It All Fades Away

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 

 

Jesus said this toward the end of the second day of the passion week. 

 

But what does it mean? 

 

All day, Jesus spent time teaching his disciples. He talked bout taxes and Caesar, making sure to separate what is earthly and what is heavenly. He says the classic line to give unto Caesar what is Caesars, and unto God what is Gods. 

 

He talked about a tenants, who coveted a vineyard and all the wealth it was able to generate. In this story, the tenants mistreat, abuse, and even murder the owners men in order to try and keep it for themselves. This story revealed the greed of mankind. It ultimately illustrated a greed so deep that would cause the messiah to be put to death. 

 

He taught about the greatest commandments, and how they put God first, and ultimately love others as one might love themselves. 

 

He even took a moment to warn against teachers of the law, who walk around looking for notoriety, and honor. They make a name for themselves at the cost of others. 

 

While standing in the temple, they witness a poor woman bring her best offering and place it in the collection. Jesus points out how material possession and money, are nothing compared to heart. 

 

And as the day was coming to and end, the disciples and Jesus were leaving the temple. One of his disciples said to him, “look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”  This disciple was marveling at the material world and what it offered. 

 

All day long, this was the line Jesus walked the edge of in his teachings. Money and taxes, what belongs to God verse what belongs to man. The vineyard was a conversation about greed, and coveting wealth over human life. Even the teachers of the law and how they treated people - was Jesus’ analysis of what pride and selfishness do when they trump the spiritual well bing of others.