Holy Week: Tuesday
[Jesus said] “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”
Tuesday was a busy day in Jesus’ last week of ministry. It would be his last full day of teaching, and the Bible tells us quite a lot about it. You can read about all the events of Jesus’ day in Matthew 21:18 through 26:16.
Entering the city in the early morning, his disciples saw the withered fig tree. Then they went to the temple courts where Jesus taught and his enemies lingered, trying to find something of which they could accuse him. They tried to set traps for him.
Beginning with a short story of two sons, Jesus goes on the attack. He directly accuses them of unfaithfulness – even saying that the immoral people they despise are receiving God’s forgiveness, but they are not.
He follows this story with the parable of the wicked tenants, in which he says that God will come and take away their inheritance. He tells about a royal wedding banquet in which those who were originally invited lose their place because they reject the invitation, but the people of the street are welcomed instead. In one story after another, Jesus challenges his opponents.
They try to trap him with a question about taxes, but Jesus turns it back on them. They try to trap him with a question about marriage in heaven, but Jesus uses it to prove their whole argument wrong. And then Jesus gives a series of warnings to those who believe that they can be justified by their good works.
At the end of the day Jesus returns to Bethany with his disciples, still teaching as they walk. He warns them sternly that the end of times is fast approaching, when there will be many attempts to deceive them and lead them away from faith in him. Finally, they share supper in the house of a man named Simon who had been a leper, and there a woman anoints Jesus with precious perfume. Jesus says it is to prepare him for burial. As all the rest prepare to sleep, Judas goes out into the darkness to arrange a price to betray him.
Are you tired? What a day! So much happened in that short time, but there was really only one point in all Jesus’ teaching. The world will offer many things. Some may even seem very good and moral and important. But only one thing matters – that we remain in him.
Are Tuesdays busy days for you? And are your thoughts pulled this way and that, as the many false teachers tried to do? Like the disciples we may be confused. But all will be well if we follow the Savior. Remain in him!
Prayer: Dear Jesus, let me dine with you this evening. If only I could anoint you with a gift as the woman did. Lord, receive my broken and repentant heart as your own, and let me follow you to the cross. Amen.