Before the ResurrectionSample

“You can’t finish what you don’t start.” 

“A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.” 

We have all heard these quotes as well as many other statements that tell us the same basic truth. If you want to go anywhere, you have to take the first step. Don’t be deceived, the first step is only one step. It will not get you to your destination by itself, but it is essential and often the most difficult step to take.

In a way, it is hard to say what the first step was for the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world, but it has always seemed to be important what Jesus did when Palm Sunday was over. Jesus was in Jerusalem, the parade was over, and it was a “now what?” kind of a moment. What would Jesus do as He entered Jerusalem? What would be His “first step?”

The first story recorded in Scripture as Jesus takes this “first step” is the story of Jesus cleansing the temple. He turned over tables and drove out the money changers in a very determined, aggressive manner. He made sure those things which did not belong in the temple of God were no longer there.

Today is Monday of Holy Week. You cannot have a Holy Week without a Holy Monday. You cannot have a Holy Week without the first day, the first step of the week, and you cannot have a holy life without the first step either. The first step for Jesus seemed to be to make sure nothing remained in the temple of God that did not belong there. 

The Bible says God no longer dwells in temples made by human hands, but He now dwells in the hearts of His people. We are told that, as believers in Jesus Christ, we are the temple of God, and He indwells our hearts. Perhaps we should take our lead from Jesus, and get rid of everything that should not be in God’s temple. Maybe Monday of Holy Week is a good time to make sure we take the first step of holiness in our hearts and lives. If Jesus dwells in the temple of your heart, make sure nothing displeasing to Him is also there. You cannot get to where you want to be if you do not take that first step.