Corona Devo 3121
So much happened during the days of the week from Palm Sunday, (when Jesus entered Jerusalem peacefully-but-triumphantly upon the back of a humble donkey), until Thursday night when Jesus met in the upper room of a (borrowed) home to sup with His disciples one-last-time.
So much occurred that week, including Jesus cursing a fig tree.
In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. (19) And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once. ~Matthew 21:18-19
In discussing these verses as a family last night, I couldn't help but be surprised as Jesus (essentially) "lost his temper" with the fig tree because it was barren. I reasoned that because (at this point) Jesus was (still) both Lord and Son of Man...then His physical needs could and did still affect him, and His hunger affected His actions with the fig tree.
While that is possibly true, my husband offered a much deeper insight to our children (and me!) as we discussed Christ's disappointment with the withering fig tree.
It was barren, he said. Just as the faith of the chief priests and many of the Jewish people was barren...unproductive...and not-producing-fruit.
And Jesus was frustrated by it.
Everyone has the opportunity to come to Jesus and to come to faith in Him and His Father. Everyone.
But for those who refuse, or whose "eyes are closed" to Christ's power and purpose and love for them...well, the day will come when they will wither.
Jesus was hungry (Verse 18 tells us this), but beyond physical hunger, his heart hungered for people to know Him and to understand and accept His love and His call on their lives.
The loss of those who did not believe in Him was painful and frustrating to Jesus. The fig tree account explains this to us.
~~~
A lot more happened that (holy) week after the fig tree withered.
Jesus cleared out the temple of people making money and selling things within His Father's house.
That was never God's intent when He gave His people the requirements (and purpose) of sacrifices, and yet...
Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. (16) And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. (17) Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” ~Mark 11:15-18
The sacrilegious-nature of these activities within God's temple should not require explanation. The people were dishonoring God by taking their focus and worship off of Him, in His holy house.
But before we shake our heads at the early Jewish people in Jerusalem, we must remember that the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
How are we short-changing the Lord with our affections and actions? What has gotten in our spiritual way, or crept-in to our holy ground?
Friends, we can even be in the church when our irreverent behavior couched-in-"faithfulness" is occuring. Let the Bible search our hearts today and rake over the coals of our souls.
Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” ~Mark 11:18
If the Lord is speaking to us in any areas today...LISTEN!
But fig trees and flipped tables were not all that happened in Jerusalem during Jesus' last week.
He was also anointed.
A woman with an alabaster jar came with much perfumed oil and much sin...and she laid both before King Jesus. Her actions (appropriately) anointed His body before His approaching death, and her humility (and boldness) exemplified how Christ desires for all of us to approach Him.
And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, (7) a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. (8) But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? (9) For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”
(10) But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. (11) For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. (12) For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. (13) Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” ~Matthew 26:6-13
What else happened in the final days before Jesus was crucified for every sin that we ever have and ever-will commit? Many things. Many teachings. Many parables. And many plots.
What else occurred? Dishonesty and trickery.
Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. (2) “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.” ~Mark 14:1-2
What else was begotten? Bribes.
Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests (15) and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. (16) So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him. ~Matthew 26:14-16
We know what else happened.
It pierces our hearts each Easter and makes us catch our breath every Good Friday.
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. ~Isaiah 53:5-6
Triumph for you and for me, and for all who believe in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (17) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.(18) “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ~John 3:16-18
sarah
https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com
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