God has a way of troubling people.  He troubled Abraham.  (Leave the security of my family and the familiarity of my homeland?  Kill the son You promised me?)  He troubled the Israelites who left Egypt.  (Spend forty years in the harshness of the wilderness?  Conquer the land You said You would give us?)  He troubled the Israelites in Canaan under judges.  (Can’t You see Your judge system is not working?  Why did we come here to spend so much time as a captive people?)  He troubled the Israelites in the period of the kings.  (Can You not compromise on this One God business?  What is so horrible about covetousness, greed, and ambition if it all results in a better lifestyle and standard of living for those who are successful?)

Jesus really troubled the religious establishment, the people who were certain they knew how to do the right things in the proper way.  He challenged theological conclusions that were established and accepted for centuries.  He associated with and taught the wrong kind of people—sinners (those who did not live by Jewish standards and traditions), tax collectors (Jews who collected Roman taxes from Jewish people), and women (the woman at the well near Sychar—John 4:1-26; Mary Magdalene—Luke 8:2; Matthew 27:56, 61; 28:1; Mark 15:40, 41; the women followers near the cross—Luke 23:49; Mary and Martha—Luke 10:38-42; the questionable woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and dried his feet with her hair—Luke 7:36-50). He ate too much and drank too much (Matthew 11:18, 19; Luke 7:33, 34).  He was not educated according to Jewish standards to be a religious leader/teacher.  He came from the wrong area.  He selected disciples from the wrong area.

While we look back and laud Jesus for his unselfishness, the religious “who is who” in Jewish society looked at Jesus as an embarrassment.  He was not at all like the king they expected.  In no way did he fit the image of the Messiah they expected.  He irritated them rather than inspired them!  They were certain he was not the kind of person God would send to represent Him on earth in Israelite society.

Things reached the point of political and religious impasse when Jesus resurrected Lazarus (read John 10:40-11:57 for a contextual account of the situation).  Jesus was in seclusion until he resurrected Lazarus. The twelve were quite fatalistic about Jesus’ return to the Jerusalem area (John 11:16).  The result of Jesus’ resurrection of Lazarus was widespread belief.  The Jewish leadership was deeply concerned about Jesus’ popularity, and they plotted Jesus’ death for the good (continuation) of the Jewish nation.  The problem facing the leadership: Jesus was immensely popular.

During the last week of Jesus’ life, he seemed to be untouchable.  Jesus had gone from a man in seclusion to a highly public figure adored by the Jewish people.  The week began with Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem as the people welcomed him as a king. It continued with temple appearances and confrontations (which he won) with Jewish leaders.  While the twelve were ecstatic and expectant, Jesus knew his physical end had come (see Matthew 26:37 and John 12:27; 13:1).

It is shocking to see how many Christians have sanitized the happenings of his preparation for and endurance of physical death.  First, Jesus was deserted by those who loved him and lived with him.  Second, he was betrayed by one of the twelve.  Third, he was arrested by the Jewish leadership as though he were a dangerous criminal.  Fourth, the Jewish leadership condemned Jesus to death in nighttime trials using the accusation of blasphemy (a Jewish charge).  Fifth, he—though Pilate knew he was innocent—was condemned for treason (a Roman offense).  Sixth, he was tortured.  Seventh, he was executed in a hideous manner, in a way that showed contempt and rejection.

Most of us would have had difficulty witnessing the injustices of his trial.  His abandonment would have torn at our hearts.  His loneliness after he had shown so much compassion would have been too much to witness.  The cruelty would have been too painful to watch. The execution would have revolted us.  Nothing that happened surrounding his death would have attracted us.  Everyone, including the twelve, thought Jesus had lost and evil had won!  From human perspective, there was NO way God could produce a King, a Messiah, or a Savior from this horror.

Only a unique God could produce such a wonderful blessing from such horror!  Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 and 1 Peter 2:18-25 again.

For Thought and Discussion

1. Illustrate the fact that God has a way of troubling people.

2. Discuss the fact that Jesus troubled the first-century religious establishment in Jewish society.

3. How did the “who is who” in first-century Jewish society see Jesus?

4. When did things reach the point of religious and political impasse?

5. What problem faced the Jewish leadership?

6. What did Jesus seem to be the last week of his physical life?

7. Even though the twelve were expectant, what did Jesus know?

8. Discuss the horrors of the event leading to and including Jesus’ execution.

9. What would you have the most difficulty witnessing?  Why?

10. Only a unique God could do what?

Link to Teacher's Guide Lesson 12

Copyright © 2009
David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ

previous lesson | table of contents | next lesson