Holy Week: What Gives You The Rights?

Luke 20: 1 One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders 2 and said to him, "Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?" 3 He answered them, "I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: 4 Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" 5 They discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, "From heaven,' he will say, "Why did you not believe him?' 6 But if we say, "Of human origin,' all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet." 7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8 Then Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." 9 He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenants, and went to another country for a long time. 10 When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 Next he sent another slave; that one also they beat and insulted and sent away empty-handed. 12 And he sent still a third; this one also they wounded and threw out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, "What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.' 14 But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, "This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.' 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When they heard this, they said, "Heaven forbid!" 17 But he looked at them and said, "What then does this text mean: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'? 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." 19 When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people. (NRSV)

Jesus' work in the Temple was not complete simply because He cleared it of those who were misusing it. Jesus returns the next day to continue to share His message from God. This might have been the last place you or I would have chosen to spend our last week on earth, after all, we have just lost the popularity contest by driving out the money-changers and the flea market merchants of the Temple. But Jesus had a mission and He was faithful to it. He returns and continues to share the message of good news. It's a simple message, God loves you! Yet, it was a message that was not being shared; the message was a series of Don't Do this and Don't do that. Not a very appealing message and one that was not reaching the heart of the people. They were hurting. They knew they were sinful, but what can be done about it? How do I find my way out of this life that I'm leading, ruled and ruined by sin? Jesus' message was from God, that in God we find forgiveness and freedom; in God we find a relationship that values us and makes us worthy even though the world does not.

And those preaching the Don'ts and Don'ts come and ask Jesus, "What gives you the right to challenge our message and proclaim this God we don't seem to know?" Keep in mind that they were not asking because of yesterday's or Sunday's events; they had heard the reports of this itinerant rabbi and his miracles and his teachings, they wanted to know, where do you come from and what authority do you have to do what you're doing? Jesus answers them with a question. "Did those baptisms that John performed, were those from Heaven or did he just make them up?" Great question. The baptism of John had served to bring a lot of people answers about their uncleanness and their sins. John baptized them and shared with them the good news about sins being taken away. So, the religious leaders fretted, "If we say from Heaven, then the next question will be, since you guys are supposedly in the 'Heaven business', how come you did not believe? Yet, if we say 'He made it up', all the people will surely rise up against us and kill us because they were sure that John was a prophet sent by God." Playing it safe, they said they did not know.

Jesus then tells another of His stories that illustrate a deeper point and meaning. This one was about the owner of a vineyard and his tenants. The owner sent someone to collect the rent. The tenants beat him and sent him home with nothing. The owner sent a second one, and the same result. The owner a third time sends a third messenger and again, the same result. The owner thinks to send his own son, thinking they would respect and obey the son. The tenants killed him thinking this murder might result in their inheriting this land that was not theirs. Jesus asks, "What do you suppose the owner will do now? I'll tell you what he'll do; he'll come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyards to new tenants. Those hearing this story said, "Heaven forbid!" Jesus replies with scripture, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." And Jesus asked, "What does that mean?" It was then the religious leaders realized it was a saying against them and they way they had lived their lives, and their hatred towards Jesus increased all the more.

What a day that was, and it would get even worse. And again, it was because of God's love for you and me.

PRAYER: Loving God, Your plans for me sometimes make me wonder and tremble; yet, I accept Your love and the way Jesus expressed it for me. Help me to live my life in a way to speaks to those still ignorant of Your love; help me to reach even those who have given up on Your love and sought to live a life away from You. This I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Update: Rev. Scott Herren had a successful hip surgery yesterday and will be in the hospital four days before beginning rehab. Thank you all for your prayers.