Re: Take

Ian El-Paget January 31, 2025 7 0

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Matthew 21: 12-17 (NIV)

12 Jesus entered the temple courts 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. 13 “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.’”

14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

16 “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, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”

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

This is Jesus in action, literally turning the tables on an economy set to profit some at the cost of others. An illegal economy.

This is Jesus kicking things over and kicking racketeers out. He just won’t tolerate it. 

This is Jesus making it clear that when God has ordered things a certain way, then that is the way he desires it to stay. 

This is Jesus re:taking the temple with zeal.

The Outer court = everyone
The Inner court = converts
The Holy place = saved

This is Jesus not just talking the talk. But walking the walk “freely you have received, now freely give”.

This is Jesus in action and healing, restoration, and shalom (nothing missing; nothing broken) are the whispers on the breeze. The blind can see, the lame can walk, and the house of God is suddenly a place of joy, wonder, and thanksgiving.  

This is Jesus, son of David the king, the man after God’s own heart, and the lips of children are gossiping the gospel of good news “hosanna” surely he has come to save us!

This is Jesus just being Jesus, and those running church, sorry the temple, are not best pleased with him, but his heart beats for the applause of heaven and he is the pride of the camp, much to their chagrin. 

This is Jesus, and this is your day to put following Jesus into action, into your actions… Don’t just talk the talk: walk the walk! WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?)

Prayer:

For our prayer today I want to quote a verse from a poem by Michael P. Johnson entitled ‘What Would Jesus Do’?

“Praise God my soul for saving grace
Praise God for life anew
That others too may see His face
What would my Jesus do?” (Michael P. Johnson)