Jesus unleashed--was he out of control??

Listen here:  https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2b2bfd49/jesus-unleashe...

We have seen Jesus

 -baptized by John in the Jordan River,

-bid fishermen, Follow Me! And...they did!

 -touch and heal more people than we can count,

 -teach on the hillside, in the synagogue, on the Galilee,

 -walk on tops of waves in the middle of the night

-extend a hand to sinking Peter, helping him get back in the boat

 -gather little children into his arms to love them

 -ride into Jerusalem as crowds cheered

-weep over the city and people he loved so much...

And on Monday of "Holy Week", Jesus went up to the Temple Mount. Luke writes,

 "And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold." “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.”

And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.1

It was Passover week and there were throngs of observant Jews in the temple courts. But Jesus was sickened by what he saw. It was not really that there were animals for sale for the faithful to sacrifice; after all, it was preferable to get them on site rather than traveling great distances with them. It was not even that currencies had to be exchanged - since temple money, minted in Jerusalem had to be used, but two other things enraged Jesus. 

First, it was the up charge, the profiteering on the worshippers at the house of God.

And second, the real work of the Father - prayer and worship - had been sidelined. When Jesus said, "My house will be called a house of prayer " he was quoting the prophet Isaiah, For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples. ²

When I asked 'why in the world was Jesus crying so hard on the Mt. of Olives, looking out and around at Jerusalem', we learned a few things about Jesus. Because he knew what was ahead--within a few days of his triumphal entry, and even the future demise of Jerusalem, we saw how deeply he felt, how much he cared, and then how undaunted he was that anyone should see his emotions as he wept. Jesus was courageous--even with his emotions.

Matthew's account of this story describes Jesus actually turning over the tables of the temple thieves, throwing their money on the ground--can you picture this?3 Wait--Jesus, angry? Is that out of character with a loving, soon-to-be-dying Savior? No. But once again, we do well to step a little closer as Jesus shows us that there is such a thing as righteous anger. >When it comes to the House of God--no disrespect, no profiteering from worship.

>Prayer was, always will be a priority for Jesus; it is the connection to the Father.

Hmmm. How then shall we live?  

Honor, revere the Sanctuary of the Lord.

Be intentional in praying.

Friend, when you pray, God comes.

When you pray, God hears.

When you pray, you are doing the most important thing you can do.

How many things have you missed/are you missing/have not happened because you have not taken time to pray to your Heavenly Father?  

You do not have because you do not ask God , Jesus' half brother said.⁴

I am amazed by how many professing Christians do not pray. Heartbroken over their child far from God, worried about finances, sick or infirmed, and yet they do not pray. God does not command us to pray as a show of force in our lives, he tells us to pray because he loves us, wants to give us his peace, and has great gifts to put in our hands if we but ask him. God does not command us to pray because he is a general in an army, he tells us to pray because he longs to talk with us. Prayer is a gift from the Father ... but it is also a requirement if we are to know him and see his power in our lives.  

On that Monday Jesus cleared the Temple court ... I bet he prayed fervently that night. I sure would have liked to hear him talk to his Father about that day as He surely told him how he felt when he saw the wrong that was being done in the Temple, and the right that was not being done. He likely told him what the Jewish leaders and shysters said to him, and then listened as his Father affirmed his thoughts and actions.

How many things have you and I not realized in our lives because we have not prayed? 

Lord, teach us to pray.  

As Jesus became unleashed in the Temple, we want to see prayer unleash your power in our lives. Amen.

Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsNQg_BcliE&list=RDUsNQg_BcliE&a...

Lord, teach us to pray.  

Christine - PastorWoman.net

Luke, 59

1 - Luke 19.45-48

2 - Isaiah 56.7

3 - Matthew 21.12-13

4 - James 4.2-3