Tuesday, March 30 Holy Week Day Five

Scripture Reading: Mark 11:27-13:37

After His harsh encounter with the Passover merchants, Jesus returned to the temple again the next day. This time He was met with some pretty antagonistic folks, no doubt still reeling from their eviction from the place of worship a day earlier. They came at Jesus with a litany of questions, trying to trip Him up at some point of theology. Every question He handled with wisdom extraordinaire! He was not only powerful, humble, and grace-giving…He was smart! They asked Him about taxes, divorce, and the after-life, but on every point He was up to their challenge.

One of the scribes, who had been observing Jesus and listening to the debate, noted that Jesus answered each question fully. He could not be tricked. Sincerely it seems, he asked Jesus, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” (Mark 12:28) The reply of Jesus is readily recognized. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your mind, and with all your soul…”, and then for good measure Jesus added, “…You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:29-31). Isn’t it interesting that just three days before His death, Jesus was not only talking about loving God but also loving your neighbor. As they left the temple, the disciples inquired of Jesus about the temple and its magnificent architecture. Jesus reminded them that the time was coming that the temple would be destroyed and with that sign they should begin looking for a time of great persecution that would be experienced in waves throughout history. But, ultimately, as Jesus made clear, He would return and vindicate the people of God and bring salvation. This too was a discussion of Jesus less than 72 hours before He would be brutally tortured on the cross.

I find the subject matter of Jesus’ discussions in His last hours quite fascinating. Loving our neighbor as ourselves and expecting Christ’s return are not often the focus of Holy Week, but perhaps they should be. If these things were on the mind of our Lord just before His death, possibly we too should reflect on their significance. How do you treat your neighbor? Remember that in the teaching of Christ, neighbor includes family, friend, fellow believer, and enemy. Do you love them as you do your own self? And, should Jesus return today, would you be ready? On this special day of Holy Week, give those thoughts some consideration and then ask God to help you make the necessary adjustments to your attitude and heart.

Prayer: Father, cleanse me from my selfish ways that refuse to care for and love others before myself and show me areas of my life and secret places of my heart of which I would be ashamed should you return today.