Journey to the Cross - A Clean Temple

Sometimes after a meal out, Mr. Bill and I need to walk it off. After entering Jerusalem on Sunday, the first day of Passover week, Jesus went to the temple.  Mark gives us a noteworthy account of Jesus’ late-day visit, “Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.” (Mark 11:11)  Interestingly, there’s no record of Jesus worshipping or reading the law or teaching – only a [seemingly] thoughtful walk-through, a survey of the goings-on in His House.   What temple images do you suppose replayed in The Lord’s mind during that evening and night?  What angered Him to the point He went back the next day to overturn tables and drive greedy merchants from their places of business? (Matthew 21:11).  Perhaps it was the same thing that anger Him today: things that interfere with His children drawing near to Him.  Jesus said, “ … true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him … they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24).  You see, it’s the heart that is the seat of God in a Believer’s life; it’s the LORD’S temple with which He refuses to share with another.  There’s place for only One in the heart of man – God Himself.   All else must be overturned and driven out!  What does God see when He surveys  our hearts?  With mere days remaining before His death, Jesus found it necessary to radically cleanse the temple – surely, it was important.  In the same way, we should allow Him to search our hearts and free us of all that hinders intimacy with The Father and worship of  The Christ Who  redeemed us.  Oh, what a Savior!