https://musingsdevotions.wordpress.com/
MUSINGS – November 14, 2018
HOUSE OF PRAYER, HOUSE OF THIEVES
Mark 11:15-19
When they came to Jerusalem, Jesus went into the temple courtyard and began to throw out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the moneychangers’ tables and the chairs of those who sold pigeons. He would not let anyone carry anything across the temple courtyard. Then he taught them by saying, “Scripture says, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a gathering place for thieves.” When the chief priests and scribes heard him, they looked for a way to kill him. They were afraid of him because he amazed all the crowds with his teaching. (Every evening Jesus and his disciples would leave the city.)
Does this scene of Christ wrecking havoc in the temple surprise you? Much of the time we think of Jesus as being a peaceful and humble man. And while that is true, he was also a rebel rouser. He constantly broke the laws that the religious leaders had put in place. In short he was an outlaw.
Wherever he went crowds gathered. We know that at least one time there were 5,000 men* with him. That is an army. Gideon defeated a nation with 300 untrained men.** Imagine if all those who gather to welcome him into Jerusalem screaming, Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord,” had marched into the temple with him.
Jesus had just told his followers that he could command a mountain to be cast into the sea. He could have destroyed the temple with a word. And yet he only cleaned it. It was, after all, the house of the Lord … his house. He was within his rights to sweep it clean.
We must also constantly be on guard of our own homes and lives that it be swept and kept clean.
*Judges 7:7
**Mark 11:9
Those who went ahead and those who followed him were shouting, ”
Visit my daily blog. https://RVingFulltimeWithTomAndElla.com/
And my sermons blog http://ThomasEWilliams.blogspot.com/?m=1
All content (except quotations) © 2018 Thomas E. Williams
Musings 