We are at Mark 10:41. The other ten disciples have heard about James' and John's request to be Jesus's top men. They were miffed. Jesus again tells them that unlike the governing gentile authorities of the day (Romans), whoever wants to be great among them must be a servant. "Whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the son of man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." I feel it is important here to mention that son of man literally means a human being, not a divine being. Plus, even though that is capitalized in the NIV, (meant to Indicate reverence to god) it was not done so in the ancient Greek.
Let's talk about ransom. That's what you pay a kidnapper to get back your child, right? Or a foreign villain to get back your VIP. Or an abductor to get back your beloved. Or a ruler to set his captives free. You pay so the person you value doesn't get harmed or dead, right? So who is the bad guy that's being paid off here? Who are the many who have been captured and are being threatened? Oh my. Did Jesus think his death would free the Israelites from the power of Rome?
The last location given for Jesus and the disciples was "on the way to Jerusalem." Now they have come to Jericho. There, Jesus heals a blind man named Bartimaeus, who then follows Jesus. They next came to Bethany and the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of his disciples to fetch a young never ridden colt tied up at the entrance to the village. If this happened, it is likely that this was prearranged. The disciples were to tell anyone who questioned them that "the lord needs it and will send it back shortly." Lord is capitalized in my NIV bible, but remember, it would not have been in the ancient Greek. Also, though "lord" is often used to refer Yahweh, it is also used to refer to a master, ruler, or slave owner.
The colt was found and brought to Jesus and he got on it. On the way into Jerusalem, people spread their cloaks on the road, as well as branches cut in the fields. What kind of branches grow in fields? Maybe its stalks from some kind of grain. It certainly doesn't sound like palm branches. People walked in front of Jesus and behind him shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! In this way, he travelled to the temple. When he got there, he looked around, but it was already late, so he went back to Bethany with the disciples.
Wait. What?!! That's a very anti-climactic end to his triumphal ride. Jesus rode into Jerusalem accompanied by people shouting, but when he gets there, nothing happens! It's late so there probably is no crowd to witness his grand entrance and the people he wants to impress have probably gone home to dinner. So, he turns around and goes back??? This doesn't sound like any Jesus story I've heard before. Where are the witnesses to this non-event? Again, it seems that Mark is subtlely explaining why no one seems to have known about it.
The next day, they left Bethany again, apparently on foot. Jesus was hungry and spied a fig tree without fruit, because it was out of season for figs. So, he cursed the fig tree. He must have been "hangry." When he gets to the temple area, Jesus begins driving out those who were buying and selling, and exchanging currency. He turned over the tables of the business people and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. These businesses were a convenience to the worshipper and the business of the temple. They provided a way for travellers to purchase animals for the required sacrifices, so they didn't have to cart animals long distances.
The text says Jesus used this as a teaching moment, reciting Isaiah 5:7, "My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." He adds that instead it has been made a den of robbers. Earlier, in Isaiah 56:6, Yahweh talks talks about foreigner's burnt offerings and sacrifices being accepted. How can they make burnt offerings without animals? How can they get animals without buying them?
How can they buy them with local money, if they don't exchange the money they brought with them?
There probably were inflated prices and graft, but hey, isn't this a kind of example of supply and demand economics?
No comments:
Post a Comment