Jesus created conflict

At the right time, Jesus creates conflict.

Matthew 21:14-17 14 The blind and the lame came to Jesus in the temple, and he cured them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became angry 16 and said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, 'Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise for yourself'?" 17 He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.

Jesus chose to show up at the temple this day. He chose to buck the religious teachings of the day and welcome the handicapped into the temple and to respond to them by healing them. And he chose to do it publicly. Many times in the past, Jesus healed and then sent those he healed away with instructions not to tell anyone. But now Jesus has chosen to go fully public.  His ministry has survived long enough to prepare his disciples and the world for his crucifixion and resurrection.  His death is approaching so Jesus throws caution to the wind and intentionally creates conflict with those in charge.

He creates a situation where the religious leaders' personal power is being threatened.   This is dangerous. It gets you killed!  Jesus is no longer allowing those in power to sit on the sidelines and complain - Jesus engages them. He goes into the temple and bucks their rules.  And THEN he accepts for himself the praise created for God.  In essence, he claims to be God and worthy of the praise offered to God. 

Jesus intentionally creates conflict in order to proclaim his Messiahship.  The religious authorities must accept it or reject it.  The conflict Jesus creates makes clear the choice before the authorities. 

Do we ignore Jesus' example that creating conflict in God's way and in God's timing is appropriate? When is it okay for us to challenge cultural, religious, and political powers? I believe Jesus creates conflict in this situation because he wants there to be no mistake of who he claims to be. He wants to register who he is with the authorities.  He wants them to know beyond doubt that he claims to be the Messiah - and that the praise due God is also due him. He wants the conflict that is coming to be straight forward - not hidden by lies and innuendo.

The conflict that would end Jesus’ human life - that would forever change the destiny of us all - is in full force!

Do we ignore Jesus’ example that creating conflict may be appropriate and necessary?  Are we willing to participate in conflict or do we run for cover?  Does the conflict we create reflect Jesus' goals or do we use conflict for our own gain? When is creating conflict appropriate and when is it not?