Passion Week: Fire in His Eyes

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"And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." - Matthew 21:13

On the first day of the week Jesus entered Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, riding upon a donkey. We now celebrate this day as Palm Sunday, to signify the entrance into Holy Week, or Passion Week leading up to Christ's crucifixion, burial and resurrection. As I pointed out on Saturday, Christ wept over Jerusalem, but there's more significance to this story.  Jesus was making a statement by entering into Jerusalem in the manner in which He had chosen.
 
In Jewish tradition, Kings rode upon donkeys, where as Military leaders rode upon horses. Secondly, one would see Him upon a donkey and see His humility and peacefulness. Finally, Christ rode upon a donkey to fulfill the prophecy from Zechariah 9:9. For the last 2 years of His life He had been quietly spreading God's love to the people, performing miracles and teaching His followers without formally claiming His divinity. On Palm Sunday, all that changed once He set upon that donkey. It was immediately recognized by those present as they began singing, "Hosanna, Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord."
 

Jesus retreated that evening to Bethany (about 2 miles away), but came back into Jerusalem on the second day of the week, Monday. Here we find Him once again making profound statements about His divinity through His actions. Cleansing the temple of the merchandisers, was prophesied in Isaiah 56:7 and in Jeremiah 7:11. His actions speak to the people of Him acknowledging that He is the Messiah. In addition, carefully look at the words He speaks. He doesn't say, "The temple shall be..." or "The Lord's house...", no He clearly states, "My house..." Christ had come to Jerusalem this week to die for the sins of the world, but in the mean time, there was much for Him to do.

Christ would have ascended these steps  to reach the temple. These steps have been excavated along the southern face of the temple mount and dated to the times of King Herod's temple. In all there are 30 steps, each rising about 7 inches in height, with a span of up to 35 inches in width.
Many believe it was at the top of these stairs where the peddlers and merchants would have been trading and selling sacrificial animals to the Jewish families coming to the temple for forgiveness. This is what Christ was upset about. The fact that man-kind would attempt to profit from God's laws on sacrifice, and knowing that He was there to abolish that with the ultimate sacrifice of His own life.
 
I've walked up all 30 steps and came to the emotional realization that my Savior, Paul of Tarsus, Peter and so many other's had done just the same. I'm asking you to visualize with faith the reality of Christ's actions by seeing the real temple steps. Can you see His anger, His rage against man-kind? I believe at the same time as His anger is expressed He is hurting inside. We know Jesus cries, and now we know He can be angered as well. Close your eyes and imagine His face as He deals with these merchants. Now ask yourself, is this the man you want fighting Your battles against Satan on the last days? I know without a doubt that I am putting my faith in Jesus Christ and His jealous anger over my soul.
 
Prayer:
Loving Father,
We look to the Lamb of God, Your Son and find Him doing Your will. Help us to live with the passion, desire and boldness in our lives as we are faced with contempt and blasphemy against Your name. You alone are God and Your house will one day be fully restored in Your kingdom. We long for the day we may walk in Your presence and dwell in Your house forever. In Your name we pray - Amen.
  



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