Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David.” But the leaders were indignant. and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up. When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?” “But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go. “Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied, “The first.” Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’ I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.” When the leading priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet.

Matthew 21:12,14-15,19,23,28-31,42-46

Dear God, I’ve intentionally copied snippets from chapter 21 because I’m looking at them as a whole and wondering how Jesus’ actions and attitude impacted Peter and John while they watched him do this. And I could draw the assumption that Jesus was just putting on a show for the Pharisees to inflame them against him, but he cursed the fig tree too. No, I think he had a lot of frustration that was coming out and knew he didn’t have to hide it anymore because this was the week.

Now here’s where I make a lot is unfounded assumptions that should NOT be seen as truth. I would imagine that Peter and John had different internal responses to Jesus this week. I think there’s some evidence to show that Peter was getting amped up. For example, when Jesus says some will betray him, Peter jumps out and says he’s willing to die for Jesus. Then in the garden he pulls out his sword and cuts off someone’s ear. He was ready to go.

John, on the other hand, is pretty quiet. We know that he will ultimately follow Jesus through to the crucifixion. I would imagine that this would have been a confusing time for him. Why is Jesus doing these things? This all seems really out of character or against what he’s taught us.

Father, I’m not sure what all of this has to do with me or how it applies to my life today. It will be interesting to see what going through this process of looking at both John and Peter will show me about them, about myself, and about others who are wired differently than I am. I have a dear, dear friend who is so much Peter to my John. I love him and he loves me, but there are times when we don’t understand each other. But we know we need each other to share wisdom, insight, and our respective perspectives on you. And we both know we need you.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen