An 8 Day Meditation for Holy Week

Tuesday
Scripture: Matthew 21:23-32; Mark 5:1-20 (The Authority of Jesus)

The crowd of onlookers were terrified. They begged and pleaded with Him to go away— far away. This previously tortured man who had lived like a wild animal among death and decay was now free, clothed and sitting with Jesus in his right mind. Who is This Jesus they asked? The demons obeyed Him and now the pigs are at the bottom of the cliff drowning! With this kind of authority and power, what will He do in our lives if He stays? It’s easier to put a possessed man in chains than to deal with This Jesus…

Jesus knew He was bringing fear to those who would rather stay in control and live in certainty than have their own kingdom turned upside down. He fully expected the Jewish leaders to question His authority more than ever before because He had just cleansed the temple again. In addition, This Jesus was now publicly receiving praise and honor revealing His claim to be the long awaited Messiah. He cleverly revealed the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders by showing them they never accepted the authority of John the Baptist who proclaimed the word of His arrival so how would they ever accept the authority of Jesus? The leaders agreed with the mindset of the previous crowd, it is easier to put people in spiritual chains than to deal with This Jesus.

Day 3 of our meditation brings about a few questions to ask ourselves as we ponder the authority of Jesus. Are we obedient to the word of God that has been revealed to us concerning Jesus? Will we accept His authority and invite Him in to our lives not knowing what He will do? Or are we more comfortable in our chains and our certainty? Let us continue to humbly come before This Jesus and ask Him to help us to accept His complete control over us. His love will set us free.