Matthew 21:15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
I often see people whose reactions don’t seem to match the circumstances. This can either be an overreaction like a child throwing a tantrum because they didn’t get to wear their favorite shoes, or someone so emotionally detached from the circumstance that they seem impervious to any emotion. I notice the second group with greater curiosity. Why don’t they seem to care about what is going on around them?
I see this in couples counseling all the time. One spouse lets their emotions fly while the other seems to bury them, or not have them at all. I know from the science that men often bury the emotions. But if you monitor the physical signs like blood pressure and heart rate, the men are just as revved up as their wives, but they don’t show it on the outside.
In our text for today we see very different reactions to Jesus teaching and healing the sick. The crowds are excited and energetic. They want to see and hear more from Jesus. They are bringing the sick to Him, because He heals them. What could be better than that!
But the religious leaders of that day have a very different reaction. Instead of being excited that people’s suffering is being brought to an end, they get indignant. This word “indignant” carries with it a sense of physical pain or discomfort, like the pain of a teething child, or the pain one experiences when their spouse dies.
While the crowds are excited, the leaders are in extreme pain and they show it. That kind of pain can’t be hidden anymore than a teething child can be comforted. They are loosing everything they believe and work toward. Their world is being turned upside down right in front of their eyes.
If what the children are shouting is true, Jesus will be in charge. His rules will be the law of the land. And they don’t like the direction Jesus is heading. Jesus isn’t paying attention to the high and mighty, he is going to the lowly and the weak. Not the kind of people you meet at the country club or at a cocktail party. You are more likely to meet them at the soup kitchen or the homeless shelter.
I hear them saying, “We have a pretty good thing going on, and we don’t want some unknown, illegitimate, uneducated carpenter making fun of us and gaining power.” But that is exactly what Jesus is doing. Jesus does care more for the lowly and weak. They are the ones who need help, not the rich, powerful and connected.
But the rich, powerful and connected are the people who run the show, even today. I have a very large range of concerns, but a fairly small range of influence. I am not rich, powerful or connected. I am one of those on the outside of the power circles of this world.
Do you become indignant when someone comes along and radically shifts the direction of leadership away from what you want? Would you be one of the crowd cheering, or would you be like the religious leaders bubbling hot inside?
Jesus handled the religious leaders by confronting them, again and again. He did it with words and actions of compassion. He handled them by laying down His life on their behalf. He was crucified for these religious leaders who were getting indignant out of ignorance. Would you be like Jesus? Could you be like Jesus, not pushing for power, but surrendering to the will of God?
The Arnold Journey 