Holy Monday Devotional - April 6, 2020

James Tissot - "The Merchants Chased from the Temple" Online Collection of Brooklyn Museum; Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2007, 00.159.198_PS2.jpg

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

We are providing these devotional aids over the coming days so that you can take time daily during Holy Week to remember and meditate upon the events of the days leading up to the death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. Use all of what is offered here, or a portion.

We encourage you to do this with someone if possible, either in your home, or by telephone or online meeting. Just because we are physically apart, does not mean that we need to be socially distant. Either way, there is nothing more profitable than time spend giving our attention to the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. May the Holy Spirit use this time to shape your heart and draw you closer to him.

Read the Scriptures

Matthew 21:12–22 / Mark 11:12–19 / Luke 19:45–48.

Having received his acclamation as King as he entered Jerusalem, Jesus now takes on the work of a Priest, cleansing the temple of profiteering merchants. In so doing, he struck at the heart of the “Temple-Industrial Complex” that lined the pockets of many of the rich and powerful.

Jesus was also like a prophet, in that he called Israel back to covenant faithfulness. Even so, prophets are one thing when they are out crying in the wilderness. They are entirely another thing when they are physically interrupting the cash flow.

But Jesus was unconcerned about any of that. He was concerned that the worship of God’s people actually reflect God’s character. In a few short days, Jesus was about to reveal God’s character in a whole new way that demonstrated the ultimate meaning of every aspect of the temple: the architecture and design, the work of the priests, the sacrifice of animals, etc.

Read the article

“Jesus turns the Tables.”

“…,the ultimate vision of God’s people in God’s place would look a little more motley than it did when Jesus stepped foot into Jerusalem. And because their worship was so far removed from this vision, Jesus had enough. The worship of God’s people was so out of line with God’s purposes that zeal consumed God’s messiah.”

Questions to consider:

What does the death of Jesus on the cross show us about the kind of God we have?

How does our way of worship line up with the character of God as revealed in Jesus on the cross?

How can we pray that God will help us worship in Spirit and in truth?

Listen to this music

Lamb of God
by Bob Kauflin, David LaChance, Jr., Jason Hansen CCLI: #7052986

O Lamb of God, in filthy manger lay
In humble dress You entered earth
O Lamb of God, Creator bows to save
The needy ones, helpless from birth
Incarnate Word, gift of the Father
To take our place and bear our sin
Incarnate Word led to the slaughter
You conquered death and rose again

Pray this prayer:

Almighty God,

Your beloved Son only went up to joy after first suffering great pain.

He only entered into glory after he was crucified: Have mercy, and grant that as we walk in the way of the cross, we may find that the cross is the only true way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Aon our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.