Easter Together, Day 6, Tuesday - 'Controversy, An Offering and Me'

Our record of what took place on Tuesday of our ‘Holy Week’ beings at Mark 11:19ff and also at Matthew 21:19ff as Jesus passed along the Fig Tree, now withered, with His disciples in making His way back to the Temple.  Though Matthew is not clear as to whether their viewing of the tree happened on the ‘next day’ or not, Mark’s record is – helping us so ascertain.

Beyond this, Luke opines a reminder of what Jesus did on that day - a day comprising an arduous ‘day of controversy’ brought by the religious elite engaging Him in repeated questions only meant to ‘trip’ Him up.  Throughout the day they will come, yet Christ shows repeated power and wisdom revealing He is Christ, God’s Son.   

And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.

 Luke 21: 37-38

Now from here on Matthew (chapter 21) and Mark (chapter 11) will run chronologically forward, but Luke – concerned less with chronology - jumps back to chapter 20 to find this account -

One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.”  
Luke 20: 1-2

But in all cases, whether Matthew Mark Luke or John, from here Christ is engaged in conversations in which ulterior purposes abound.  These are not questions for knowledge sake, but born from pride and of treachery. From these many of our favorite parables come.  When questioned as to authority, Jesus uses a query re: the baptism of John as His own, then follows with parables of the vineyard, Husbandman and Marriage Feast of the King. When questioned as to paying tribute to Caesar, Jesus suggests looking closely to the coins they hold - showing, once again, His wisdom and mastery - not just of the question but over the hearts of those who do. Yes, but in each of these my favorite event of all is the simple occurrence and telling observation of Jesus, which reminds us that Christ is always most concerned - not with what we say, but with what comes from our heart - with not only our words, but our deeds.  

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on. 
Mark 12: 41-44

Like so many of you, Belinda and I are blessed. We know we are fortunate to have what we have, live where we live, and serve with whom we serve.  As I think about this day in the life of Christ, and all He encountered and put up with, His observance of this widow as she made her offering to God must have been a welcome, refreshing sight.  As I think about this, my prayer for this "Tuesday of controversy" is that I might be more like the widow and less like the crowd.  Not just today, but always….

Pastor Sam