With a week left to go before the events of the Passion and death of Jesus, the stage is being set, the interplay between Jesus and his accusers is climbing to new heights, and more and more people are coming to believe in Jesus. Push is coming to shove and what Jesus has to say (and do) is ringing truer and truer in the minds and hearts of many.
The believers may not have been completely onboard – there were still, most likely, many questions to be answered more fully; but these people knew that he was the right and only real source for what really counted: "your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life." And I should think that words that have to do with where we will be spending eternity would for most people be the most important words there are!
While many came to believe in him now, many more wanted him dead. They wanted to stone him and much worse. And no argument that Jesus could make would change their minds. They said it was not for doing good deeds that they were trying to eliminate him, but for blasphemy: Jesus' apparently making himself God. Jesus briefly tries to address this argument by saying that even in your scriptures you believe it when it says that "You are god" – you have been created a little less than the angels. And so if ordinary men are considered gods, then why is it so difficult to understand that perhaps that Messiah could be Son of God. But they didn't buy the argument!
And so Jesus – as is prophesied in the first reading from Jeremiah – senses the terror and derision that is mounting against him, yet his heart is steadfast and constant: he would do what he came to earth to do: and the Lord, his Father, would rescue him and restore him to life: in due time, and when he finished doing what the reconciliation of mankind required.
Let us too remember, that in our distress, as well, when we call upon the Lord, he hears our voice and rescues us – why wouldn't he – if we trust him, and believe in him!
Today, if you hear the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts!
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