Corona Devo 1486

A lot can happen in a week.  And a lot did happen in Jesus' last week (sometimes called "Passion Week" or "Holy Week").

On Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, being praised by the Jewish people while they worshiped Him as their Messiah.

On Sunday evening, Jesus went to the the Temple, and drove out those who were dishonoring God within it's walls (Matthew 21:12-13).

On Monday. he cursed the fig tree (Matthew 21:18-21 and Mark 11:12-14). 

On Tuesday, Jesus was questioned about His authority (Matthew 21:23-27, Mark 11:27-33, Luke 20:1-8), He went back to the temple to teach (Matthew 21:28-23:39, Mark 12:1-44, Luke 20:9-21:4), and that Tuesday evening, He was anointed at Bethany (Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, John 12:2-11).

On Wednesday, the plot against Jesus was formed: (Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11, Luke 22:3-6), and on Thursday, Jesus shared in the Last Supper with His disciples (Matthew 26:17-29, Mark 14:12-25, Luke 22:7-20, John 13:1-38).

After supper, He comforted the disciples (John 14:1-16:33), and then went with them to the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:40-46).

Late Thursday night and into Friday morning was the arrest of Jesus and His trial (Matthew 26:47-27:27:26, Mark 14:43-15:45, Luke 22:47-23:25, John 18:2-19:16).

Friday was the crucifixion and death of Jesus (Matthew 27:27-56, Mark 15:16-41, Luke 23:26-49, John 19:17-30).

And Friday also brought the burial of Jesus (Matthew 27:57-66, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-56, John 19:31-42).

A lot can happen in a week.  And a lot did happen in Jesus' last week, but the entry on Jesus' planner that caught my eye (and conscience) today, was when He cleared the temple of the money changers' tables.  

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. (13) “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’ "  ~Matthew 21:12-13

Some people ("all who were buying and selling there") were in God's holy house (temple) and they were doing things that they shouldn't have been doing.  Their intent was wrong, their attitude was wrong, and their understanding and homage to God's holiness was wrong...and Jesus set it right.  He would not settle for the antiworship that was occurring in "His house".  

Entering this (holy) week, this return-to-the-cross, this review-of-Christ's-sacrifice for us, and this unfathomable-grand-plan of God for us....we can't help but feel Jesus enter our courts and drive out all that we have been buying and selling there.

He overturns our tables of pride and self-righteousness.  Jesus points to the cross and the horrible and haggard path that He had to plod to get there, and He says to us (through Scripture): “My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers." (Matthew 21:13).

I am undone.  I am (freshly) aware.  I am repentant.  

We are told-through-Scripture that we must cleanse our hearts (our lives!)  of sin and pride and the filth that makes us unclean before God can receive us.  

But we can't do that...only He can. 

And He did.

All that we must do is ready our hearts to receive Him.   

God requires us to come before Him with pure hearts and pure motives and a pure conscience.  BEFORE we can get to the joy of Easter morning, we must spend a moment in mourning of our unworthiness, and only by partaking in this repentance can we fully enter into the gift of for-give-ness that Jesus died to-give-us.  

He has to overturn our tables (of self) today in order for us to prepare and cleanse our hearts for the robust joy of Resurrection Sunday.

• “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, (24) leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.  ~Matthew 5:23

• Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”   

(22) “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!  ~Matthew 18: 21-22

• Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (32) Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  ~Ephesians 4:31-32

~~~

What does our week look like?  Appointments, events, Easter activities?  

What has priority?  (And does our calendar reflect those priorities?)

The schedule that Jesus kept during the week leading up to His death (and Resurrection!!!) was full, busy, and (each piece) was with purpose.

Our weeks may be full and busy, but are they with purpose for the Lord?

Father, we thank you for overturning our tables of pride and disrespect to You.  We repent of any and all ways that we have dishonored You and we kneel before You now.  You are holy.  You are righteous, and You are worthy.  Thank you for loving us enough to be honest with us, and for caring enough to draw us nearer to Yourself.  A lot can happen in a week, and we are all yours.  Amen.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com