GOSPEL READING:
Matthew 17:22-2722 As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were greatly distressed. 24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel tax went up to Peter and said, "Does not your teacher pay the tax?" 25 He said, "Yes." And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from others?" 26 And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel; take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."
Meditation: Who likes to pay taxes, especially when you think
they might be unreasonable or unjust? Jesus and his disciples were
confronted by tax collectors on the issue of tax evasion. When
questioned about paying the temple tax, Jesus replied to his
disciples: We must pay so as not to cause bad example. In fact, we
must go beyond our duty in order that we may show others what they
ought to do. The scriptural expression to give no offense doesn't
refer to insult or annoyance - rather it means to put no stumbling
block in the way of another that would cause them to trip or fall.
Jesus would not allow himself anything which might possibly be a bad
example to someone else. Do you evade unpleasant responsibilities or
obligations?
Jesus predicts his death and triumph over the grave
On three different occasions in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus predicted
he would endure great suffering through betrayal, rejection, and
the punishment of a cruel death (Matthew 16:21, 17:22-23, and
20:17-19). The Jews resorted to stoning for very serious offenses
and the Romans to crucifixion - the most painful and humiliating
death they could devise for criminals they wanted to eliminate. No
wonder the apostles were greatly distressed at such a prediction!
If Jesus their Master were put to death, then they would likely
receive the same treatment by their enemies. Jesus called himself
the "Son of Man" because this was a Jewish title for the Messiah
which the prophet Daniel explained in his vision of the One whom
God would send to establish his everlasting kingdom of power and
righteousness over the earth (Daniel 7:13-14).
The Suffering Servant and Lamb of God
Why must the Messiah be rejected and killed? Did not God promise
that his Anointed One (Messiah in Hebrew) would deliver his
people from their oppression and establish a kingdom of peace and
justice? The prophet Isaiah had foretold that it was God's will
that the "Suffering Servant" make atonement for sins through his
suffering and death (Isaiah 53). John the Baptist described Jesus
as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:
29, Isaiah 53:6-7). When Jesus willing offered up his life for us
on the cross he paid the price for our redemption with his blood.
Jesus offers freedom and victory over sin and death
Jesus came to rescue us from sin and its destructive forces and to
restore us to fulness of life with our heavenly Father. Sin not
only separates us from God - it leads us down the path to
corruption and unending death. Slavery to sin is to want the wrong
things and to be in bondage to hurtful desires and addictions. The
ransom Jesus paid sets us free from the worst tyranny possible -
the tyranny of sin, Satan, and death. Jesus' victory did not end
with his sacrificial death on the cross - he triumphed over the
grave when he rose again on the third day. Jesus defeated the
powers of death and Satan through his cross and resurrection. The
Lord Jesus offers us true freedom and peace which no one can take
from us. Do you want the greatest freedom possible, the freedom to
live as God truly meant us to live as his sons and daughters?
Lord Jesus, your death brought true life and freedom. May I always walk in the freedom and power of your love and truth and reject whatever is contrary to your will for my life.
Psalm 148:1-2,11-12,14
1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his host!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and maidens together, old men and children!
14 He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the LORD!
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Jesus
speaks of his death and resurrection, by Origen of
Alexandria (185-254 AD)
"I think we have an obligation to examine this, too: that Jesus
was delivered into the hands of men, not by men into the hands of
men but by powers to whom the Father delivered his Son on behalf
of us all. In the very act of being delivered and coming under the
power of those to whom he was delivered, he "destroyed him who had
the power of death." For "through death he destroyed him who has
the power of death, that is, the devil, and delivered all those
who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 13.8)
