The House of the Lord is a place of spiritual reflection. It is a place where those who seek God can find Him in worship. Covenants are made in the Temple and Heaven’s blessings are given. As a place of worship, the Temple is a sacred space and separate from the world.
Unfortunately, the priests of Jesus’s day allowed business and worldly interests to invade the sanctity of the Temple. People exchanged money and bought and sold temple offerings. As a functioning market, the Temple was no longer set apart from the world.
Early in His ministry Jesus cleansed the Temple of trade. In this, His last week of life, Jesus again made it a point to cleanse the Temple of moneychangers. He said —
My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. (Matt. 21:13)
After the cleansing, the Lord performed miracles in the Temple. He healed all the blind, lame and sick people who came to Him. Little children proclaimed Him the Son of David and cried Hosanna. When the chief priests heard it, they were angry and seemed to expect Jesus to stop them. Jesus answered the priests with prophetic words.
Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
Jesus preferred the praise of children and didn’t care that the priests disapproved. Many times it is the children who hear and heed the promptings of the spirit when the older generation would rather seek comfort in traditions that don’t edify.
Jesus cleansed the Temple and cursed the fig tree within days of each other.
As followers of Christ, this Easter week allows us to reflect on our appearance. Do we reflect the joy of discipleship? Do we bear the fruits of kindness, service, and love? Do we have Easter traditions that point us to Christ?
He is Risen!
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