MONDAYIt is fitting that the object lessons Jesus taught on this day were all about prayer. You will notice that this week begins with a focus on prayer and Jesus' last words from the cross are a prayer quoted from the Psalms. The events of Holy Monday cause us to reflect on the urgency and priority that Jesus urges us to recognize about prayer.
On Monday, Jesus cleared the temple. Here we have an image of Jesus so far from the forgiving, graceful, wise and witty teacher we have witnessed. What makes Jesus angry?-When men distort the way to prayer. The temple was full of money changers, venders of all kinds and religious leaders profiting from the pockets of eager worshippers. He overturned the tables and drove out anyone trying to bring merchandise into theTemple
The other event slated on Monday was when Jesus explained why the fig tree withered. The fig tree was full of leaves, but no fruit. It offered nothing to satisfy Jesus' hunger. Jesus is hungry to feast on the fruit of your life. He uses the fig tree to demonstrate what happens when there is no fruit, only leaves. In Mark 11:22-25 Jesus summarizes the essentials of our prayer lives. "Have faith in God, Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself in to the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
These are good thoughts for us this Holy Week. Is your heart a house of prayer? Are there money changes, merchants or religious teachers that rob you of a pure heart of prayer? Make time for prayer this week. Believe and don't doubt. Forgive anyone who has offended you and receive fully your forgiveness from God. What are you praying about this week? May I suggest that you ask God to bring one person across your path with whom you can share this great Easter message and the reason for your hope?
On Monday, Jesus cleared the temple. Here we have an image of Jesus so far from the forgiving, graceful, wise and witty teacher we have witnessed. What makes Jesus angry?-When men distort the way to prayer. The temple was full of money changers, venders of all kinds and religious leaders profiting from the pockets of eager worshippers. He overturned the tables and drove out anyone trying to bring merchandise into the
The other event slated on Monday was when Jesus explained why the fig tree withered. The fig tree was full of leaves, but no fruit. It offered nothing to satisfy Jesus' hunger. Jesus is hungry to feast on the fruit of your life. He uses the fig tree to demonstrate what happens when there is no fruit, only leaves. In Mark 11:22-25 Jesus summarizes the essentials of our prayer lives. "Have faith in God, Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself in to the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
These are good thoughts for us this Holy Week. Is your heart a house of prayer? Are there money changes, merchants or religious teachers that rob you of a pure heart of prayer? Make time for prayer this week. Believe and don't doubt. Forgive anyone who has offended you and receive fully your forgiveness from God. What are you praying about this week? May I suggest that you ask God to bring one person across your path with whom you can share this great Easter message and the reason for your hope?
(Matthew 21:1-22; Mark 11:1-26; Luke 19:28-48; John 12:12-19; Zechariah 9:9)
Tuesday
I’m sure it didn’t feel very holy to those around Christ on this day. The spirit of anger and resentment toward Jesus was palpable. The Religious leaders who wanted to kill Jesus before the events of yesterday—cleansing of the temple—are now fanatical in their obsession to bring an end to Him. Knowing their profound hatred and rejection did not stop Jesus from reaching out them. He walked right into the place that they would be—The Temple—and taught lessons especially relevant to them.
He taught in the temple on Tuesday and Wednesday. He exposed their calloused hearts prophesied in Isaiah 53:1 and . There is no doubt that these prophesies were written about them, six times Jesus calls them hypocrites, five times He calls them blind, five times He denounces them and one time He prophecies their ruin. He taught the Parable of the Tenants in which the Land Owner rents a vineyard to tenants who beat the servants he sends to them and eventually kills the Land Owner’s son. The Religious leaders know full well that this parable is about them. And still they reject Him.
Foolishly the Religious leaders team together with questions hoping to prompt Jesus to commit a crime. Their plans fail as they are left speechless by His perceptive responses. Yet, because of their questions we have beautiful teaching such as: The Greatest Commandment, Authority and Taxes, No Marriage at the Resurrection, The Seven Woes of Hypocrisy. Jesus tells the parable about Two Sons Working in the Vineyard. While in the temple He
On Holy Tuesday it seems fitting to check our own calloused hearts. We can sit in judgment of the Pharisees, but are we hard hearted towards Jesus’ love ourselves? It’s something to think about as you prepare your heart for Easter.
(Matthew -24:2; Mark ; Luke 20-21; John -50; Isaiah 53:1, )
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