curses a fig tree.

    These hopeful jews captive in their own land most likely ignored Jesus when the Lord had preached from Jeremiah and many other prophets.

    DYK: John the Baptist also quoted Jeremiah?

    We can almost hear Jesus or John the Baptizer preaching these words of repentance to a people without ears to hear from Jeremiah 7:11 and in the Prophet's context understand Jerusalem even more.
    Jeremiah 7:

    Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. 4 Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’

    11 Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the Lord.

    16 “As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you.

    17 Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

    27 “So you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you.

    You shall call to them, but they will not answer you.

    28 And you shall say to them,

    ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the Lord their God,

    and did not accept discipline;

    truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips.

    Jeremiah 8:

    When men fall, do they not rise again?
    If one turns away, does he not return?

    5 Why then has this people turned away
    in perpetual backsliding?

    They hold fast to deceit;
    they refuse to return.

    6 I have paid attention and listened,
    but they have not spoken rightly;
    no man relents of his evil,
    saying, ‘What have I done?’

    … but my people know not the rules of the Lord.
    8 “How can you say, ‘We are wise,
    and the law of the Lord is with us’?

    But behold, the lying pen of the scribes
    has made it into a lie.
    9 The wise men shall be put to shame;
    they shall be dismayed and taken;
    behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord,

    so what wisdom is in them?

    … from prophet to priest,
    everyone deals falsely.

    … saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
    when there is no peace.

    When I would gather them, declares the Lord,
    there are no grapes on the vine,
    nor figs on the fig tree;
    even the leaves are withered,
    and what I gave them has passed away from them.”

    Jeremiah 8:13

    14 Why do we sit still?
    Gather together; let us go into the fortified cities
    and perish there,
    for the Lord our God has doomed us to perish
    and has given us poisoned water to drink,
    because we have sinned against the Lord.
    15 We looked for peace, but no good came;
    for a time of healing, but behold, terror.

    Recalling Jesus’ words from the fields of Galilee

    I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.

    A greater than Elijah, greater than Moses, Messiah incarnate has come to the gates of Jerusalem, cleared out the temple and cursed a fig tree.

    To be continued..