Put Him to the Test

Put Him to the Test

Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Piety

“Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.”  Wisdom 2:17-20

So, Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, "You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him because I am from him, and he sent me." So, they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.  John 7:28-30

Study

If the calendar did not give away the secret that the end of Lent is near, then the readings do.  The story has been building for Jesus’ triumphant entry to Jerusalem.  That action is about to occur.

As we consider the first reading, the description of the “righteous one” in Wisdom 2:12–20 harkens back to imagery from the Servant Songs of Isaiah and foretells the New Testament passion narrative.

We may not be contemplating the Last Words of Christ from the Cross.  However, the readings give us a chance to reflect upon some of the last public words from Jesus before the Last Supper – that private dinner which becomes the largest public table in the world.

“…but the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.”

Ironically, those who were most knowledgeable of the prophets of the Hebrew Bible recognized Jesus the least. Even though they shared the temple space with him, they did not know him. Jesus actually did little of what the Wisdom prophet predicted.

Let us beset the just one because he is obnoxious to us…

        Actually, he was merciful (perfect) to all.

He sets himself against our doings…

Actually, he shared in their feasts and holy days and places.

Reproaches us for transgressions of the law…

        Actually, he forgave transgressions of the law and simplified it.

“To us he is the censure of our thoughts…”

        Actually, he freely shared his knowledge even with the Pharisee Nicodemus.  

“He holds aloof from our paths as from things impure…”

        Nothing impure can come from God.

So, as right as the Wisdom literature has the description, it is as wrong as the judgment on Good Friday.  But come back in two weeks for that chapter.

Action

Lent is about what we do to bring about that sense of “near”-ness to the Suffering Servant by sharing in his piety, study, and action. As we put Him to the test, He puts us to the Lenten Test. 

The final exam: Draw near.