And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
Mark 11:15
Dear Church and Friends,
Today we look back at Mark 11 and the cleansing of the Temple in Mark’s gospel. All four gospels create a mosaic of the life of Christ and give us something unique in their telling.
For this meditation I want to focus on verse 16. There Jesus forbids any man to carry a vessel through the Temple. What if all business stopped? We have a taste of that right now. Business produces a sound, it’s a sound of busyness and activity. If all that were to stop and be replaced by silence, how refreshing would that be?
Imagine the Temple now free of the bleating of sheep, the clink of money, the muffled conversations, the shuffling of feet and all the associated sounds that are their by-products. What voice do you now hear? Luke tells us that into that silent Jesus taught. Matthew tells us that into that silence he healed the blind and the lame who came to him.
Today, stop all the busy noise. Turn off the TV, radio, internet (after your done with this) and anything that could distract you. Listen for his voice. Read Mark 11 and listen to the voice of the one who cleanses our temples.
Music: Matt Boswell and the Boyce College Choir.
Prayer Request: President of the International Mission Board gives us three ways we can support missionaries.
- Mindy Hammonds’ father. He was taken to the ER last night with confusion and decreased consciousness. No one is allowed in to see him. Please pray for the family.
- C. W.’s brother Garrett. He has been moved to hospice care. Pray for comfort for him and the family.
Catechism: The Principles of the Christian Religion.
- Question 53: How did Christ perform that righteousness which God’s law requires of man?
- Answer: In that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, without all spot or original corruption and lived most holy all the days of his life, without all actual sin.
- Question 54: How did he bear the punishment which was due to man for breaking God’s Law?
- Answer: In that he willingly for man’s sake made himself subject to the curse of the Law, both in body and soul and humbling himself even unto death, offered up unto his Father a perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world.
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
All my best.
And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
Mark 11:16
The Bible Bistro 