Click here for an audio version of this blog post.
Mark 11:12-14
On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry.13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”And his disciples heard it.
Matthew 21:12-17
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. 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”
14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, 16 and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read,
“‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies
you have prepared praise’?”17 And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.
Plumeria | Tulum, Mexico | February 2024While the exact order of events during Holy Week is not easily ascertained, I will be using the days of Holy Week as the basis for my blog posts this week.
Palm Sunday is a grand celebration of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem. The people shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Pastor Stephen DeMik preached a great message on that glorious event. I’ve embedded that message below this post.
On Monday, Jesus does two very different things – showing a side of his nature of which we may not be accustomed. He curses the fig tree and cleanses the temple.
Some understand Jesus’ cursing of the fig tree to be symbolic of God’s judgment on Israel. God came to them looking for fruit, but found Israel barren of all he desired. They will be left desolate. So sad. So very very sad.
Then Jesus cleanses the temple. This is a clear lesson on two fronts. First of all, the obvious: the Jewish leaders had let the temple be turned into a corrupt bazaar. Money changers were gouging people of their fair money exchange. People who had come to worship were being charged unfair exchange rates to make their offerings. God’s house of prayer was turned into a den of thieves, Jesus says. Second, and more important, the people were being robbed of the opportunity to pray to God, have access to his grace, and know him for who he truly is: gracious, just, holy, merciful, and loving.
But when Jesus clears out the money changers look what happens! The blind and lame come to him and are healed. The children cry out, “Hosanna! To the Son of David.” This was a clear confession of faith in Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promise that the Son of David would sit on his throne forever (cf. 2 Samuel 7:26). This is a moment rich and full of glory, celebration, and joy. The joy of Palm Sunday continues to overflow – even in the face of the criticism of the Jewish leaders.
Sadly there are always those who will deny Jesus his due. There are those who are threatened by him and his teaching. There are those who do not wish to humble themselves before God. There are those who criticize his followers. There are those who disbelieve. And he is right there before them all! He’s healing people and teaching profound truth.
Maybe there are tables that need to be overturned in your life. I’m sure there are in mine. Perhaps you recognize there are fruitless and barren spaces in your heart. Thankfully, when Jesus overturns tables, he makes a way for people to come to God. And when fig trees are cursed, he uses it as an opportunity to teach us about the impact of our prayers before the throne of God.
Today is a good day to pray. God has made a way for us to do so. His name is Jesus. And when we pray in his name, we will be heard.
David Bahn - Reflections 
Leave a comment