And Jesus Showed up
Palm Sunday is an exciting day for Christendom. It was Jesus home coming and He was celebrated like no other and given a heroic welcome in fulfillment of the prophecy of Daniel. Jesus return to the royal city of Jerusalem was significantly important for two reasons: He was Israel’s descendant of king David. It was also a city of God. The temple in Jerusalem was the centerpiece of the city. It was originally built by King Solomon in about 950 BC and destroyed during Babylonian invasion. The second temple was built by Zerubbabel after the exile in 515 BC. Herod, the great rebuilt and enlarged it for the third time in about 20 BC and it was a magnificent grand structure in Jesus’ day. Jesus, the Son of God whom the people wanted to crown a king entered the city and the people welcome Him excitingly. This man called Jesus is a son of a carpenter from Nazareth. He started his public ministry by turning water to wine in a Marriage gathering in Cana. Just before He returned to Jerusalem, He did the most outstanding miracle of raising Lazarus from death; one who has been buried four days before He arrived. The Pharisees increasingly looked for ways to kill Him. Jesus was very popular with the commoners whom He fed physically and spiritually; healed of their diseases. Little wonder the people wanted Him for a king. The question that we shall try to answer is: who is this man that has showed up with such authority and power?
Jesus journeyed to Mount of Olives near Bethany and Bethpage on His way to Jerusalem. He sent two of His disciples on errand into the village ahead of Him. ‘You shall see a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it.’ And if any person asks you why you’re doing that, “say the Lord has need of it.” Tell someone this day: Who ever and wherever you’re being tied, the Lord is about to untie you because He has need of you. The Lord [Master], owner of the universe shall untie you from any bondage and slavery, no matter what the depth and height of your bond; how heavy and deep your sin, Jesus Christ comes to untie you because He needs you. Who is this man the weld such power and authority? Who could endear the people to cast their garments on the colt and spread their clothes and palm fronts on the road, shouting, Hosanna – a Hebrew word meaning “save now, we pray” This word was used to ask for God’s blessing in Psalm 118:25. Who is this man that the Pharisees called master; asked Him to rebuke His disciples for chanting “Blessed be the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory to God!” Jesus answered, if these people keep quiet, stones shall cry out [Luke 19:39-40].
Who is He? Just a carpenter’s son from Nazareth: a place of no historic significance, nothing good has ever happened? Or a good man that endeared people to him by what He said and did? A miracle worker who went about healing people of different illnesses or a magician that turned water into wine in a marriage ceremony; fed a crowd of more than 5000 men [excluding women and children] with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes, remaining 12 baskets. He also rebuked the fig tree and it died instantly. Was He a demon or lunatic: It takes a demon to cast out demons and a thief to catch thieves? Was he just a moral teacher who taught great mysteries and uncommon wisdom like was never done before or the son of Most High God [deity] and Immanuel [God with us]? Could that be why He called the temple, “My House?” He called God, My Father and said I and my Father are one; I am the resurrection and life, etc. Jesus showed up in the temple – the place of Jewish worship and sacrifice in Jerusalem. Jesus returned to the temple at Jerusalem and looked around at what was happening: how the worship place has been defiled and deconsecrated. . He was grieved in spirit and because it was evening He went out to Bethany with the 12 Apostles [Mark 11:11].
When Jesus entered the temple and looked around He saw an indignity to the temple that grieved Him. He saw money changers who exchanged temple coined money for any other currency brought into the temple. Those who would buy anything in the temple must change their money into the special temple currency. The money changers made commission for their services at their own determined rate and turned the temple into a place of common commerce. He saw other group involved in the selling sacrificial animals. Those who came to the temple and made sacrifices were required to bring their own animals. But those who practiced the selling in the temple would condemn the animal people brought and in tricked them to buy theirs at temple determined prices. Even though it was convenient to buy from the temple sellers but it corrupted what the offering was supposed to represent. The third group used the temple yard as a thoroughfare [Mark 11:15-16]. These ugly situations provoked Jesus zeal for His Father’s house. Jesus came back the next day and chased them out of the temple and overturned the temple tables. He expelled the money changer from the temple. Jesus emphasized that the temple was used for two important purposes: It was to be a house of prayer and a place of worship for all nations where people met God and worship Him in Spirit and in truth [Isaiah 56:7].
Is the Church still a house of prayer? What would Jesus see in our Churches today? Would He see worshippers or war shippers? People praying or playing? Where the gospel is preached unadulterated and not in dip and skip? Where just forgiven people gather to worship and praise God not on the basis of racial or tribal or class [Acts 2:40-47]. Where hearts are lifted up, comforted and encouraged; souls are saved and healings occur by the power of the gospel. Here sinners become saints, nobodies become some bodies and the poor become rich as well as the broken hearted get comforted. In the Church worshipping people experience corporate anointing and God meets with His people. There is an unconditional acceptance and warm embraced; members feel concern about lost souls or when someone is sick or absent from a program. Here people give their 3t’s to God: time, talent and treasure. The three works together and no one work without the other. Those God has chosen to be stewards must remain faithful [1 Corinthians 4:1-2]. No one can give God faithfully and generously without first giving self. In our age and time many are in the Church to make profit; they allow their desire for profit cloud their judgment to the truth of the word of God. They set up Churches as business ventures where manipulation, exploitation and extortion are practiced to meet their goal. Outside money some have no business doing the Church work; other do it for gain, ego and power.
What would Jesus see in our homes: where Jesus is the Lord and authority of marriage upheld? Will He see where a man is the head of the home and the woman the neck without which the head cannot turn; children are raised in the fear of God and in tough love Would He see where man and wife pray, eat, bathe and sleep together; transparent communication and mutual respect reign. Would Jesus see a home living in competition and selfishness [Me-first attitude]; strife and division and couple live lonely together in closed door catastrophes. Would Jesus see our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit? [1Corinthians 3:16-17]. Do we live surrendered life and have respect for our bodies? Our lives should shine as light and attract people to Christ; testify the love and goodness of God. The money gamblers, dove and animal sellers and shortcut takers gave the temple a reputation as a den of thieves. The Church is not to be turned into den of robbers where thieves hibernate; greed and covetousness as well as all kind of wickedness exist. Jesus restored the spiritual use of the temple; it was to play a great role during resurrection. When Jesus died on the cross, the temple veil tore into two and the Holy of the holies exposed. Be prepared for Jesus can show up anytime, anywhere. Would you be celebrated when Jesus shows up?
Reach Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill at: weefreeministries@yahoo.com or P. O. Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272