April 6, 2020
Holy Week – Day 2

Good morning Saints,

Yesterday we learned about the triumphant entry. But what happened in the days following this magnificent day? Three significant events took place. The withered fig tree, the clearing of the temple and the children worshiping Jesus.

The fig tree withers:

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. Mark 11:12-14 (NIV)

On the day after the triumphal entry Jesus returned with his disciples to Jerusalem. Along the way, Jesus cursed a fig tree because it had failed to bear fruit. Some scholars believe this cursing of the fig tree represented God’s judgment on the spiritually dead religious leaders of Israel. Others believe the symbolism extended to all believers, demonstrating that genuine faith is more than just outward religion, true, living faith must bear spiritual fruit in a person’s life. Soon after cursing the fig tree, Jesus enters the temple courts.

Cleansing the temple:

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.’ ” Matt 21:12-14 (NIV)

Here, Jesus rejected the Jewish system of money-making from God’s Passover. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. The temple was to be known as a house of prayer, not as a place where merchants took economic advantage of people.

Children worship Jesus:

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’?” Matt 21:15-16 (NIV)

The clearing of the temple and the children praising Jesus caused the Jewish leaders to hate Jesus all the more. Leading them to seek to have Jesus executed.

On Monday evening Jesus stayed in Bethany again, probably in the home of his friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night. Matthew 21:17

God’s blessing to you,
Pastor Dennis