TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. Mark 11:15a
Read: Mark 11:15-16
Listen: Mark 11
TODAY’S MESSAGE
“There’s something wrong with the system,” is a common phrase. Politicians run campaigns on it, revolutionaries yell it, union leaders rely on it. It’s the foundation for change. When Jesus enters the temple and drives out the buyers and sellers, he isn’t attempting to renovate a system gone bad. He is there to replace it.
During the Passover, dispersed Jews travel hundreds of miles to Jerusalem to celebrate and sacrifice at the temple. It is much easier to buy an animal when you get there than to bring one. For Jesus, driving out this commerce has a deeper meaning. The system of temple sacrifice to pay for your sins is coming to an end. In three days, Jesus will become the final sacrifice for all sins for all time (Hebrews 10:12). The temple system will become obsolete.
Even today, Jesus is not looking for renovation. He doesn’t ask us to fix ourselves to be acceptable to God. Instead, he wants to replace our self-efforts with his victory (Ephesians 2:8-9) by dying on the cross in our place. We no longer have to be the perfect spouse, parent, child or employee to be acceptable to God.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
If Jesus were to stroll through your life today, what self-effort would he tip over and drive out? Write in your journal things you do to be acceptable to God. Then write after each entry, “I’m acceptable through Jesus, not by anything I do.”
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