Jesus has made it to Jerusalem. The disciples and crowds excitedly follow him lining the road with their coats. This Sunday we, too, will remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem as we wave our palm branches. What fun to be with Jesus on this day of triumph!
Tensions rose immediately that same day when Jesus was in the Temple and drove out those who were selling. Evidently, they were cheating the people right there in the temple courts where they should have been praying. Jesus is outraged because the Temple was to be a place to worship God and be in conversation/prayer with God. It was a holy place. It was a place to meet God. But, it had become a market where people were taking advantage of those who were there to make sacrifices. So Jesus chased them from the temple.
Daily, Jesus returned to the temple to teach. The people were fascinated by Jesus teachings. The chief priests and teachers of the law weren’t fascinated by him and were plotting to kill him. The tone darkens…
