DAY 151

GOD’S ANOINTED

2 Chronicles 13 & 14 and John 12:1-26

In the Old Testament, the King of Judah, Abijah, has quite a speech to the King of Israel, Jeroboam. Abijah’s point – he is in the line of King David, he, not by his personhood, but by his position, is the Anointed – and Jeroboam is a fool to oppose the LORD GOD, even if his army is twice as large (800,000 compared to 400,000).

The story plays out and Abijah subdues Jeroboam.

Another in the line of King David, Jesus – the Christos, which we translate Messiah is literally “the anointed one” – comes to Jerusalem today and is hailed. The build up to Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem in John’s Gospel has a decidedly different twist – the Lazarus event.

It is only John’s Gospel that records the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Some have dismissed this event, but there is an amazing level of detail in the storyline. And, it is the proverbial “straw that breaks the camel’s back” with the authorities. We read today, and in the days to come, how intent they are to kill Jesus.

There is also today this situation where “some Greeks come seeking Jesus.” Jesus’ reaction is strong. He views this situation as a clear sign that now the hour has come; why? The answer resides in how we understand the role of Jesus, Messiah. Jesus has spent most of his ministry proclaiming to the Jewish people of the day that He is the long awaited Messiah. He has been proclaiming the Kingdom of God, and revealing to them a different image of that Kingdom. He has once again been God Incarnate inviting Israel to be what Yahweh God has been inviting Israel to be through the ages – a Light to the World.

Jesus has not forbidden others to see His Light. There was the Samaritan woman at the well, the Syrophoenician woman with the sick daughter, and others; it just has not been his focus. Yet His Light is shining, penetrating the darkness, and these Greeks see it and seek it. There is some indication in the original language that they may have been converts to Judaism, but the point remains. Jesus’ Light is beginning to radiate out beyond…and so it is time, time for “the grain of wheat to fall” for that is why the Messiah has come to earth.