12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 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. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. 15 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, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 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.’” (Mark 11:12 – 17))
Today we enter the final week of our journey, Passion Week or Holy Week. We now focus more exclusively on the activities of Jesus leading up to His crucifixion. As Christians, our identity should be found in Christ so observing our perfect model should be a deep desire for all of us.
We begin with activities on the day after Palm Sunday. Mark 11:12 tells us that “The next day” (i.e., the day after the Triumphant Entry), Jesus expressed dissatisfaction with a tree and some merchants. Interestingly both the tree and the merchants in the temple were not fulfilling the purpose Jesus expected. The tree bore no fig and the merchants violated God’s house of prayer.
Please prayerfully reflect on the Bible passages above.
Something to think about:
Jesus displayed a very strong reaction to the merchants who distorted God’s purpose. How do you ensure that you are living God’s purpose?