Monday: Cleaning House

"Jesus entered the temple area 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, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts." (Mark 11:15-16)

As we walk through the week leading up to Jesus' death and resurrection, everything gets more intense around Jesus. The disciples know that just being in Jerusalem is putting all their lives at risk. And Jesus refuses to lay low, get through the Passover, and get out of town.

Instead, He very publicly raises a very dead man back to life, rides right into Jerusalem on donkey in full daylight to the cheers of crowds, and then this: He marches into the outer courtyard of the temple -- the high priest's own turf -- and starts throwing over the money tables and physically stopping people from taking shortcuts through the place . . . again!

The disciples must have been scared. Nobody challenged the decisions of the priests like that. Nobody could -- unless He came with God's own authority. Even then, Jesus was on a dangerous path.

Think: Read verses 15-19. From that, why do you think Jesus was so harsh on the practice of making a profit selling sacrificial animals and Jewish currency in the temple area?

Pray: Thank God for Jesus' courage to stand for what is right knowing it was going to cost Him a very painful death.

Do: The money-changers and short-cutters made light of God's holiness for their own gain. Make a short list of right v. wrong motives someone might have for participating in religious activities.