8th Jun 26 | 14:45
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LUKE 19 45-48 JESUS THE TEACHER 08 Jesus on the offensive
📖 Luke 19:45-48
04Feb2021 - *Jesus on the offensive* - _Luke 19:45-48_ - JESUS THE TEACHER 8 – Bible reading: _John 18:19-21_
_Luke 19:47-48 And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, (48) and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him._
The religious leaders had decided to destroy Jesus. They also wanted the people on their side. They did not want to do anything to Jesus, which would make the people go against them. Therefore, the strategy that they employed against Jesus was to catch Him in His words.
They were all scholars and experts on the Law. They were sure they could surely trap Jesus is some aspect of the Old Testament law and religious practises that would show Jesus in poor light before people, which would then win the people back in their favour.
However, what took place was something that these religious leaders did not expect. _Luke 20:26 But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marvelled at His answer and kept silent._
They marvelled at the words of Jesus but they kept silent. The hardness of their heart prevented them from accepting that they were wrong and surrendering to His lordship over them.
As we enter into the _20th chapter of Luke_ we will be looking at the various trick approaches that the religious leaders used against Jesus.
We will see how Jesus responded to these tactics that the religious leaders used, by taking the very same interrogations that they posed to Him and turning them around to teaching opportunities.
The more the religious leaders tried to trick Him, the clearer His teaching became to the people. The teaching of Jesus was out in the open. People heard what He taught, which gave people the opportunity to reflect on what He taught, check it against scripture and come back to Him with their doubts and questions. The ways of God became even more clearer to the people.
_John 18:19-21 The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. (20) Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. (21) Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said."_
What is the principle here for us?
Challenges and threats that come into our lives need not be seen as problems and we start panicking. Every crisis, trial or danger is an opportunity, where God intends to reveal His purposes and He is glorified.
It is for us to trust Him, walk in His ways and be spectators and beneficiaries of His deliverance.
If we dread the challenges of life and try to evade them, we will not mature and grow closer to the Lord through these opportunities that the Lord allows into our lives.
These religious leaders were convicted by the teachings of Jesus. Their own learning and intellectuality did not help them to negate what Jesus taught and their worst fear of losing the praise of people also became a reality, for the people understood who was right and who was wrong.
When the religious leaders saw that they were losing their grip on the people, they decided that it was now high time for them to take definitive action against Jesus and put Him to death.
_Matthew 26:3-5 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, (4) and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. (5) But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people."_
The Lord knew that the religious leaders had decided and were now plotting a plan to take Him and kill Him. Instead of being afraid and softening His stand against the religious leaders, He went on the offensive against them and publicly castigated the religious leaders. This was like rubbing in salt on an open wound, to these leaders.
My prayer, as we conclude this study, is that we will learn from the life and teaching of our Lord Jesus to truly represent Christ in our times.
*Thought to ponder*
```It is for a time such as this that we are here as the body of Christ.```
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