Holy Monday - Pastor Laurie Andrews
Holy Monday
Pastor Laurie Andrews
We are on day two of our Holy Week devotions, and today is Holy Monday, the day Jesus drove the money changers from the temple.
Let's read in Luke chapter 19, verse 45 through 46. Then Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices. He said to them, the scriptures declare my temple will be a house of prayer, but you have turned it into a den of thieves.
Why exactly was Jesus angry? Was it because they were selling animals at the temple? After all, didn't the people need them for sacrifice? No, I don't think Jesus was offended because of this, but in that day, the temple system had become so corrupt that money changers made a great profit from exorbitant exchange rates for foreign currency, and also overcharged for the very animals needed for sacrifice.This was often overlooked by temple leadership because they were given a cut of the profits.
God is never a fan when we cheat one another and then call it holy. This messy practice also took place in the court of the Gentiles, the only area non-Jews were allowed to pray. Can you imagine the chaos and the smell, the sound of sheep and goats and people haggling over prices? All of this was going on in a place God designated for foreigners to pray. It was a sacred space, but the leaders didn't care because of their prejudice. When God makes a way for people to come to him, are we welcoming or do we dismiss people who are a bit different than us?
John 3.16 says, For God so loved the world, every nation, tribe, and tongue, the neurodivergent as well as the neurotypical, those who speak our language and those who don't. During this holy season, let's share the love of God with all and remove every stumbling block that tries to keep people from God's presence.
Let's pray. Father, we just thank you so much that you sent Jesus and that Jesus, you work through us to reach the world. I pray, Lord God, that during this holy season, our hearts would be more open than ever, Lord, to reach people with the truth of your love for them.
We ask this in the name of Jesus.
Amen
Let's read in Luke chapter 19, verse 45 through 46. Then Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices. He said to them, the scriptures declare my temple will be a house of prayer, but you have turned it into a den of thieves.
Why exactly was Jesus angry? Was it because they were selling animals at the temple? After all, didn't the people need them for sacrifice? No, I don't think Jesus was offended because of this, but in that day, the temple system had become so corrupt that money changers made a great profit from exorbitant exchange rates for foreign currency, and also overcharged for the very animals needed for sacrifice.This was often overlooked by temple leadership because they were given a cut of the profits.
God is never a fan when we cheat one another and then call it holy. This messy practice also took place in the court of the Gentiles, the only area non-Jews were allowed to pray. Can you imagine the chaos and the smell, the sound of sheep and goats and people haggling over prices? All of this was going on in a place God designated for foreigners to pray. It was a sacred space, but the leaders didn't care because of their prejudice. When God makes a way for people to come to him, are we welcoming or do we dismiss people who are a bit different than us?
John 3.16 says, For God so loved the world, every nation, tribe, and tongue, the neurodivergent as well as the neurotypical, those who speak our language and those who don't. During this holy season, let's share the love of God with all and remove every stumbling block that tries to keep people from God's presence.
Let's pray. Father, we just thank you so much that you sent Jesus and that Jesus, you work through us to reach the world. I pray, Lord God, that during this holy season, our hearts would be more open than ever, Lord, to reach people with the truth of your love for them.
We ask this in the name of Jesus.
Amen
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