Monday

This week, we will take a break from our normal pattern, as we focus on Holy Week and the last days of the life of Christ. Just yesterday, we celebrated Palm Sunday, the day that historically, we know as the day Jesus entered into the city of Jerusalem, to the cheers and support of an eager crowd. Luke tells us that as he enters, he weeps for them, knowing what is to come. He goes to the Temple, looks around, and then goes to Bethany to spend the evening.

Following his triumphal entry is where we pick up this morning, with Jesus in the Temple again, no longer weeping, but filled with righteous indignation.

“Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. He was teaching and saying, “Is it not written,

‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’?

But you have made it a den of robbers.”

And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching.” Mark 12:15-18

We know that the selling of doves and other animals was essential for completing sacrifices, but things have clearly gotten out of hand, and money-changers and greedy men now occupy the Temple. As they scatter, the chief priests and scribes fear him, and begin to scheme on how to kill him. We know what’s coming, and Jesus does too. As he leaves the Temple that day and returns to Bethany to be with friends, He’s had quite the 24 hours. A victorious entry. A return to the Temple. He’s stirred up quite a ruckus, and for good and bad, the city is abuzz with his presence. 

Father, as we think about the final days of Jesus’ life, open our eyes to the best of our ability to see and feel what it was like for Him. He knew how fickle Jerusalem was when he entered to a celebration. And he knew the hearts of the those who were scheming to kill Him. Yet still He loved them, and us, and still he chose to continue down the path he was on. Thank you, Lord, for Jesus. In His name we pray, Amen.