When he went outside, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile toward him and to cross-examine him about many things, lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say. — Luke 11:53-54.
Sounds like the scribes and Pharisees in Jesus’s day were much like today’s Washington press corp. Abe Fortas, once said that in DC one walks outside in the morning and turns the paper over with one’s toe. If you don’t see your name above the fold then its okay to pick up the paper and bring it inside the house. When the press used to camp outside our house Suzy would sometimes let the cat outside to watch the press scatter, and on other times she’d walk out with a pot of coffee and a box of donuts. It was not fun to have people constantly shouting questions at you and hoping they might catch you in a mistake or a fit of anger. I doubt if things have gotten any better these days.
So Jesus may have been tempted to send down a few thunderbolts on the scribes and Pharisees, but if he was, he didn’t act on it. He also knew the time for his trial was coming soon so he might have been wise to engage a lawyer, fashion a defense, and maybe even start a legal defense fund. He didn’t do that either. Instead, he didn’t waiver from his primary mission on earth. He had a message to convey and he kept on speaking out no matter the consequences. He refused to be distracted by those who sought him harm, and let nothing turn him away from his mission.
Jesus’s committment is a lesson for us all, it is okay to acknowledge the distractions and obstacles that seek to block our journey and to ask for strength to overcome them, but it is also important to continue on the path God has set for us even if the pathway appears blocked.
In DC, when faced with a wall of reporters one learns to continue walking straight ahead and to ignore the shouts and calls from the press, they will move out of one’s way at the last minute. If we continue forward serving the will of God eventually every obstacle in our way will be removed.
Wonderful post ! We hope you got 70+ good wishes for your recent birthday .
If you should find yourself in Jacksonville, Janie and I would love to take you and Suzi to dinner. Restaurants here ore not Charleston but I have faith that we can find something to suit.
Any date for another volleyball?
Joe and Janie Sylvan
Look forward to it. W.
Book, not volleyball ,