“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.” ~ Abraham Lincoln
DEUTERONOMY 1, 2
These two chapters chronicle the journey and God's command over the past 40 years. The Israelites are given a summary of all that has happened and why.
3In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the Lord had commanded him concerning them. 4This was after he had defeated Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, and at Edrei had defeated Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.
MARK 11:1-19
Jesus has the disciples go and get a donkey for him to ride into Jerusalem. He is greeted as a king and celebrity as people chant...
“Hosanna!a ”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”b
10“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
It is here that Jesus makes a stand and the final straw is broken...
15On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’c ? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’d ”
JOURNAL
Jesus knows that this is not going to end well. He actively walks into a hornet's nest and begins stirring up trouble. He knows the implications yet as he is stirring the nest he is still teaching. Jesus is a Man and yet he is far greater of a Man than I have ever known. He never shrinks back unless it is in obedience, he constantly engages and yet his only agenda is love and obedience, yet he does it with a Power, Love and Discipline that I crave to know and possess.
And I get to experience this, I get to know this power. I get free access to the greatest power and love...the one that created the universe...the one that set human beings in motion. The one that keeps the world moving...from the tiniest detail to the most awesome fireworks of creation. I get to sit at the throne of this power and have the experience of this spirit alive within me.
The gift is beyond comprehension...why would God freely give us such love? Because that was his intention all along and "love never fails".
14Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”c Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. (Philippians 2:14-16)
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