David Bahn – Reflections

Too often our picture of Jesus is based on our current crisis or perceived need. We’re in financial straits and we look for Jesus who promises to answer our prayers or provide for our needs. We’re sick and we look for Jesus who heals diseases. We are lonely and we look for Jesus who promises to be with us always. Make no mistake: Jesus is all those things. He is a comfort to those who mourn, a rock upon which we may build our lives and his church.

But that’s not all Jesus is. He is not best defined by our perceived needs. Sometimes he is remarkably and unexpectedly humble (riding on a donkey). The next moment he is a warring crusader, driving out the money changers from the temple. One moment he is challenging the self-righteous, the next he is forgiving a woman caught in adultery.

Our best encounter with Jesus will be as we seek him in the Scripture and listen to the comforting and the challenging words he speaks. He who came to seek and save the lost will invite us to himself and challenge us to repent and believe the Good News, conforming our lives to his will.

Matthew 21:1-13

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 “Say to the daughter of Zion,’Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”
6The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 13He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”