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"It Wasn't a Bad Mood"
“It Wasn’t a Bad Mood”
Andrew’s eye’s shifted towards Nathan and watched him as his countenance fell and a sigh escaped from the group. Jesus flipped the broad fig leaf back and shook another limb. This was unnecessary. The fig wasn’t in season. What was Jesus doing?
After a moment Jesus stood and breathed a curse against the fruitless plant. Silence ensued. The air was pregnant with tension. The Master began to descend toward the Kidron valley below, working his way along the switchback trail to avoid the rocks and foliage.
Andrew stepped silently in His shadow. He always positioned himself to be as close to Jesus as could be, but not today. The events of last evening had put a dark pall and foreboding on the normally bright, energetic teacher.
Yesterday afternoon had begun with a miracle. At least it was to Andrew. Jesus had sent Bartholomew and Nathanial into the city to bring a donkey back, with instructions that were unreasonable. At least to most they would have been. Who would ever believe that the owner would have so easily granted the use of the colt? Then Jesus had sat calmly atop the unbroken animal that acted like it had years of extensive training.
All the way into Jerusalem the crowed had laid palm branches before the Master and had cried “Lord help us.” Andrew had wept. Then Jesus had toured the Temple, watching the offerings and pomp as the evening darkened and the priests began their traditions of the treasury and reception of gifts.
Now Andrew wondered what had caused Jesus to have such a dark mood.
As they entered the city, Jesus picked up his pace. Moving quickly to the court of the gentiles, he strolled intently to a table with woven, leather containers that had held their sacrifices. Jesus began to busy himself. A moment later bedlam ensued as Jesus raged and swung indiscriminately at the Temples occupants. Peter placed a hand across the chest of Andrew as he moved to intercept the Master. They looked angrily at one another, their eyes measuring the challenge. After a moment Peter’s eyes softened and he shook his head.
It wasn’t a bad mood.
That day in history had some of the most important, relative events for the church of today. Jesus had watched as the avaristic priorities from the temple had removed all semblance of what each shadow represented. They were to point to the “Savior.” Instead over the years the polishing and replacing of the vessels had changed the priorities from looking unto God, to looking to “improve” the uniqueness of the vessels and increasing their glimmer and beauty. Instead of seeing the multitudes outside their walls crying for a healer, they figured ways to bring in the neighborhood affluent to embellish and strengthen their coiffeurs.
Once Jesus had “cleansed” the Temple, he would not allow any offerings to be brought into the treasury.
That day Jesus had both physically and symbolically taken the authority from the Levitical priesthood. The fig tree and the purging of the “money changers” had established His will for a new generation of priests. One’s who were out of the order of Melchizedec.
While our attention is mesmerized by the cultural events of the hour, we waste time writing, talking, visiting on how we can prevent/pass issues to allow us to reach beyond our own responsibilities. We discuss events that have fear and anguish, that bring division amongst the brethren.
From silent helicopters and end-time prophesy, from preterism to divine flesh, from TV or no TV, our hours are spent energetically figuring ways to re-energize and re-identify ourselves to reach the masses because of imagined conspiracies.
While inside our city are unknown people willing to give anything they have to the Lord. While just outside our walls there awaits a multitude crying “oh Lord help us.”
Our closed doors are not because we have done everything for those God has given us and we need to reach beyond our world for different faces. Our financial needs are not so we can invest in “new ways” to bring in capitol. It could be that the Lord walked our streets and heard the cry from those outside the temple and looked inside and found mixed up priorities.
God is moving. Are we really reaching for those nearby who need a voice of healing? Or are we so busy with progress and development that we’re missing the point.
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