Monday, April 10, 2006
Holy Week
Luke 19:44-47 Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, saying to them, "It is written, 'My house is a house of prayer, but you have made it a "den of thieves."'" And He was teaching daily in the temple.
A HOUSE OF PRAYER
When Jesus entered Jerusalem on the first day of the week in which He would complete His redeeming work, He went to the temple. This was not unusual. While in Jerusalem Jesus made the Temple the center of His teaching efforts. That Sunday of hosannas and palms He was greeted in the temple precincts with the cheers of children welcoming Him as the Son of David, the promised Savior. The religious leaders were furious.
The next day we see Jesus' anger blaze. But how different it was. The Jewish leaders were angry when children shouted Psalm verses in the Temple because these men were concerned about their own honor and position. Jesus is angry when His Father's honor is set aside because those in charge of worship prefer personal gain to prayer and praise.
In driving the vendors from the Temple Jesus quotes from Isaiah, "My house is a house of prayer". And then, once again, He turns the attention of the people to the things of God through His teaching. Jesus' teaching pulsed with the same heart as true prayer does. For prayer is turning to God and depending on Him on the basis of His promises -- promises which center in the redeeming work of Christ. Because the LORD has been so faithful in keeping His word our prayers ought always begin with a focus on who He is and what He has done -- before bringing up our needs.
What are your plans for this Holy Week? Does your concern for the things of this life play a role it shouldn't? If you have opportunity to go "up to the Temple" for special services, will you? And what will be the focus of your attention?
May our Lord's love, His continual focus on our need for deliverance from sin and death, ever focus our hearts and minds during these days when we remember the most important actions our Savior-God ever took on our behalf.
