Cleansing the temple week 12, 2013

I see you jumping around saying Hossana. Do you realise what you are doing? “I know what I am doing. I am welcoming Jesus afresh as king of Israel and my life too. He’s done great works I know very well. He’ll do more (Mt21:14)” Don’t be surprised Jesus brings a cane to your life as he did at Passover. “Well it might be because it was the Passover feast that made several merchants to come there. Or perhaps that year they were unusually many.” I doubt it. Let me tell you a sermon I got from this. Jesus indeed had been there at Passover before, indeed the first time he got to the temple, there was no pursuing of merchants. Instead there was rejoicing the saviour had been revealed in his temple. “At last!” Simeon said “the promise is fulfilled”. What of Prophetess Anna? She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God Lk 2:38(NLT) .The Lord went yearly to the temple at Passover yet drove no one out. The next time he is recorded to speak he is 12 years old and then he doesn’t pursue them either. Instead he is asking questions. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions Lk 2:46(NIV). “Eh it is because he had not started public ministry.” Wait my friend. Did he not perform a miracle when he said “My time has not yet come” (Jn2:4)? Now after the “Hossana” he pursues them. On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there Mk 11:15(NIV). There are things God hates in your life until you make him King indeed and he inspects all things you may not realise how much he hates them. After inspecting the temple notice he could not stay there but left. Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. And after looking around at everything, he went out to Bethany... Mk 11:11(NET). “I see. Well I have crowned him King of my life. He rules everywhere.” You’re his temple; get ready for your own cane: When he whips you, it proves you are really his child Heb 12:6 (TLB). When Jesus is born in a life there is praise and rejoicing, and as the word grows in you he begins to question you and listen to your answers. The conscience becomes alive and sharper. Accepted worldly practices become uncomfortable and there are questions in the heart about them. You may defend them but be amazed at what the Lord is revealing. He is growing in you. When he looks round at all things in you would he will start throwing things out. Have there not been things you had been comfortable with initially the Lord is raising questions in your heart about, how unscriptural, how ungodly and unChrist- like they all are? Following cleansing there is healing Mt 21:14. Expect it also.