Holy Week: Holy Monday

Overturning tables, yelling, and cursing things? That sounds more like a night at the local fraternity house than an event my Lord would do during his last week.

Wrong.

The day after Palm Sunday is known in the church as Holy Monday. Monday held quite an adventure for the people of Jerusalem. Before returning to the temple, Jesus saw a fig tree. He walked over to the tree but it had no fruit, just leaves. Jesus cursed the tree and said no one shall ever eat from it again.

A bit dramatic? Maybe since it wasn't in season for this tree to bear fruit. However, it symbolizes so much more than Jesus being hungry. (Hey, wouldn't that be an interesting Snickers commercial? They say you aren't yourself when you're hungry...)

How many times do we look like we have something yet lack it? As Christians, once we commit ourselves to God, we are adorn with leaves of Christ. We are expected to bear the fruit of the spirit and share it (give it away!) and love each other as Jesus loved us. Often, we have the leaves but our fruit is lost. Jesus is coming to you hungry, do you have what you need to feed him? To feed others hungry for his fruit too? Don't be a dead tree and lack the fruit you need. If you are in need of a little fruit, pray to God. He'll water you and give you the extra TLC you need to feed people.

After Jesus cursed the tree, he goes to the temple. What he found made him so angry, he turned the tables over. In the place where people should be going to meet God, scammers had set up a market. Jesus overturned tables, rebuked the unbelief, and made the people who were cheating others leave. Can you imagine listening to Jesus say, "Is it not written: 'My house shall be called a house of prayer'? But you have made it a 'den of robbers'." I get chills just thinking about him saying that. Guilt? Maybe. But I think it's more the sign of teaching the truth.

In life, we have two choices. We can either accept the challenge that living a Christian life brings or we can not. If you accept the challenge, you're expected to go at it with all your heart. We are warned about being lukewarm (Revelation 3:15-16). God knows the truth of our hearts. You can fool anyone but Him.

When Jesus comes to you, will you give him fruit or will he see you bear nothing. Will you go to the temple to worship or to see what you can get from others? My prayer as we continue this holy journey this week is that we learn from the teachings of Jesus. Today, evaluate where you fall in this story. God is waiting with open arms for you to go running back to Him.