If you would like a task to get yourself in focus for Good Friday then read Matthew’s Passion Narrative. Starting with Matthew 21 and the Triumphal entry.
Sunday afternoon we have Jesus in the temple turning over the tables – My house will be called a house of prayer but you are making it – into a scam –
Jesus stays long enough to heal the blind and lame – which of course is wonderful for them but even more wonderful than that the symbolism of restoring those who are not welcome to come into God’s temple, and now Jesus is breaking those barriers and reconnecting the blind and lame with God.
The Children are shouting out Hosanna and the chief priests are indignant at this noise.
Early Monday morning we have Jesus cursing a fig tree – and again like the symbolism of healing the lame, here – we’re not supposed to say Oh that’s a shame, poor Fig tree – we’re supposed to say – that like the Temple it showed all the promise of fruit but failed to deliver – and we are reminded of the power of prayer. So be careful what you pray for.
Jesus is questioned – by what authority do you do these things? I was once asked by an archdeacon about my choice of bible readings at a service – I had not picked what the lectionary said – he asked: By what authority do you pick these readings – I thought for a while and then said: I am the vicar; I am the authority. And he said – Fair enough.
Jesus pushes back and asks ‘What authority was John using?’ A brilliant invitation to the pestering naggers to risk being unpopular with the wrong answer. Some questions are best left unasked, or at least unanswered.
So, Jesus pushes again with the parable of the 2 sons. You know – Dad says Come and help me in the vineyard and one says Yes but doesn’t and the other says No but does. Actions speak louder than words. Which is why sinners, tax collectors and prostitutes are going in to heaven ahead of the so-called righteous – I’m not advocating that you become a sinner or a tax collector – but it’s worth checking yourself every now for the sin of self-righteousness – it’s so easy.
One way of testing is to see how you respond to The Parable of the Vineyard tenants – again it’s the religious leaders – we do come in for it quite a lot in the gospels – I think it’s because its so easy for us to set up barriers for other people to receive the grace of God.
But the parable of the Wedding Banquet – which starts off with the self-righteous rejecting the grace of God – and then broadens out – both good and bad are invited – and as was custom they are given a wedding gift – wedding clothes – to not wear them would be rude, a rejection of the grace of the giver.
More questions for Jesus – about Paying Taxes to Caesar, about Marriage at the Resurrection, about which is the greatest commandment, until finally there’s a quiet moment and Jesus bats a question back at them – We all know that the Messiah will be the Son of David – Yes? – but Psalm 110.1 tells us that the Messiah will be Lord over David – how can the Messiah be both David’s son and Lord over David? That’s a question that will be easier to answer after the Resurrection.
So, Jesus keeps it up with warnings against making faith difficult, and heavy – woe to us if we make following God miserable and depressing – its supposed to infuse us with faith and hope and love and so that we live a life of blessing.
And Jesus keeps up the warnings – there will be trouble. There’s a weird comfort that comes from Jesus saying There will be famine and earthquakes and wars – I don’t want Jesus to say that – I want Jesus to say that there will be no more tears – but alas He won’t say that that until the penultimate chapter of the Bible.
And No one knows the day or hour – which is as well because what would you do with that knowledge? And who would believe you? And perhaps the reason why no one knows is because God’s mercy is what keeps this day postponed. And that’s a good thing.
Which is why we must be like the wise virgins, and keep our faith and hope and love topped up.
And its why we must invest the Talents that God gives us rather than bury them – we are servants of God and God wants to see us flourish and grow in faith and hope and love.
Because when we do not apply our faith, we’re no better than those goats who say ‘But when did we see you, Jesus, hungry, sick or in prison?’
Alas some of this teaching is not for everyone, and so the wave of popularity on Palm Sunday is turning, the Schemers see their chance and lure Judas into their plan.
An unnamed woman anoints Jesus – she’s showing her love and gratitude and faith in Jesus – such a kind gift – but Jesus sees it as his anointing for his burial. Here’s another prediction by Jesus that his death is imminent.
And so to the Last Supper. I’ll stop here, but I want you to notice the great lengths that Jesus is going to: to open up the goodnews, the life of faith and hope and love and being a blessing to others – to make faith not a burden but something that helps us live life to the full, connects us to our maker, brings healing to our souls, and reconciliation through Jesus to God. And this is what we have on Friday, which is why we call it Good Friday. Amen.