"The Son of Man is to be handed over to men,
and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day."
And they were overwhelmed with grief.
This is an understandable response. The disciples were growing in knowledge about Jesus along two parallel tracks that did not seem to intersect. On the one hand, miracles and manifestations like the transfiguration made it clear that Jesus was no ordinary man. He was glorious in the same way that the one with the appearance of a man seated on a throne in Ezekiel's vision was glorious.
something like a throne could be seen,
looking like sapphire.
Upon it was seated, up above, one who had the appearance of a man.
The transfiguration emphasized the similarity of his appearance to that of the Ancient of Days from the vision of Daniel. The disciples were grappling with the possibility that God himself was among them in a way no one could have predicted and with the implications of that reality. Peter was the first to confess, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (see Matthew 16:16) but this was the revelation toward which all the disciples were being led.
Yet on the other hand, seemingly at odds with the track of glory, Jesus also a track of of suffering, sorrow, and death. Is it any wonder that the disciples didn't know how these twin tracks could be related? Just as they thrilled with greater and greater awareness of his glory and majesty they were brought low by predictions of his passion and death. Their hopes were raised high but then dashed against the stumbling block of the Passion. These tracks would ultimately intersect, because he would "be raised on the third day", but this key was elusive until the events occurred. Human minds insisted, 'If glory, why not straight to glory? Why suffering along the way?' Because their thoughts were not his thoughts and their ways would not even approach his ways until his Spirit was living within them. Only then could they have anything approaching an understanding of this mystery.
When he came into the house, before he had time to speak,
Jesus asked him, "What is your opinion, Simon?
From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax?
Jesus already knew what Peter had been discussing with the collectors of the temple tax before Peter had a chance to say anything. Peter had answered "Yes" and he was not wrong. But Jesus himself wanted to clarify something about that fact.
From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from others?”
And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.
The temple tax was payment to the King of kings. As the the true and only Son of the king Jesus himself was rightly exempt from the obligation, and so too were all who would become sons and daughters in him, for "the sons are free". Jesus himself was free, and as he himself promised "if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (see John 8:36). Even so, Jesus did not avail himself of the freedom that was properly his own. Rather than create unnecessary tension about whether or not to perform an action that would ultimately have a good result, that of supporting the temple, he did what he was not obligated to do and paid the temple tax. He chose to avoid offense and conflict rather than insisting on his prerogative. He did not use his "freedom as an opportunity for the flesh" (see Galatians 5:13) as we are often all too ready to do. We are typically all too likely to insist on our rights, create conflict, and give offense, even in situations where no good can come from it, and where to surrender our rights would do not great harm.
But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook,
and take the first fish that comes up.
We are called to become more like Jesus who was gentle and humble of heart. He wanted to reveal himself to those who would receive him. But he did not need to pridefully prove himself to everyone who doubted him. There were situations when the necessity of speaking the truth would indeed give offense and yet still be worth doing. Jesus never failed to speak at such times. He was not afraid to offend when there was something at stake, something to be gained by doing so. But there were many times when Jesus himself remained silent, when the only thing to be gained would have been a pride that Jesus did not have and did not need.
Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax.
Give that to them for me and for you.
Although Jesus did in some sense pay the temple tax it was as though creation itself provided what Jesus had no true obligation to offer. This was the King taking care of his Son as the Son submitted himself to the will of the King. And the Son shared this grace in a special way with Peter, since one coin would pay for both of them. This speaks to the special status of Peter but also reminds us of the fact that, for all of us, Jesus himself was the one to pay our debt "not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot" (see First Peter 1:20).
The greatest among them, Jesus, also proved to be the most humble, and called his followers to become like him. He not only provided the instruction and the model to imitate, but himself gave the gift of the Spirit that would allow both them and we ourselves to share both his suffering and cross and his glory and freedom. It remains was and remains a paradox to the mind, but is a reality that makes sense when we look at the example of Jesus and when he himself reproduces it by his presence in each of our hearts.
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