Every day Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and each evening he returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives. The crowds gathered at the Temple early each morning to hear him. Luke 21:37-38
Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week on the Christmas Calendar. Usually all the days between now and the Last Supper are forgotten. But the Scriptures remind us that Jesus was still about doing His Father’s business. As many times as I have read these passages, it wasn’t until this year today’s scripture popped out at me. Every day He continue to teach and every night He camped out on the Mount of Olives near Bethany. And crowds gathered to hear Him.
Spending the nights on the Mount, probably was the well spent preparing for the week in prayer. During His last 3 1/2 years on earth, He orten went to outside of town to get away by Himself to pray. With what He was facing, He needed that time with His Father to be encouraged and strengthened. Many of the people who visited the area for the Passover camped outside the city in the open. So Jesus and His disciples did the same thing. I can only imagine that He would look up at the stars and talk with Abba, awaiting the time when He would once again be with Him in heaven. Since He knew Abba always keeps His promises that no matter what He was going to be with Him again soon.
No wonder people were flocking to hear Him His teachings were so impactful and life transforming for those who received His message. For the next several days He was grilled, examined and questioned by the religious leaders, just as the Passover lamb would be examined for blemishes. Over the next few days they did everything they knew how to trip Him up, but He never wavered and even turned the tables on them. And Jesus began His teaching by clearing the Temple of all the distractions of true worship.
We focus so much on how the money changers and merchants deceived and short changed the people, that we miss the point of Jesus’ anger. He wasn’t angry because they were changing the different currency for Temple coins or that they were selling sacrificial animals. it was that they way they were doing it was causing people to become distracted from the very purpose they were there for, worshipping the Lord. As I thought about this, Holy Spirit reminded me the same thing happens today, people are still being distracted from true worshp. What are some of the ways we become distracted with worshipping the Lord? We so often hinder ourselves thinking we need a special place, or a special time, read a certain passage in a position of prayer or worship music. Worship isn’t a thing that happens at a time or place, but rather it’s a relationship that becomes deeper and more intimate as we spend time in His presence. Jesus began “Holy Week” by clearing out the distractions to worship and the rest of the week in close communication with His Father. Maybe it’s also two good places for us to start.
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