Jesus and the City, C R Oliver [online e reader .txt] 📗

Jesus and the City

Introduction:
In the last study, I concentrated on an overview of Jerusalem's significance and how the early church viewed it. In this issue, the focus is on "Jesus and the city," beginning with His birth and continuing through His death. 

Jesus was born outside the city, which I believe is significant, for at this time God's steerage avoided interaction between Him and Jerusalem's depravity. For four hundred years, Jerusalem satiated itself with continual sacrifices and holy days, but with no prophetic word. 

The state of affairs controlled by its power elite had denigrated to a religious caste system that excluded any general input from the Spirit. Although the Temple had been restored, there was no indication that God dwelled there (as in the days of Solomon). 

Division segregated its religious leadership into Pharisees and Sadducees and all the things that inherently issue from religious separation took center stage. Even though the Torah was held as sacred, the codified words of the Rabbis and the Talmud were consulted regularly. 

Through this dense and rigid framework was sifted the moral and ethical code for daily life. One could forsake his obligation to honor his mother and father by making calculated moves. One could rise in the Temple order through offerings and the overt display of wealth (hence Jesus' words about the widow's mite). The rich young ruler could pride himself in keeping the commandments from his youth up, with the emphasis on Pride. The woman at the well could demure from truth with, "You Jews say…." 

Religion and government, though separated by Law, respected the wishes of each other in a strange political arrangement that would foster the death of the Messiah. Jerusalem became the "profit" center for the economy of the nation. Brandishing its centrality for feasts and special days with required attendance, it relished being the center of sacrificial atonement. (It was profitable for its inn keepers, food mongers and trade merchants.) The High Priest dwelled in luxury and prestige at the expense of spiritual advancement. (Saul of Tarsus was licensed to kill by this wayward clergy. This was the same clergy who were willing to spend Temple money [30 pieces of silver] to purloin Jesus.) 

Yet, within the Temple, some honest and spiritually aware souls found ways to practice their faith. 

Simeon and Anna were perfect examples of those, who in spite of the conditions surrounding them, were sold out to God and worshipped Him in Spirit and Truth. Even when Jesus had the disciples search out the place for the Lord's Supper, there were willing property owners who acknowledged His kingship. The triumphant entry to Jerusalem was afforded by the owners of the donkey He used. 

So, like today, within the corrupt and errant structure of the Temple, there was a remnant of saints who were the Lord's people. 

His Birth and the City
The astrologers from the East entered the city in their search for Jesus, but they became suspicious of the establishment.

Matthew 2:1-3
At about that time some astrologers from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 'Where is the newborn King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in far-off eastern lands and have come to worship him.' 

3 King Herod was deeply disturbed by their question, and all Jerusalem was filled with rumors.

(I find the bold words above interesting.) Jewish King Herod was deeply disturbed because a Messiah could disrupt his kingship. This would have been indicative enough of the system in place in Jerusalem, but the Scripture adds "all Jerusalem" joined him. (Those who support the religious system have vested interest in maintaining the status quo. This is why one is "condemned by what he condones.") 

What kind of rumors circulated? Where did they originate? First, the reaction of King Herod evidently was one source, for he was distraught and such news got around. His reaction in calling together the leadership council, as if there was a national threat, caused speculation to increase. The intensity of the rumors must have increased to the degree it affected every man, woman and child in the uproar. Interesting indeed! 

Herod, the leader of all Israel, was a hypocrite, and the Lord steered the astrologers away from him. He claimed he wanted to know the "whereabouts" of the immaculate birth in order to worship Him. Not getting his answer increased his unease, until he called for the death of all children under two years in order to include Jesus. The question is, "How could a murderer be the head of a nation which existed in order to be a witness to the loving goodness of God?" 

That question just might apply to national policies in modern times.

Matthew 2:11-18
11 Entering the house where the baby and Mary, his mother, were, they threw themselves down before him, worshiping. Then they opened their presents and gave him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 But when they returned to their own land, they didn't go through Jerusalem to report to Herod, for God had warned them in a dream to go home another way. 

13 After they were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. 'Get up and flee to Egypt with the baby and his mother,' the angel said, 'and stay there until I tell you to return, for King Herod is going to try to kill the child.' 14 That same night he left for Egypt with Mary and the baby, 15 and stayed there until King Herod's death. This fulfilled the prophet's prediction, 

'I have called my Son from Egypt.' 

16 Herod was furious when he learned that the astrologers had disobeyed him. Sending soldiers to Bethlehem, he ordered them to kill every baby boy two years old and under, both in the town and on the nearby farms, for the astrologers had told him the star first appeared to them two years before. 17 This brutal action of Herod's fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah, 

18 'Screams of anguish come from Ramah, 
Weeping unrestrained;
Rachel weeping for her children,
Uncomforted--
For they are dead.'

Joseph wasted no time in carrying out the angel's command. Without normal preparation and documentation, he moved immediately to Egypt (since the Jews hated Egypt, in-migration must have been minimal in those days). 

Spiritual adherence to required matters:
Jesus was taken to Jerusalem by his parents, to be dedicated as "holy to the Lord." This was scripturally correct, and they were protected while there. Since He was the first born and under the old covenant, it was necessary to adhere to this commandment.

Luke 2:22-23
The laws of Moses after the birth of a child, His parents took Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord; 23 for in these laws God had said, 'If a woman's first child is a boy, he shall be dedicated to the Lord.'

It was on this occasion that Simeon and Anna received answer to their prayers, and it was her testimony that roared through Jerusalem. She went everywhere (among the faithful) saying she had seen the Messiah. (Those who walk with God know each other in a unique way; they communicate on a different level. Bless the Lord! Anna joined Simeon's praise for "she also began thanking God.")

Luke 2:38
8 She (Anna) came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she also began thanking God and telling everyone in Jerusalem who had been awaiting the coming of the Savior that the Messiah had finally arrived.

Again, at age twelve, and in keeping with the Law, His parents took Him to Jerusalem--this time He stayed. He was found in the Temple discussing heavy subjects and proving Himself to be beyond the scope of the great intellectuals of His day. Jerusalem was under assault from His unadulterated Word of God.

Luke 2:46
Three days later they finally discovered him. He was in the Temple, sitting among the teachers of Law.

During these times, John, the Baptizer, had matured enough to begin his ministry. He too avoided Jerusalem and required those who would accept his message to come out to the wilderness and be baptized for repentance. (Perhaps this is why so many find the need to come out of organized systems and go to the wilderness.) Ah yes, when he saw the Pharisees and Sadducees coming from their high positions in Jerusalem, he denounced them. Their divisive character called for more than an outward sign!

Matthew 3:5-7
5 People from Jerusalem and from all over the Jordan Valley, and, in fact, from every section of Judea went out to the wilderness to hear him preach, 6 and when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. 

7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he denounced them.

The Temple became a spiritual non-entity, though filled with worshippers. Remember, satan took Jesus, in the second temptation, to its pinnacle. The devil did not fear to be near it-nothing in it caused him alarm. He was so familiar with it, he didn't flinch in saying, "Jump and prove." (The gravity of this temptation is apparent when one thinks of the ramifications of doing a great feat before all the Temple leadership while garnering popularity and favor with the power elite. To impact the Temple-ites, and do so in Jerusalem the capitol city, had a wow factor! Most preachers would have jumped at the chance.) 

Jesus, in His preaching about the Law and how He viewed "beyond the letter" behavior, said that Jerusalem was meant to be more than it had become. In this comment, He set straight the place of Jerusalem and its true identity.

Matthew 5:35-36
And don't swear 'By Jerusalem!' for Jerusalem is the capital of the great King.

However, He did not hesitate to set things straight inside the Temple either. He confronted, on numerous occasions, the Temple leadership and their cohorts. Those guys would soon seek to "interview" Him, as if they were making legitimate inquiry. (Such reminds me of current media.)

Matthew 15:1
15:1 Some Pharisees and other Jewish leaders now arrived from Jerusalem to interview Jesus.

Their first question was, "Why do your disciples break Moses' Law?" Jesus replied that what one thinks and says is the root of uncleanness, not the traditions of Pharisees.

Matthew 15:7-11
7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, 8 These people say they honor me, but their hearts are far away. 9 Their worship is worthless, for they teach their man- made laws instead of those from God.' 

10 Then Jesus called to the crowds and said, 'Listen to what I say and try to understand: 11 you aren't made unholy by eating non-kosher food! It is what you say and think that makes you unclean.'

His own Disciples took Him to task for dishonoring these prelates of power. (How many pulpits would be upset if Jesus appeared and said, "Your worship is worthless?") If some prophet could be able to squeak by the "gate-keepers" and make such judgment-how many deacons, elders and church leaders would rush to defend their cause?

Matthew 15:12-13
Then the disciples came and told him, 'You offended the Pharisees by that remark.' 13 Jesus replied, 'Every plant not planted by my Father shall be rooted up, so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and both will fall into a ditch.' 

Mark 3:22
22 But the Jewish teachers of religion who had arrived from Jerusalem said, 'His trouble is that he's possessed by satan, king of demons. That's why demons obey him.'

Jerusalem, the killing city
Jerusalem and those who officiated over it were killers. Jerusalem became the "killing city." Roman soldiers had to quell insurrection and dissidence through force--for blood ran in the sacred streets.

Luke 13:1-2
13:1 About this time He was informed that