One of the reasons Jesus might have cleansed the temple was because roadblocks had been thrown in the doorway of entering the temple. The mere idea of entering the temple might have become a burden and distraction for many. Moneychangers were in the temple court to help foreigners exchange their money for the acceptable currency. ...
Ask any attorney who practices criminal defense and they are likely to express that their highest and most sacred objective is to protect the innocent man from false accusation; and in doing so, establish hope that the truly guilty party might meet justice. In the case of Christ, we see this model flipped completely on its head. Let us examine some of those who played a role in the horrific and unjust plot to kill Jesus....
I still remember the first time dressing up my daughter in her Easter Sunday dress and the pride I felt as I watched her wave her palm branch as she strolled through the church aisles. The tradition of reenacting the celebration is handed down to my daughter, helping her understand and know her king is on His throne. We have a king and today we celebrate His triumphant entry to Jerusalem, just as Israel did so long ago....
“…without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). The faith in the person and work of God by Abraham, is the same faith in Christ, his death and resurrection, that saves us today!...
“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” (James 1:14-15). The path of temptation is well-trodden. The wake of death sin leaves behind is full of personal devastation and relational trauma. No matter the sin, the process and resulting death remain constant. James is clear the source of temptation lies within the desire of the heart....
The Jewish leaders insisted that Pilate secure the tomb with soldiers stating that Jesus' disciples might steal his body away and claim that He'd been resurrected. They asserted that this second "deception"-resurrection- would be worse than the first- believing Jesus to be the Messiah. Pilate, perhaps with a hint of sarcasm, deflected the request back at them saying "you h...
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Behind the covering of the blood-soaked purple cloak and the excruciating punctures of the thorns that adorned his head, was the embodiment of Almighty God - the Creator of all things. At a moment’s notice, a single word from the Most High would have removed Him from this heinous act and return Him to his rightful position in the presence of the Father. Yet, He remaine...
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In the garden of Gethsemane, we find Jesus with a heavy heart, “greatly distressed and troubled.” Going to pray, Jesus confided in His disciples that His soul was “very sorrowful, even to death.” (Mark 14:33-34) Luke tells us our Lord was in such anguish that while praying in the garden He began to sweat blood. (Luke 22:44)...
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Have you ever said or done something that was driven by ulterior motives or ignorance? Jesus surrounded himself with people who made these choices, imperfect like us. He patiently endures and expects our shortcomings. And like a shepherd, He gently corrects in a way that directs the focus of the problem from the behavior to the heart....
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When Jesus entered the temple and began driving out the money changers, He was not alone in His anger on the historic occasion. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus spoke from the prophets, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of robbers.” These words were not lost on the chief priests and the scr...
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