Holy Week: Monday, April 2, 2207

Old Testament Lesson

Zechariah 9:9-12

Kings rode into town on a white horse to show how strong they were. Conquering heroes rode into town in a powerful way for everyone to see how great they were, how strong they were, to see how much praise they deserved. Jesus, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, rode into Jerusalem on the back of a borrowed donkey. We try to make ourselves look more powerful than we really are. We try to act big and bold. We want to be arrogant at times. Jesus, the one through whom creation its self was put together and is still held together, He rode into town in the most humble way possible.

Holy Week would be His last week before the cross. Instead of pounding His chest, He continued to humble do what He was called to do. Do you and I do the same?

New Testament Lesson

1 Timothy 6:12-16

We are called to confess Him before others, to not be ashamed of Him, just as Jesus was not ashamed. He boldly preached, boldly served, boldly taught. The Word tells over and over again how He ministered as one with authority, not like the teachers of the law of His day. He was never ashamed, for He knew His power came from His Father.

Likewise, we should never be ashamed. We should boldly live for Him, boldly teach for Him, boldly love for Him, boldly serve for Him. We should never be ashamed of Him, for if we do, the Word tells us that He will deny us before His Father. Always, in the power of His Spirit, do what He has called you to.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 21:12-17

We see Jesus drive out the money changers within the Temple in this passage. We get the false impression sometimes that while Jesus was humble; He was also weak. A weak man does not drive out money changers. A weak man does not clear the temple. A weak man does not stand of for what is right, regardless of the consequences.

Jesus lived and was brought back to life by the power of the Spirit. In this passage He has that holy anger over sin being committed within the temple. Friends, do we have a holy anger at sin? Does sin in the world, or sin our lives, make us angry? We should never grow so complacent with sin that we are not angered by it. Sin will destroy us, our families, our walk with God, and our very lives. That should make us angry. Likewise, it hurts others. That gave Jesus a holy angry. So should it do for us.