and they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging on to every word He said. (Luke 19:48 NAS95)
Jesus fully understood the implications of His immediate future. As He approached Jerusalem, He expressed deep sadness at the ramifications of Israel rejecting Him, but His sadness concerned the radical love He felt for His people, and for that matter, the whole world. Jesus had cultivated an interior life with His Father that accurately reflected the love God has for the people He created. His lifestyle, His teaching, His intentions, all had a profound connection to His relationship with His Father, reflecting a deep longing for authentic loving relationship with broken, fallen and rebellious people. In fact, that expresses why Jesus came, to accurately represent God’s love in all He did, even if it meant crucifixion on their behalf.
At that time, the leaders all held an opposing point of view. Rather than reshaping a proper view of God, they considered Jesus distorting it, but the fascination of the people with Him kept them from destroying Him. In public, their hands were tied. They could not arrest Him there. Jesus’ words so beautiful, a life so full of integrity with those words, so challenging to the picture of God they carried in their soul, the people would not permit it. Nor would they understand His arrest. It would take betrayal at night by a friend — in the cloak of darkness. Even then they could not snuff the light of His life out; it would only burn brighter after the crucifixion. The atmosphere of Jesus life, even as He was betrayed, radiated with God’s love. That’s why the people hung on His words in the temple. The relationship Jesus had with His Father permeated His demeanor in all circumstances. It also gave Him strength to endure with integrity and beauty His last earthly moments. May I learn from Jesus, not only to love, but His interior life with His Father that allowed that love to be so visible and real for those around Him.
For Reflection:
“For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots.” (Psalms 22:16–18 NAS95)
- How do you imagine Jesus cultivated His life with God? How does this help you think about your relationship with God?
- As you reflect on Jesus life, what spiritual practices do you notice He engaged in cultivating or nurturing His relationship with God?
