“When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. 46 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer ;but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.” 47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.” Luke 19.45-48
Jealousy. It’s a terrible mistress! The world suffers from it. It causes people to do horrible things. It causes us to kill, steal, and destroy. It makes us envious of others, prideful at times, and sinful all the time. To be jealous of something or someone can become an idol—we can certainly make jealousy a god.
Jesus was where He needed to be. He was putting in the time. Teaching God’s laws. Drawing people to Himself. Day and night, He was teaching the people, answering questions, relating to them, and eating meals with them. But there was a group who virtually lived in the temple during this final week of Jesus’ life who hated Him. They were jealous. They were convicted. They “were trying to kill Him… yet they could not find any way to do it.” Why? Because the people loved Him.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Which meant for His hearers—as well as for us today—that we can no longer remain the same people. We are called to surrender our lives and to become like Christ. But this was difficult for many, especially the chief priests and the teachers of the Law who “thought” they were doing the right thing for God. Jesus came correcting them, rebuking them, and reminding them just how far they were from godly living.
And so, rather than submitting, they turned to sin and considered a plan to kill the One who called people to repentance. They did this to John the Baptist and, in more modern examples, to MLK and Charlie Kirk.
Jesus knew death would come. It was no surprise to Him. But through His own death, eternal death would be defeated and destroyed. Jesus came to tell the good news which would eventually get Him killed; then raised to life; then birth the Church in which all people might know the power, love, and grace of God. Jesus ultimately overcame the jealousy of the religious leaders and defeated that sin—and all others—upon the cross.
And how does this affect me today? It calls me to surrender, to submit to the Spirit, and to seek the will of God for my life. It’s never easy, but the present and future eternal reward is worth it.
“O Lord God, the life You lived on earth was extraordinary. You came to a place where You were expected but unwelcome. You returned to Your people who rejected You. But You had a plan for us by climbing upon the cross and defeating death. Thank You, Lord, for Your love. Thank You for Your power and might. Thank You that I might have hope in Your name. For You are good and Your love endures forever.” Amen.