Testing Times
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During the Easter season, we often skip through the events of the week from Palm Sunday to Good Friday, which means we sometimes overlook the spiritual battle raging between the temple authorities and Jesus, who has entered Jerusalem like a King and cleared the money changers as if the temple belonged to him.
Rather than gentle Jesus meek and mild, we discover Jesus standing his ground in a face to face, toe to toe struggle with the Jewish authorities in the temple. With courage, wisdom and eloquence Jesus engages with the heavyweights of Judaism, fending off their questions while at the same time turning the tables on them, revealing their lack of authority and limited grasp of the scriptures. In Matthew 21-22, we learn Jesus is staking his claim as the Son of God in the temple, the spiritual heart of the Jewish people. He claims to be the expected Messiah, and he pronounces dreadful judgement on the religious leaders who refuse to recognise him. In this series, be encouraged and challenged to consider your response to Jesus' claim to be King and Lord. |