fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

Over and over again throughout this special week we will see that no one models the Disciplines like our Lord and Savior Jesus. There is simply no one like Him. The week starts in apparent triumph with Palm Sunday as captured in Luke 19:

Luke 19:35 – 44
They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.

It is very important to note that in the midst of the euphoria Jesus cries because he clearly sees the Spiritual Warfare that is playing out.  Note also how Jesus sees right through the intent of the Pharisees. Oh that we would like him see things through spiritual eyes.

Chronologically the next significant activity recorded is on the Monday of Holy Week and it is captured in Mark 11:

Mark 11:15 – 17:
On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.

Do you see the passion Jesus has for Spiritual Warfare, Bible Study, Prayer and Worship? Note the following:

• Jesus sees the spiritual in what appears to be temporal (commerce);
• Jesus quotes scripture. His quote, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.” is taken from Jeremiah 7:11
• Jesus is clearly disgusted that God’s house of worship and prayer is being violated.  Worship and prayer are too valuable to be perverted for monetary gain.

As we start this week consider the passion our Lord has for the disciplines that we have been discussing and hopefully practicing over the last few weeks. Don’t you want to be more like him?

Today, recommit yourself to the practices of Bible Study, Worship, Prayer and Spiritual Warfare. Our Lord is great and there is no one like Him!