HOLY MONDAY
Holy Monday is the second day of Holy Week, right after Palm Sunday. It is the second day that Jesus was in Jerusalem, and the Bible records him giving a variety of teachings and debating the religious leaders over Holy Monday and the next day.
JOHN 2:13-22
When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
OVERTURNING THE TABLES - PASTOR YUN CHOI
It was during the Passover celebration that Jesus went up to Jerusalem, as did many Jewish people. As Jesus approached the Temple, he was infuriated. He saw people selling animals, which in and of itself is fine considering that many traveled from pretty far away and they probably needed to buy some animals to give a sacrifice offering. But what infuriated Jesus was the changing of money that was taking place in the outer courts of the Temple which was the court of the Gentiles. The non-Jewish people that came to worship were prevented from doing so. All throughout the Gospels it says that those that were selling in the Temple were charging ridiculous amounts of money where Jesus called it a “den of robbers.” In verse 15 it says that Jesus made a whip of cords and drove them all out of the Temple. Jesus would have been okay if it was legitimate business but they had taken a place of worship and turned it into a marketplace. When the Jews began to hear all the commotion that was going on they began to question Jesus and ask him, “Who died and left you in charge?
Who are you that you can do this?”
The Jewish people couldn’t really understand what Jesus was saying to them about destroying the Temple and how it will rise up in three days. The Jews thought He was talking about the temple complex but he was talking about the temple of His body. Though they
couldn’t understand Him at that point, the Jewish leaders would actually deliver Jesus over to the Romans to be put to death and then in three days, He would rise from the grave. His Resurrection would indeed demonstrate His authority for cleansing the Temple and on top of it all, His disciples would also have a tough time comprehending what Jesus had said and it took
His Resurrection to help them to grow in their faith and understanding. (v. 22)
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple shows how much He values the purity of worship. What are some ways where we can come to worship with a purity of heart?
2. How can we show reverence and awe this Passion Week as we spend time praising the Lord through our day to day life?
Holy Monday is the second day of Holy Week, right after Palm Sunday. It is the second day that Jesus was in Jerusalem, and the Bible records him giving a variety of teachings and debating the religious leaders over Holy Monday and the next day.
JOHN 2:13-22
When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
OVERTURNING THE TABLES - PASTOR YUN CHOI
It was during the Passover celebration that Jesus went up to Jerusalem, as did many Jewish people. As Jesus approached the Temple, he was infuriated. He saw people selling animals, which in and of itself is fine considering that many traveled from pretty far away and they probably needed to buy some animals to give a sacrifice offering. But what infuriated Jesus was the changing of money that was taking place in the outer courts of the Temple which was the court of the Gentiles. The non-Jewish people that came to worship were prevented from doing so. All throughout the Gospels it says that those that were selling in the Temple were charging ridiculous amounts of money where Jesus called it a “den of robbers.” In verse 15 it says that Jesus made a whip of cords and drove them all out of the Temple. Jesus would have been okay if it was legitimate business but they had taken a place of worship and turned it into a marketplace. When the Jews began to hear all the commotion that was going on they began to question Jesus and ask him, “Who died and left you in charge?
Who are you that you can do this?”
The Jewish people couldn’t really understand what Jesus was saying to them about destroying the Temple and how it will rise up in three days. The Jews thought He was talking about the temple complex but he was talking about the temple of His body. Though they
couldn’t understand Him at that point, the Jewish leaders would actually deliver Jesus over to the Romans to be put to death and then in three days, He would rise from the grave. His Resurrection would indeed demonstrate His authority for cleansing the Temple and on top of it all, His disciples would also have a tough time comprehending what Jesus had said and it took
His Resurrection to help them to grow in their faith and understanding. (v. 22)
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple shows how much He values the purity of worship. What are some ways where we can come to worship with a purity of heart?
2. How can we show reverence and awe this Passion Week as we spend time praising the Lord through our day to day life?