Holy Week: Monday
The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
On reaching Jerusalem, 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. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”
The winter is only just ending. Spring has just begun. Would you go up to an apple tree expecting to find fruit? Of course not! Like you, Jesus knew that the tree he saw would have no figs, but he chose the tree as a metaphor for the people of Judah. They looked green and leafy, as if they were alive, but they were dead. They bore no fruit for God.
From there, Jesus walked to the temple where he found the temple courts filled with merchants. People were passing to and fro, carrying merchandise, restocking their tables. Salesmen were hawking their wares and haggling with customers.
I think that many of us would look at the temple and see a wildly successful ministry. There were lots of people there. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. Contributions were strong. In our practical minded, Monday, workday lives this is the kind of thing we want to see. Members sometimes say, “Isn’t the church, after all, really a business?”
Perhaps, in a way that’s true. But the temple had been built to be the scene of Israel’s offerings. This was the place where they were to come, burdened by their sins, and find forgiveness. This was the place to which they were to come with their needs and prayers, and know that God would hear them. Instead, the people were busy, not with God, but with their own things.
Like the fig tree, they were green with the blessings God had given, but they had no fruit. They would not turn to the Savior, and as a result they were spiritually shriveled up. So Jesus angrily cleansed the Temple of what they really loved – money. The next morning, Tuesday, the disciples would see that the tree had withered, a sign of greater judgment to come.
Jesus began his Monday with an unpleasant task, but he knew that this was the week that he would repair all the people’s sins and offer them a life greater than ever. How is your week beginning? Is it all about work and money? Or is the temple of your body filled with God’s Spirit.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, my thoughts on this Monday are filled with material things, with schedules and meetings. Like leaves, these things have value. But let my life be adorned with fruit, and filled with love and faith in you. Amen.