If you want to get people riled up, bring up the subject of taxation. Our very nation was birthed, in part, out of a frustration with taxation without representation. The Boston Tea Party was a rebellion against what the colonists viewed as unfair tax policy.

But frustrations with taxation is nothing new. And in our text this week (Luke 20:19-26), we see those who opposing Jesus taking yet another stab at incriminating him. "If we can just get him to speak out against paying Rome," they thought, "Then we can get Him crucified!" 

Yet, Jesus' answer was surprising - and I think it has surprising implications for us all. 

​Saturday is our community game night and one of the most popular games today is Jenga. This game where you remove a block and place it on top without causing the whole tower to topple is a favorite of many and is a great analogy to the text we look at this week.

What is one thing that if we removed it would cause your whole world to fall down? Is it your job? Your family? Your marriage? The Bible says that the faith we have has it's anchor, or it's cornerstone piece in Jesus Christ. If it is anything else, you will stumble.

​We live in a day where authority is routinely rejected. This, however, as King Solomon would say, is nothing new under the Sun. A basic reading of Scripture shows that humanity has rejected the proper authority over them since the very beginning. Rejection of the proper authority in our lives goes as far back as the Garden!

Our text this week is a look at a text where those who didn't like Jesus' message questioned his authority in even bringing it. The question we should wrestle with is if we likewise reject the authority in our life simply because we don't like the message.

​Our text this week paints two sides of Jesus. One side is a Messiah King who weeps over the very city that rejects him and the other is a Warrior Messiah who whips those who would pervert his house. Despite the differing responses, they both are responses to the same basic thing - sin. And it leads us to a conclusion that is very good news for those who would repent and follow Jesus ... and sheer terror for those who continue to reject him and his offer of salvation.

Last Sunday was a great time in God's Word and in fellowship as we began to chart a course in learning to speak the gospel every day and in every way. We are learning that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the response to every problem that this world has and every issue that we face. And as we grow in this area, we will not only learn how to respond to others but also learn to respond to our own sin and struggles.

This week we return to Luke's Gospel and begin the homestretch of our series in Luke. Luke spends a lot of time discussing the last week of Jesus' life here on earth and how the good news of His Kingdom changes everything. I hope you'll join us this week as we consider how the fact that Jesus is our Triumphal King changes everything.