The “hot shots” in the Temple in Jesus’ day were “looking for some way to get rid of Jesus.” That penetrating phrase brought to mind a time when our youngest child was in her early teens. Proudly announcing her independence from her preacher parents, one day she exclaimed, “I don’t believe in God!”
Her spiritually perceptive Mom listened attentively. Then she lovingly suggested that our daughter might ask herself what God might be asking of her that she didn't want to do!
Isn’t it a lot easier to talk about “walking the walk,” than to face up to the shadowy side of our nature which continually tries to “get rid of Jesus?” That thing in us which keeps insisting on our own way runs deep! Getting rid of Jesus would make life so much less complicated!
No more having to listen to those with whom we disagree. No more having to struggle through to forgiving those who have hurt us. No more having to choose to prefer others before we coddle ourselves. No more getting to indulge ourselves in the whims of the world. No more being able to pat ourselves on the back when Jesus graces us to do the hard thing or the right thing. No more nursing our judgments or giving ground to our critical hearts. In effect: “No more Jesus,” only our pitiable selves!
What a wonderful gift this season of Lent is to us. A chance to allow the Holy Spirit to probe us a little more deeply and to scrub us a little cleaner. But surely not without our active and willing cooperation!
Thank God, Easter’s truth is that the Temple “hot shots” and we cannot get rid of Jesus, so why not give up trying and give in to the One who loves us far more than we can ever fully know, and longs for us to be fully given over to Him?
Craig Peel
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