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Holy Week Devotions: Holy Monday

                                        Holy Monday

Matthew 21:18-22
Mark 11:12-25
Luke 13:6-9

Matthew 21:12-17
Mark 11:15-18
Luke 19:45-47
John 2:14-16


     Holy Monday is when we commemorate two specific acts of Christ. The Cursing of the Fig Tree and The Cleansing of the Temple.
     It was early in the morning. Jesus was hungry. He notices a fig tree nearby. However, when He approaches it, Jesus notices that it isn’t bearing any fruit despite its healthy appearance. Jesus decides to curse the fig tree, declaring that it shall never bear fruit again. And immediately, the tree began to wither.
    Many scholars interpret this account as the fig tree representing Israel. It’s believed that Jesus was cursing Israel for their lack of belief (fruit) in Himself as the Messiah. But Jesus alludes to the concept of bearing fruit as a testimony of being His disciple (John 15). Galatians speaks of the fruit of the Spirit. Fruit and growth frequently have spiritual significance in the New Testament. 

    Another one of Jesus’ acts is that He cleanses the temple. The Passover was approaching and Jesus went up to the temple in Jerusalem. He found the sacrificial animals being sold money changers (those who exchanged foreign currency) doing business right in the temple. In response, Jesus makes a whip out of cords and drives the money changers and animals out. He also flips over the tables. He accuses the money changers and merchants of turning His Father’s House into a den of thieves, insisting that it’s supposed to be a house of prayer. 
     Jesus was rightfully angered by the greed and corruption of the religious leaders of his day. These merchants were taking advantage of the foreigners that had come to worship God. This why Jesus declares in the Gospel of Mark that His house will be a house of prayer for ALL nations. Jesus literally stood up for the Gentile! 

In these accounts, we see Christ’s righteous indignation towards corruption, abuse and deception. As His followers, we should hate the very things our Lord hates.  Do our desires align with His?  Let us ponder that question on this Holy Monday. 
      



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