Sunday
School Lessons
Commentary by Walter Albritton
April 6
Jesus boldly confronts evil
Mark 11:1—
Key Verse: And they come to
–
Mark
All four gospels offer
an account of Jesus’ triumphal entry on the day we call Palm Sunday or Passion
Sunday. The gospel writers want us to understand that his arrival in
It was an important day for Jesus. Prophecy
was being fulfilled. He realized that he neared the climatic end of his earthly
ministry. The mission his Father had given him would be completed soon.
His heart was no doubt
deeply stirred by the tumultuous welcome of the crowd. The sight of happy
children shouting “Hosanna” must have brought tears to his eyes. Obviously, he
must have wondered how many of the people really understood the nature of his
kingship. He realized even his disciples had not yet comprehended his mission
nor his need to die on the cross for the sins of the world.
The singing and
shouting did not last long. After a night’s rest, Jesus moves boldly into the
temple to confront evil and cleanse the temple. He makes no effort to appease
the religious leaders in return for their favor.
Instead, he overthrows
the tables of the conniving merchants and throws them out of the temple. This
is no “milk toast Jesus.” This is the King at work. This is a man with steel in
his backbone, not Jell-O. He shows no fear of what they may do to him.
Why did Jesus
overthrow the tables of the moneychangers? He was not opposed to the tradition
of bringing a dove as a sacrifice in worship. He objected to the way the poor
were being cheated by those who sold them doves for an exorbitant fee. Clearly,
the religious establishment was more interested in profit than in helping people
to worship God.
The people who came
from other lands were not allowed to contribute their foreign money to the
temple treasury. They were required to exchange their coins for the “proper”
temple currency. So in yet another way the religious leaders profited from an
excessive exchange rate.
Jesus was sick of the
whole business. He did not mince words. He told them they had turned God’s
House of Prayer into a den of thieves! Sharp words, which inflamed the scribes
and the high priests!
Fearful that they will
lose control of their positions and their sources of income, the religious
leaders begin to plot a plan to kill Jesus. They will not tolerate this popular
teacher who has challenged their authority and exposed their corrupt practices.
Their evil plot
escalates, resulting in the crucifixion of Jesus. Thus was God’s plan of
salvation completed with Jesus becoming the lamb slain and sacrificed for the
sins of the world. What men “meant for evil,” God used for good. The cruel
cross becomes, then, the astonishing symbol of God’s power to turn defeat into
victory.
The example of Jesus
confronting corruption should inspire us to go and do likewise. We should look
first for the evil in ourselves and ask God to cleanse us of any motives that
are unworthy of a servant of Jesus Christ.
Within our churches,
we must guard against using “holy things” for financial profit. We might start
by examining our practices of selling everything from fish to camp stew to
finance the Lord’s work, when tithing faithfully would provide all the money we
need.
We shall be wise to
pray for our pastors and leaders, and insist on their accountability in
handling funds. Satan works night and day seeking ways to destroy the church by
corrupting God’s servants.
If this scripture
teaches us anything, it teaches us that God will not tolerate corruption in his
church and he wants his people to strive diligently to make it truly a House of
Prayer. + + + +