Reading: Luke 21-22, Psalm 119:97-128

Following his parables about the rightful King and rightful owner of the vineyard, there are several incidents involving power and authority. First we have the authority of Rome to tax, which Jesus answers by pointing to the divine image- give Caesar his money, give God what bears his image. Next we have the authority of the law to bind God’s future actions, using marriage as an example, which Jesus answers by telling the Sadducees that they don’t know what they are talking about. He proves this by quoting a Psalm in which David says some strange things about the future Messiah being his son and yet his Lord and Master. Then we have Jesus talking about the appearance of power versus real power. It turns out that a widow offering all she has is a bigger deal in the Kingdom of God than the teachers of the law going around looking very impressive. He wraps up by telling the disciples that the temple itself, the great sign of the authority of the religious leaders, will be thrown down and destroyed.

I think all this is connected to the stories about the King and the rightful owner. We launch into Jesus teaching on the future with the disciples question about when this stuff will all happen. I suppose they might just be referencing the collapse of the temple, but it seems likely they were confused from the moment the parable of the ten minas ended. It seems clear that Jesus entered Jerusalem as a King, and that the people are not interested. If the disciples were paying attention, and there is no reason to think they were not, they are going to be thinking hard about the whole servants doing business bit from that story. Given this, understanding when the rejected King who nevertheless took the throne is returning is a key piece of information.

Jesus answers, not with information, but with warnings. First he warns that there will be people who fake being the returned King. Then he warns there will be people who pretend to know when the King is returning. Then people will be so terrified of the events of the world that they will be frozen in inaction. But in all this he says to stay the course. Continue to do business. Do what you can with what you have, and don’t worry overmuch about what you do not. When the master returns, it will be obvious and sudden. There will be no time to adjust to the new reality, so get adjusted now. The master has entrusted you with his resources, get to work and keep at it.

Beginning with chapter 22, the voice in the book of Luke changes significantly. It takes on the language of high drama instead of teaching. While Jesus continues to comment, the focus becomes the events that occur. We have the betrayal of Judas, the Last Supper and the institution of the New Covenant. We have the prediction and fulfillment of Peter’s denial. The night in Gethsemane where Jesus commits once again to doing his Father’s will. We have the arrest and trial of Jesus before the chief priests and rulers.

Luke’s recounting of the events is detailed but concise, and adds little that is not in the other gospel accounts. What he does do is use his writing to indicate that the active character in this little drama is Jesus, always Jesus, and only Jesus. Luke does not write of events that happen to Jesus, he writes of Jesus happening to events. He inaugurates the New Covenant in his blood- he is in control of his own execution. He travels to his own arrest. He commands his betrayer to take his action of betrayal. In the kerfuffle between the disciples and the soldiers come to arrest him, he demonstrates his control of the situation by healing the one act of violence done on his behalf. He lets the council of priests and leaders declare that he is the Messiah and the Son of God. All he has to do is agree with them. Jumping just a little ahead, it is worth taking note that the only words Jesus speaks to Pilate in Luke’s telling of the story is to agree with is assessment of the situation: Are you the King of the Jews? Pilate asks. You have said it, Jesus responds. He has no need to claim his title or authority, everyone around him is recognizing it for themselves, though they do not act in the appropriate way in response to it. Jesus is no victim in this story, he is the author of it.