Monday 11 September 2023

Matthew 21:12-17

¹² Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. ¹³ “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

¹⁴ The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. ¹⁵ But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

¹⁶ “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“ ‘From the lips of children and infants

you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”

¹⁷ And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

God has spoken to me about Jesus’ authority through this passage.

This is an account of Jesus’ activities after he had entered Jerusalem – think Palm Sunday. He is hailed as a king by the crowds. Interestingly his priority is to go to the temple as opposed to making speeches and stirring up a rebellion. His actions and words in the temple that day declared him as king – he fulfilled prophesies, and he showed his authority.

He uses this authority to restore God’s house and to restore people – physically and spiritually. Restoration is what God is all about. That is why he sent Jesus to redeem and save us.

Jesus is still in a place of authority – at the right hand of God. His victory over death and sin has assured that.

What does it mean that Jesus has authority over my life? What does that look like? I have been confronted to assess my life in the light of these questions. Jesus’ authority as my Lord and Saviour, God, has to impact everything such as my finances, priorities, attitudes. It demands sacrifice. It probably even demands accepting the authorities God has put over me (at work and in society) even if I am critical of them.

It means a life submitting to the one who created and rescued me. A life of worship of a wonderful, mighty Lord who reigns over all. There is no doubt he is worthy.

Dear Lord. How I wish I was in the temple that day to see you set everything straight, to show your majesty and reveal yourself as the Messiah. Thank you so much you have revealed yourself to me and changed my life. You are the only one worthy of my praise and devotion. Amen.

Written by Claire Moore