Holy Week: Pause. Ponder. Pray.Sample

PAUSE.

After Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, He went to the temple. He overturned tables. He cleared out the money-changers and all of those buying and selling. He was angry. His anger was righteous anger. It was His duty in His zeal for His Father. And it was His right.

God's people were abusing the temple. They had turned His Father's house into a den of sin instead of keeping it a house of holiness. What they worshiped in their hearts was being displayed in their deeds.

Jesus' actions in the temple can also be seen as a fulfillment of prophecy. When this temple was originally built, the Lord spoke to the prophet Haggai telling him that the latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former. And in this new place, he would give peace.

God promised the people through Haggai that the second temple would be even more glorious than the first temple was.

That would be hard to do. The first temple, Solomon's Temple, was magnificent. Not only was it splendid, but the very glory of the Lord filled it (1 Kings 8:10-11). But God Incarnate comes to this second temple. He clears it out.

The temple was meant to be: a place for man to meet with God, a place where God grants us peace. And now we see how this physical temple points to the true temple--Jesus Christ. It is in this place--at the feet of Jesus--that God gives peace.

PONDER.

TAKE THE TRUTH TO HEART

The chief priests and scribes were not at all enthused with this wonderful news. They didn't want His peace. In fact, they wanted war. Rather than worshiping Christ they wanted to kill Him.

How does your heart respond to the wonderful things that Jesus has done? Are you thankful for the peace that He gives? Are you saying in your soul, "Hosanna to the Son of David!"?

Or you responding with indifference? Are you distracted? Or maybe even--like those first-century religious folks--something worse?

PRAY.

Lord Jesus, Please look at my heart. What is my response to you? Help me lay aside all of the things that press in to take priority over you. Help me to respond with authentic, enthusiastic Hosannas. I want to love you with my all. I want Hosanna to resonate in my soul. May it be the song of my heart today.

In Jesus' name, I pray,

Amen