They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” “Hosanna in the highest!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” Matthew 21:7-11
Can you close your eyes and imagine yourself in the crowd, excited to see that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem? Jesus had been speaking God’s truths for three years. Can you imagine how many lives had been touched by His miracles of healing and casting out demons during His ministry? But this was a very special day; Jesus was revealing Himself to Israel as the long-awaited Messiah.
Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. There Jesus showed His authority and revealed the holiness that God wanted them to have. This was the second time that Jesus entered the temple and cleansed it from all its unrighteousness.
Jesus entered the temple area 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. "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.'"
The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “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 have ordained praise’?” And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night. Matthew 21:12-17
What is so significant about Jesus going into the temple area and driving out all the ungodly and greedy people who wanted to make money? Jesus wanted the temple to be known as a house of prayer. Will you pray for a spiritual revival for the lost?
Jesus was an excellent teacher of the importance of prayer. Jesus taught His disciples about prayer throughout His ministry, which also included The Lord's Prayer.
There is power in praying in agreement, standing together for the lost souls.
Never doubt the power of prayer as you wait for His divine answers. God does speak to His children!
…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16
Jesus cleansed the temple at the very beginning of His ministry, as it was his first big public act. Now the last week before Jesus is crucified, it is now the last public act of His ministry. Jesus’ greatest concern for His people, then and now, is to walk in holiness, righteousness and in integrity with a pure heart.
Join us Lift up those Holy Hands onto God in prayer for lost souls through this Easter period.
Have a blissful Easter.
Favour is yours.
Favour is yours.
Favour is yours.