Jesus entered the temple area 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. “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.’” The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?” And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night. - Matthew 21:29-44;
Highlight verse: 16b ~ "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, " 'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?"
How did Jesus spend His final week on Earth? On this day, He spent it setting His death into motion, and loving His people. Imagine, He was here to perform the ultimate sacrifice -- and some of His own were in His Father's house, taking advantage of the poor -- over sacrifices.
He was certainly angry, and displayed His anger in a righteous way. There was control here as well. The time of His crucifixion was near, and no one knew it, but Him. So by creating the stir in the Temple, He stepped up the accusations against Him, and started the ball rolling that would lead to His death.
But He did not leave on that note. No, He took one of His last opportunities to love and to heal. This Easter season, let us look at our Savior as a righteous, justice seeking, loving God.
1. What do you think of this passage?
2. Did you ever consider that Jesus, through the Father, determined the exact time of His arrest and death?
3. How do you feel as you move toward the day of His death?
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