Thursday, October 27, 2022

27 October 2022 - on the third day


Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.

Jesus was not going to be sidetracked from his mission for any reason. To the eyes of the Pharisees Herod was the one with power and Jesus and his mission were at risk. But Jesus recognized the limits of Herod's power. Herod was cunning like a fox, and certainly his potential for violence was real, as he revealed in beheading John the Baptist. But Herod, comfortably holed up in his palace, was not regarded by Jesus as a truly kingly figure. Rather, Jesus himself was the true heir to David and could not be put off by a pretender to the throne. The authority of Herod looked to the eyes of the Pharisees and the world to be the real power. But the authority of Jesus was rooted in his Father's will and was therefore inexorable.

He replied, “Go and tell that fox,
‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,
and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.

To those still rooted primarily in the world, such political clout as Herod possessed might appear to be absolute. But Jesus would not die as a result of circumstances he could not control. Rather, he handed himself over willingly, in accordance with the divine plan foretold by the prophets.

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father (see John 10:18).

Jesus knew exactly where he was going and for what. His face was set like flint toward Jerusalem, the holy city, the city that should above all welcome the prophets but which, due to the mystery of sin, was rather foremost in condemning them. But Jesus did not go toward Jerusalem as one who was merely resigned to his fate, or on a suicide mission. He did not go only for the sake of dying. He looked toward the third day when his purpose would truly be accomplished.

Jesus knew that the battle he was fighting was not finally "with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens". Because of this he was not intimidated by the pomp and posturing of figures like Herod who thought highly of themselves but were actually just puppets in a battle that was invisible and spiritual. This perspective allowed Jesus to maintain a compassionate heart even toward those who would be responsible for his death.

how many times I yearned to gather your children together
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,
but you were unwilling!

Even the desolation that would result from participation in the death of Christ was ordered, in the mysterious economy of salvation, toward restoration, forgiveness, and salvation. If the house was to be abandoned it was only because the foundations had never been firm, and in order that the inhabitants might now rebuild upon the rock.

Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.
Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm
against the tactics of the Devil.

We too need to remember that the things that we can see, flesh and blood, those with power in this world, those with armies at their command, or vast wealth and influence, are not actually powers to be feared. If we get caught up in earthly battles like those we will become easy prey for the dark powers, feeling more and more disempowered and angry with each passing day. But if we remember our true mission as Jesus did, and our true battle, as Paul advised, we too will be unstoppable in our journey toward the resurrection.

Therefore, put on the armor of God,
that you may be able to resist on the evil day
and, having done everything, to hold your ground.

If our battle were against flesh and blood we would try to procure weapons for ourselves for this world that were carnal. But "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal" (see Second Corinthians 10:4). Recognizing our true mission and battle we will avail ourselves of all that God himself offers us to equip us for that struggle. We will be more interested in truth than convenient lies, in righteousness rather than expedience, in peace rather than violence, and in faith rather than the superficial appearances of life in the world. Salvation will be our chief concern. As soldiers we will know that our roll is not merely defense, and so we will take up the sword of the Spirit in earnest.

How do we ensure, as much as it is in our power to do so, that we are at all times wearing this armor of God? Paul tells us. He says, "pray at every opportunity in the Spirit" or even "pray always" so that our life can then be rooted in something deeper than ourselves. When it is so rooted we will become more and more free of the fear of the Herods of this world, and therefore able to execute our mission without compromise.


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