Monday of Passion Week

Monday: Mark 11:12-19

Jesus is staying in the village of Bethany with his beloved friends Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Just the day before Jesus had rode into Jerusalem on a colt to the sound of devoted disciples crying out “Hosanna! Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord!”. On this Holy Monday, Jesus enters the city once again but this time with the mission of correcting the misconception of why He had come to Jerusalem. The people were excited about their Savior who was come to overthrow the Roman government and set up the new kingdom, but Jesus had other plans. These plans were starting to be uncovered even on the way to the city on Monday morning.

Jesus grew hungry along the path to Jerusalem and saw a fig tree in the distance. He saw leaves and what seemed to be a vibrant growing tree, but yet when they drew closer it was fruitless. He cursed the tree saying, “No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever.” This obviously startled the disciples since this was very much out of the ordinary behavior for Jesus, and their surprise continued with his righteous indignation once they entered the city and then the temple.

Jesus walked into the temple and rather than see a house of peace, prayer, and devotion to God He saw a chaotic building of merchants with the sole purpose of personal gain. He immediately drove out both those that sold and bought from the temple in a fit of righteous anger. His words ran out in the temple that these wicked profiteers had turned His Father’s house into a “den of thieves.” (Mark 12:17)

The religious leaders were furious with Jesus. First he rides into town on Sunday being praised like the new David or the new Solomon, and now he has the audacity to call the temple His Father’s?! This was an attack on their worship. Their worship was not God-centered and therefore was wicked.

Questions for the day: How well does our worship glorify God rather than personal gain? Are you like the fig tree that looks good from a distance but up close there is no real fruit? What would Jesus cleanse your heart of so that true worship can take place?