It’s Monday.

Yesterday was Palm Sunday.  Thursday is Maundy Thursday, Friday is Good Friday, and finally, Sunday, is Easter.  What significant things happen on Monday?  We are inching back into our weekly routine, wishing it was still yesterday, counting the days till Friday.  But for Jesus, Monday was significant.

There are two main stories found in the Gospel accounts that happen on Monday.  I want us to take some time to investigate one of those stories.  Mark tells us that on Sunday Evening:

“Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.” ~ Mark 11:11 (NIV)

Jesus had gone to Jerusalem.  He took inventory.  And then went home.

Before you read any further.  Take a moment.  Close this screen.  Take inventory.  When I took inventory… honestly, it wasn’t pretty.  Entertainment had replaced devotion, upward mobility had replaced humility, church worship was a checklist instead of a place of sanctuary.  I had become terrified instead of amazed.

Seriously.  Take a moment to reflect.  Take inventory.

I imagine at this point Jesus is filled with as many human emotions that we could name. knowing death was imminent.  The next section of text happens in a flurry:

“On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there.  He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.  And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’?  But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” ~ Mark 11:15-17 (NIV)

In the circles in which I grew up, Jesus was always portrayed as (justifiably) exhibiting “Holy Anger” or in less dressed up terms, having a temper tantrum.  This was the response Jesus had after taking the night to think on it.  Can you imagine what it would look like if he hadn’t taken the time the night before?

I think in order to fully grasp what Mark wants us to see, in order to avoid minimizing this episode to Jesus having a ‘temper tantrum’, we have to read the verse that follows.

“The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they were terrified of him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.” ~ Mark 11:18 (NIV)

All throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, people followed Him wherever he went.  Some listening, waiting for Jesus to say the wrong thing, others intrigued by this new message, new authority.

It was no different this time.  The religious elite, those who thought they had it all together, were terrified.  Those who were deemed outcasts were amazed.  Jesus wasn’t having a temper tantrum.  The religious elite were losing their power, following, authority, and ultimately - their way of doing religion.

This text presents us with an opportunity to clean house in preparation to receive the greatest gift ever.

Here’s the tricky thing.  The selling of animals, the converting of money, were all normal, acceptable practices.  The issue, they had become defiled.

The families traveling across the known land needed their money converted and needed animals accessible for proper temple sacrifices.  The issue was, those converting and selling, had allowed their religious (spiritual) practices to be defiled.

I wonder what ‘spiritual practices’ in my life have become defiled.  Acts of worship that in-and-of themselves have become the object of worship as opposed to the means of worship.  Have we had our own temper tantrums because of the way church has looked this past year?  We don’t like it - so we take our ball and go home.

I get it.  I thought about quitting.  You mean you want me to do youth group differently? Differently than the way I had been doing it for a decade?  You see, the means had become an object of worship.  I wasn’t willing to see past that.  Jesus had to wreck me.  He had to turn the tables in my heart.  I’m better for it.  But I haven’t always felt this way.

This week culminates in the celebration of the greatest act of love and sacrifice this earth has ever witnessed.  One that promises new life, a hope that leads to eternity.  But if we are not careful, if we don’t take inventory, if we don’t allow Jesus to clean house.  We may just miss out on the gift of grace promised for all who believe.

I’m only in my second semester of Seminary…. So, I imagine I will learn much, much more, about this text in the coming years.

But what I do know is that God’s people had let God’s sanctuary, become defiled.

Or in Jesus’ words:

“My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.  But you have made it a ‘den of robbers.” ~ Mark 11:17 (NIV)

There is no shortage of scripture that references his people (you and me) as the temple in which he dwells.  I will leave you with this.  It’s not pretty.  But it’s necessary.

“Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.” ~ 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NIV)

Let God clean house.  Let’s make room for the Risen Savior.  It’s Monday.  It’s an important day.

Will you join me now in honest reflection?

1. Take inventory (This isn’t always an easy or pretty process)

2. And then allow God to turn the tables in your heart (Don’t be terrified – be amazed).