Today begins Easter week, the week when Jesus began His final visits to the Temple to teach and to chastise the money changers and those who had ruined the purity and goodness of this impressive facility in Jerusalem, the Holy City of God. Because of the special significance of the Easter Story to Christians, I will devote my blog writings this week to this story, foregoing politics again until next Monday. The sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us that we honor this week is so basic to our purpose in life that nothing else deserves the special attention this week.
Late in the day on Palm Sunday after His triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a donkey colt, Jesus was not happy with what he saw on his walk through of the Temple courtyard. Rather than reverence and devotion to worship, the place was swimming in "wheeler dealers" selling their goods for money where God's presence was literally being publicly blasphemed. But Jesus knew he was being watched closely, that the rabbis were looking for any excuse to detain Him, so he quickly left after seeing the sight and returned into the hills near Bethany for the night.
On Easter Monday he returned, again observing the shameful display and finally reacted by turning over the money changer's tables, asking why they were defiling God's House. And while the Temple leaders and their soldiers considered arresting Him, they noticed that many in the courtyard were cheering in support of Jesus. The Elders knew that a public arrest would likely create turmoil, thereby gaining attention of the Romans who had warned the High Priest about the maintenance of order during the busy Passover season. And Jesus, having made His point and having taught those about Him of what proper adherence to God's laws meant, quietly slipped away again back into the hills near Bethany, spending the night discussing the events of the day and what the future would bring. He would be back on the next day.
In the meantime, Caiaphas and the Elders continued to plot the downfall of Jesus, looking for the weak link within Christ's entourage who would make His capture easier. They would soon find out that Judas would sell His Master out for the paltry sum of thirty silver coins and the plan would be finalized. But before that was realized, Jesus would return again to the Temple and practice a much different approach. He had shown some of the contempt he felt toward the actions of the Temple leaders and next He would use the spoken word to debate those who despised Him. Despite their animosity, they would truly marvel at how such a simple man could be so wise. They just couldn't see the truth right before their eyes.
How about we Christians today? Do we really understand the full significance of everything He was doing and where it would lead? Sadly, many of us don't, so it's important to open our eyes to Him so that we might truly see. We'll be back tomorrow with Holy Week Tuesday.
Late in the day on Palm Sunday after His triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a donkey colt, Jesus was not happy with what he saw on his walk through of the Temple courtyard. Rather than reverence and devotion to worship, the place was swimming in "wheeler dealers" selling their goods for money where God's presence was literally being publicly blasphemed. But Jesus knew he was being watched closely, that the rabbis were looking for any excuse to detain Him, so he quickly left after seeing the sight and returned into the hills near Bethany for the night.
On Easter Monday he returned, again observing the shameful display and finally reacted by turning over the money changer's tables, asking why they were defiling God's House. And while the Temple leaders and their soldiers considered arresting Him, they noticed that many in the courtyard were cheering in support of Jesus. The Elders knew that a public arrest would likely create turmoil, thereby gaining attention of the Romans who had warned the High Priest about the maintenance of order during the busy Passover season. And Jesus, having made His point and having taught those about Him of what proper adherence to God's laws meant, quietly slipped away again back into the hills near Bethany, spending the night discussing the events of the day and what the future would bring. He would be back on the next day.
In the meantime, Caiaphas and the Elders continued to plot the downfall of Jesus, looking for the weak link within Christ's entourage who would make His capture easier. They would soon find out that Judas would sell His Master out for the paltry sum of thirty silver coins and the plan would be finalized. But before that was realized, Jesus would return again to the Temple and practice a much different approach. He had shown some of the contempt he felt toward the actions of the Temple leaders and next He would use the spoken word to debate those who despised Him. Despite their animosity, they would truly marvel at how such a simple man could be so wise. They just couldn't see the truth right before their eyes.
How about we Christians today? Do we really understand the full significance of everything He was doing and where it would lead? Sadly, many of us don't, so it's important to open our eyes to Him so that we might truly see. We'll be back tomorrow with Holy Week Tuesday.
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