Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:20 – “Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (NRSV)
Wednesday is right in the middle of the week, and as this is Holy Week, we find ourselves at a bit of an eye in the middle of the storm that was Jesus’ tumultuous week in Jerusalem. On one end, we have the events of Palm Sunday, with Jesus’ triumphal if irreverent parade into the city on the back of a donkey, presented not with laurels and robes of fine dyed fabrics from the wealthy and powerful, but with palms and cloaks from poor but excited crowds. Later, Jesus enters the temple, declares it a den of robbers, and turns over the tables of the money changers. By Thursday, Jesus has gathered his disciples together to share their last supper before he is arrested and tried, and then on Friday executed as a terrorist. After the tense panic of Saturday, Jesus is found alive on Easter Sunday, the greatest of all of God’s miracles.
One of my favorite Christmas hymns, despite its antiquated language, is “We Three Kings of Orient Are”. It easily summarizes the theological truth and mission of Jesus through connection to the three gifts the wise men bring. Jesus is King and God and Sacrifice. He is King on Palm Sunday, Sacrifice on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, and God on Easter Sunday.
But what about Wednesday? What about the middle of the week? This was a time that was also tense and hazardous, but this time Jesus’ foes were not politicians and police, but scholars and scribes. These were sent to trip Jesus up with “gotcha” questions about whether the people should pay taxes to the emperor or whether marriage was still recognized after the resurrection. As we look over Holy Week, we must remember that Jesus the wise teacher is also an important part of the story.
Jesus’ teaching during Holy Week overcome the logic of his foes by demonstrating how different life in the Spirit actually is. Without being opaque or mystical, Jesus shows the inadequacies of the normal way of doing things and disarms his rhetorical opponents through wit and patience. He makes foolish the wise of the world in both words and deeds.
We all imagine that we would be true in the face of great adversity, of armed guards coming to arrest our friends, at kangaroo courts, and in the face of imprisonment, torture, and death. We romanticize such courage, even as we see the Jesus’ most loyal followers failed to show it. But we also have to endure more mundane struggles such as the ability to articulate our beliefs, how to keep our cool under pressure, and how deal with annoying people. These are issues that we all face on a more regular basis.
In the face of Jesus’ crucifixion, we know that his sacrifice has freed us from the shackles of sin. But part of that freedom comes with knowing how to be better. Looking over how Jesus faces adversity from normal people may help us face the little things so that we be better equipped to deal with the greater challenges to come. So make the most of the quiet times in your life and remember always that being clever and kind are the first steps to overcoming any adversity.
Prayer: God, teach us to love and to endure, to give praise and to show humility during this Holy Week and always. Amen.
Comentarios