Tuesday of Holy Week

The Tuesday of the Holy Week is the day when the famous incident between Jesus and Pharisees is thought to have taken place. This was when they tried to trap Jesus into making a blasphemous, or, anti-god remark.

This day is important also on another count; Jesus discoursed to his disciples on the Mount of Olives about the destruction of Jerusalem and the signs of the last day.

Mark 11:27They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28"By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?"

29Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30John's baptism—was it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!"

31They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' 32But if we say, 'From men'...." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

33So they answered Jesus, "We don't know."
Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

Perhaps the question today for me is how do I try to trap Jesus? Try to make him say what I want him to say? How do I put him in a box so I can do away with him, and live the life I want to lead the way I want to do it? What would happen if I quit being like the Pharisees and accept Jesus for Jesus?

Icon is The Holy Face (The Vernicle) from the First Half of the 13th cen.