Various individuals and groups have been labeled as the one or ones who killed Jesus. Just reading through Matthew 27, we find these 10 answers to the question. It is 10 if you include Jesus – see Matthew 26;36-46. Who else can we add?
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Called to ministry,
What did I think
Back in the day
When I did not want to jingle keys
And pray at picnics?
That it was about what lasts
Past death and
Endures through generations
That it was from the ground up as seed
Slow and organic like yeast,
Growing from depth
and not about appearance.
It was going where others did not
And helping others thrive.
What they say that it is today
Is filled with numbers
Systems
Methods
And is about control
Strategy
from the top
The wise and
The resourced
Taking over what was built
building newer and better
Next to what has been.
Corporations for God
With chief executives
Directors
Shareholders
And customers.
Those who have much
Are given more
Fame and platform
Name and success.
While most never achieve
By faithfulness
to the book
Or by stubbornness of
Conviction.
Did I take the path
That is narrow
Or wide?
David Carlson, 4/21/2105 Fresh Read
The woman who anoints Jesus with oil in Matthew seems to be Mary of Bethany,if we agree that Matthew, Mark and John are speaking of the same event. Luke’s similar story has enough differences of place, time and details to indicate that it was a different story. (Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8; Luke 7:37-39)
This comes at the start of the Passion Narrative, where one event flows into the next in rapid fire succession. Matthew, however seems to continue his collecting method; the chronology of the event may not have happened right then. So then we wonder what is the thematic link.
Mary gives an extremely valuable gift, so much so that there is opposition to it. she breaks open a vial of aromatic oil and pours it out completely on Jesus head (Matthew) and feet (Mark, John). It is an act of devotion from a disciple who expresses love. Jesus points out that it is preparation for his death and burial. He has been talking about that since Peter’s confession
Jesus, at the Passover meal, institutes the Lord’s supper. He breaks bread and pours out the wine. There is also opposition, all around this act, there are the machinations of the religious leaders and of Judas. Jesus gives his most precious gift (his life) symbolized in every day food (bread and wine).
Are we to see these two acts of devotion together? Broken, poured out, forgiven, love, complete, death.
Mary acted first in the narrative, but the grace of the Lord preceded any act that she offered.
John Stott wrote a book called “Christ the Controversialist” which captures the section of Matthew from chapter 21 to 23. In chapter 23 Jesus is recorded as laying into the religious leaders who opposed him and lays down a series of 7 “woes” on their brand of religion.
In the 21st Century we are supposed to be accepting. Jesus does not model universal acceptance.
In the realm of spiritual conversations, we are not supposed to engage in diatribes, but that is one commentators description of the literary form and vocabulary Jesus uses.
Some say that this passage is anti-Semitic. That is hard to hold in that Jesus himself and the apostles and the first generation of Christians were all Jewish.
What are we to do with this?
First, let’s avoid spending our time identifying all the others we can blame. I could preach a long sermon against the 1st Century Pharisees, but that has the aspect of a history lesson, and not a very relevant one at that.
Second, lets try to point the finger at ourselves. What in these accusations apply to me?
Here is a short list
This is not a finger to point at others, but at ourselves.
