1 00:00:00,420 --> 00:00:05,910 Speaker 1: Give counsel. Execute justice. Make your shade like the night 2 00:00:06,190 --> 00:00:10,470 Speaker 1: in the middle of the noonday. Hide the outcasts. Don't 3 00:00:10,530 --> 00:00:17,910 Speaker 1: betray the fugitive. Isaiah 16, 3-5 Dear Lord, You are 4 00:00:17,950 --> 00:00:23,230 Speaker 1: my source of strength, comfort, and joy. When I think 5 00:00:23,290 --> 00:00:27,290 Speaker 1: about Your life, death, and resurrection, I am filled with hope, 6 00:00:27,990 --> 00:00:32,750 Speaker 1: for You proved Yourself as my Deliverer. Because of your goodness, 7 00:00:33,190 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 1: I cannot help but shout for joy. Because of your faithfulness, 8 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: I will raise my hands in praise and proclaim your 9 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:45,699 Speaker 1: name from the rooftops. My hope in you will never 10 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:51,540 Speaker 1: end because your love endures forever. Empower me today to 11 00:00:51,659 --> 00:00:56,950 Speaker 1: march forward with lighthearted joy, even when life gets heavy. 12 00:00:58,370 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for praying with me today. 13 00:01:05,260 --> 00:01:09,580 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Jesus Podcast, sagas from the gospel 14 00:01:10,060 --> 00:01:15,209 Speaker 1: told like never before. Remain here to immerse yourself in 15 00:01:15,250 --> 00:01:19,170 Speaker 1: the drama and wonder of Christ's road to the cross 16 00:01:19,630 --> 00:01:23,530 Speaker 1: and out of the grave. Follow this podcast on whatever 17 00:01:23,590 --> 00:01:27,420 Speaker 1: platform you're listening to. Doing so will keep you updated, 18 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:31,780 Speaker 1: but also help us get discovered by more people. We 19 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:35,260 Speaker 1: want the story of Jesus to be known throughout the world. 20 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 1: Thanks for making that possible. The gentle touch of the 21 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 1: sun softened the morning's cool bite. Rays of light paved 22 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:50,780 Speaker 1: the road between Bethany and Jerusalem. Splashes of orange and 23 00:01:50,900 --> 00:01:56,770 Speaker 1: hues of muted pink arrayed the countryside. The pathway Jesus 24 00:01:56,870 --> 00:02:01,110 Speaker 1: and his companions traveled ascended and descended with the hills. 25 00:02:02,670 --> 00:02:05,650 Speaker 1: The tall grass beside them bent toward the city as 26 00:02:05,750 --> 00:02:11,169 Speaker 1: if pointing the way forward. Standing proudly atop a cliff 27 00:02:11,250 --> 00:02:15,549 Speaker 1: to their left was a solitary fig tree. Its leaves 28 00:02:15,710 --> 00:02:20,359 Speaker 1: were a deep shade of green. Jesus paused and peered 29 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: at the fig tree with an intense gaze. He climbed 30 00:02:25,060 --> 00:02:27,260 Speaker 1: the slight slope to the tree and scanned it up 31 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:31,580 Speaker 1: and down. He surveyed its branches for fruit, but it 32 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:35,700 Speaker 1: had none. It was not the season for figs, yet 33 00:02:35,780 --> 00:02:40,490 Speaker 1: this tree, with its vibrant leaves and colorful complexion, touted 34 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:46,650 Speaker 1: itself differently. The disciples watched Jesus place a hand on 35 00:02:46,669 --> 00:02:50,970 Speaker 1: the tree's trunk. They looked at his hand. It was 36 00:02:50,990 --> 00:02:54,580 Speaker 1: the hand of a craftsman, calloused from decades of labor. 37 00:02:56,180 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: For the entire time they knew him, they had watched 38 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:03,900 Speaker 1: those hands heal lepers, give sight to the blind, comfort 39 00:03:03,940 --> 00:03:11,810 Speaker 1: the outcast. They were the hands of restoration, blessing, and providence. However, 40 00:03:11,930 --> 00:03:14,950 Speaker 1: as Jesus extended his right hand and placed it upon 41 00:03:14,990 --> 00:03:18,549 Speaker 1: the tree, they felt a different power emanating from him. 42 00:03:20,090 --> 00:03:24,180 Speaker 1: He grasped it firmly and spoke a curse that sent 43 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:25,500 Speaker 1: chills down their spines. 44 00:03:26,500 --> 00:03:29,260 Speaker 2: May no one eat fruit from you ever again. 45 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: He growled. Everyone looked at the tree and back at him, 46 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:39,710 Speaker 1: then at the tree again. The fig tree stood unperturbed, 47 00:03:40,230 --> 00:03:42,210 Speaker 1: leaves rustling only slightly in the breeze. 48 00:03:44,850 --> 00:03:48,470 Speaker 3: What makes God angry? And what would it take for 49 00:03:48,490 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 3: the Prince of Peace, Jesus, to act out in rage? 50 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:55,100 Speaker 3: Micah 6.8 says this, He has shown you, O man, 51 00:03:55,140 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 3: what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? 52 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,620 Speaker 3: To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk 53 00:04:00,660 --> 00:04:03,740 Speaker 3: humbly with your God. God has told us what he's required. 54 00:04:04,090 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 3: He wants justice and mercy to be balanced with humility. 55 00:04:08,020 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 3: What happens when an entire religious system forgets justice, ignores mercy, 56 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 3: and puffs themselves up with pride? Welcome to the Jesus Podcast, 57 00:04:17,380 --> 00:04:21,180 Speaker 3: stories about triumph, love, and the passion of Jesus. I'm 58 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:23,860 Speaker 3: Pastor Zach with Pray.com, and I want to invite you 59 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,300 Speaker 3: to follow this podcast. We're going to be going through 60 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:29,470 Speaker 3: hundreds of gospel stories all throughout the year, told in 61 00:04:29,510 --> 00:04:32,390 Speaker 3: a way to awaken your imagination and challenge your faith. 62 00:04:32,930 --> 00:04:35,510 Speaker 3: It's Holy Week, the time between the triumphal entry and 63 00:04:35,529 --> 00:04:39,510 Speaker 3: the resurrection from the grave. Jesus' last few days before 64 00:04:39,550 --> 00:04:43,150 Speaker 3: his crucifixion were filled with tense moments that inspire both 65 00:04:43,210 --> 00:04:47,659 Speaker 3: reflection and praise. Today, we focus on the intensity of Jesus. 66 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:50,620 Speaker 3: We just listened to him curse a fig tree, and 67 00:04:50,700 --> 00:04:53,100 Speaker 3: now we're going to hear him proclaim woes over the 68 00:04:53,140 --> 00:04:56,620 Speaker 3: city of Jerusalem and storm the temple courtyards, picking a fight. 69 00:04:57,360 --> 00:04:59,180 Speaker 3: While you listen to this story, I want you to 70 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,339 Speaker 3: look closely for parallels between the fig tree and the 71 00:05:02,380 --> 00:05:05,780 Speaker 3: religious leaders Jesus is about to challenge. There are many 72 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:11,969 Speaker 3: parallels between them. Jesus despises vapid and empty religion. Jesus 73 00:05:12,029 --> 00:05:14,350 Speaker 3: knows the end is near, and he's turning up the 74 00:05:14,390 --> 00:05:17,510 Speaker 3: temperature here. He's not running away from conflict, and he's 75 00:05:17,550 --> 00:05:20,600 Speaker 3: not running away from the trials that await him. Each 76 00:05:20,740 --> 00:05:24,140 Speaker 3: act is deliberate and purposeful. His feet are pointed like 77 00:05:24,300 --> 00:05:28,190 Speaker 3: arrows towards the destination, the place called Calvary, the place 78 00:05:28,230 --> 00:05:32,550 Speaker 3: of the skull, Golgotha, the cross. Jesus isn't going to 79 00:05:32,589 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 3: do anything by accident. Everything right now is purposeful. Do 80 00:05:36,900 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 3: you think Jesus is tame? Do you think Jesus is 81 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:42,619 Speaker 3: a passive spectator of corruption? Think again. 82 00:05:45,900 --> 00:05:48,990 Speaker 1: Jesus' shoulders relaxed as he released his grip on the tree. 83 00:05:50,310 --> 00:05:53,210 Speaker 1: He turned back and saw the city of Jerusalem shining 84 00:05:53,330 --> 00:05:58,150 Speaker 1: brilliantly in the light. Its glory was vibrant and beautiful, 85 00:05:58,870 --> 00:06:04,010 Speaker 1: like the tree's leaves. His jaw clenched and his bottom 86 00:06:04,060 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 1: lip began to quiver. Jesus looked at Jerusalem with disappointment 87 00:06:09,580 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: in his eyes. The disciples drew back and gave him space. 88 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:19,360 Speaker 1: There was tension in the atmosphere, like a shifting wind. 89 00:06:19,820 --> 00:06:25,580 Speaker 1: before a storm. The dam in Jesus' soul broke, and 90 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:28,820 Speaker 1: a flood of rushing emotions poured out of him. A 91 00:06:28,860 --> 00:06:34,070 Speaker 1: mixture of anger, sorrow, and love poured out of him 92 00:06:34,510 --> 00:06:39,930 Speaker 1: as he bellowed. His cries echoed down the hills. He 93 00:06:39,990 --> 00:06:43,370 Speaker 1: fell to his knees and wept with a ferocity like 94 00:06:43,430 --> 00:06:46,250 Speaker 1: a mother bear roaring over her lost cubs. 95 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:50,500 Speaker 2: Oh, my children, how I wish today you would understand 96 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:51,900 Speaker 2: the path to peace. 97 00:06:52,620 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 1: He gripped his chest as if pleading with the city 98 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:59,420 Speaker 1: and his own soul. But it's too late. It's too late. 99 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: Peace is hidden from your eyes. There was a momentary pause, 100 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 1: a break in the tears as he closed his eyes. 101 00:07:09,020 --> 00:07:12,580 Speaker 1: The wind continued its descent toward the city, carrying his 102 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:13,930 Speaker 1: heartfelt message with it. 103 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:17,950 Speaker 2: It won't be long now. Before your enemies build ramparts 104 00:07:18,010 --> 00:07:22,350 Speaker 2: against your walls and surround you from every side. They 105 00:07:22,390 --> 00:07:26,050 Speaker 2: will crush you, Jerusalem. They will bury you into the ground. 106 00:07:26,790 --> 00:07:29,750 Speaker 2: You and your children with you. Your enemies won't leave 107 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:33,100 Speaker 2: a single stone in place. And all of it could 108 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 2: have been saved if you had just seen God in 109 00:07:36,060 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 2: your midst. 110 00:07:37,300 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: His followers remained at a healthy distance, allowing space for 111 00:07:41,180 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 1: his prophetic weepings. They had assumed their journey with their 112 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: master would ultimately end with a provisional rise to power. However, 113 00:07:50,620 --> 00:07:53,860 Speaker 1: at this moment, on the hill overlooking the holy city, 114 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:59,210 Speaker 1: they sensed something else was in store for them. The 115 00:07:59,250 --> 00:08:05,350 Speaker 1: passion of the prophet king was awakened, and Jerusalem was 116 00:08:05,430 --> 00:08:10,950 Speaker 1: about to be shaken. Jesus' disciples stayed a few paces 117 00:08:11,030 --> 00:08:16,300 Speaker 1: behind him. trying to discern what would happen next. Their 118 00:08:16,340 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 1: teacher's demeanor had shifted since his triumphal entry. He wasn't 119 00:08:20,860 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 1: anxious or hurried, but there was an urgency in his 120 00:08:25,100 --> 00:08:31,420 Speaker 1: stride they hadn't seen before. Jesus entered the city with intention. 121 00:08:32,540 --> 00:08:36,130 Speaker 1: Every step was aimed at the temple like an arrow. 122 00:08:37,830 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: They arrived at the temple courtyard. a space set aside 123 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:45,570 Speaker 1: for Gentiles and foreigners to worship God. The intentions for 124 00:08:45,610 --> 00:08:49,370 Speaker 1: the outer yard were explicit in God's word. The outer 125 00:08:49,410 --> 00:08:52,630 Speaker 1: squares were designed to be a refuge for the alien 126 00:08:52,670 --> 00:08:57,860 Speaker 1: and onlooker to experience the love of God. However, what 127 00:08:57,900 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: the group stepped into was something else entirely. Money changers 128 00:09:02,980 --> 00:09:08,020 Speaker 1: and merchants occupied the courtyard, peddling animals for sacrifice and 129 00:09:08,059 --> 00:09:14,060 Speaker 1: exchanging foreign currency at an unfair rate. The outer courtyard 130 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: had ceased being a place for outcasts to worship God 131 00:09:17,660 --> 00:09:20,660 Speaker 1: and had become a place to milk the foreigners for 132 00:09:20,860 --> 00:09:25,319 Speaker 1: all they were worth. The poor were now unable to 133 00:09:25,380 --> 00:09:29,900 Speaker 1: make sacrifices at the temple. The middle class was forced 134 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:33,890 Speaker 1: to exchange their modest sacrifice for a more expensive and 135 00:09:33,990 --> 00:09:41,010 Speaker 1: temple-approved sacrifice. Tables arrayed the courtyard, holding weights and scales 136 00:09:41,270 --> 00:09:45,100 Speaker 1: to balance silver and gold. Yet for all the scales, 137 00:09:45,900 --> 00:09:49,960 Speaker 1: there was no fairness. For all the guards, there was 138 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:54,990 Speaker 1: no justice. Jesus peered up at the temple's leaders and snarled. 139 00:09:55,770 --> 00:09:59,740 Speaker 1: He could smell their greed from a mile away. They 140 00:09:59,780 --> 00:10:04,260 Speaker 1: had been fattening themselves off the exploitation of non-Jewish worshippers. 141 00:10:05,780 --> 00:10:08,920 Speaker 1: He looked upon the sea of innocent faces, desperate to 142 00:10:09,059 --> 00:10:13,870 Speaker 1: access God. He saw poor families walking away because they 143 00:10:13,890 --> 00:10:17,770 Speaker 1: could not afford the temple's approved animals. They wanted to 144 00:10:17,809 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 1: be near to God. They wanted God to redeem them. 145 00:10:21,660 --> 00:10:26,620 Speaker 1: God was near, and he would redeem. The words of 146 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 1: Isaiah reverberated in his mind. Give wisdom. Grant them justice. 147 00:10:33,220 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 1: Make your shadow like night at the height of noon. 148 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:41,970 Speaker 1: Shelter the outcasts. A large stone table was in the 149 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:46,089 Speaker 1: center of the courtyard. Scales with gold and silver weights 150 00:10:46,150 --> 00:10:49,200 Speaker 1: were placed on them. to measure against the foreigner's coin. 151 00:10:50,340 --> 00:10:55,579 Speaker 1: God's passionate prophet took a decisive step forward. He was 152 00:10:55,679 --> 00:11:00,380 Speaker 1: about to balance the scales. He placed his work-worn hands 153 00:11:00,470 --> 00:11:04,510 Speaker 1: underneath the large stone table, gripped its edges tightly, and 154 00:11:04,630 --> 00:11:08,429 Speaker 1: swung his whole body upward, flipping it into the air. 155 00:11:09,470 --> 00:11:13,010 Speaker 1: The stone cracked as it hit the ground, and coins 156 00:11:13,150 --> 00:11:17,670 Speaker 1: scattered along the cobbled floor. The same power that sent 157 00:11:17,850 --> 00:11:20,890 Speaker 1: fire down from heaven and split the earth in days 158 00:11:20,950 --> 00:11:25,589 Speaker 1: of old coursed through his soul. One by one, Jesus 159 00:11:25,710 --> 00:11:28,790 Speaker 1: flipped every table in the courtyard that had been hewn 160 00:11:28,929 --> 00:11:32,729 Speaker 1: as an altar of greed. He shattered the crates of 161 00:11:32,750 --> 00:11:36,429 Speaker 1: the animals, sent sheep running from their owners, and halted 162 00:11:36,610 --> 00:11:41,390 Speaker 1: anyone from carrying anything into the temple. His strong legs 163 00:11:41,550 --> 00:11:44,500 Speaker 1: marched up the steps to where the temple leaders remained 164 00:11:44,580 --> 00:11:48,599 Speaker 1: in shock. He stood inches from them and stared into 165 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 1: their very souls. Jesus saw past their ceremonial robes and 166 00:11:53,980 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 1: religious medallions. Outwardly, they appeared to have life, but Jesus 167 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:04,460 Speaker 1: could see the void within them. Jesus turned to the crowd. 168 00:12:05,340 --> 00:12:09,569 Speaker 1: The chaos he had caused paused momentarily, and all were 169 00:12:09,710 --> 00:12:15,740 Speaker 1: silent as he spoke. He spoke with glorious authority. His 170 00:12:15,820 --> 00:12:19,670 Speaker 1: voice boomed and reverberated across the courtyard as he said. 171 00:12:20,660 --> 00:12:23,390 Speaker 2: It is written, My house shall be called a house 172 00:12:23,450 --> 00:12:25,010 Speaker 2: of prayer for all the nations. 173 00:12:25,929 --> 00:12:26,850 Speaker 1: Look at what you've made it. 174 00:12:26,870 --> 00:12:30,870 Speaker 2: You've turned this refuge for prayer into a den of thieves. 175 00:12:31,730 --> 00:12:35,290 Speaker 1: Everyone in the courtyard heard him, but only his students 176 00:12:35,750 --> 00:12:40,630 Speaker 1: truly listened. They watched his chest rise and fall with 177 00:12:40,830 --> 00:12:45,150 Speaker 1: every emboldened breath. He was more than a passionate prophet, 178 00:12:45,470 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 1: like Elijah or John the Baptist. He was the voice 179 00:12:49,300 --> 00:12:54,260 Speaker 1: that once boomed from Mount Sinai. None could fathom the 180 00:12:54,340 --> 00:12:57,599 Speaker 1: depth of what was happening at the moment. The tables 181 00:12:57,780 --> 00:13:02,350 Speaker 1: and temple currency represented the walls of separation between God 182 00:13:02,690 --> 00:13:07,410 Speaker 1: and humanity. The connection between them had been lost, but 183 00:13:07,450 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 1: his chosen hero stood before them on the steps to 184 00:13:12,270 --> 00:13:17,380 Speaker 1: restore what had been lost. The broken tables and spilled 185 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:21,910 Speaker 1: coins represented the toppling of a religious system that kept 186 00:13:22,010 --> 00:13:27,790 Speaker 1: people far from their creator's heart. All would be restored soon, 187 00:13:29,050 --> 00:13:34,530 Speaker 1: but not without a sacrifice. His battle was not ultimately 188 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:38,300 Speaker 1: against the priests or the money changers, but against the 189 00:13:38,380 --> 00:13:41,500 Speaker 1: sin that ensnared their souls. 190 00:13:47,370 --> 00:13:50,950 Speaker 3: What makes us angry often reveals what we cherish most. 191 00:13:51,490 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 3: If someone ever disrespects my wife, I'm stirred to anger. 192 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:57,100 Speaker 3: If my kids are threatened in any way, I begin 193 00:13:57,140 --> 00:14:00,020 Speaker 3: to boil with fury. The same can be said for 194 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:03,260 Speaker 3: not-so-righteous things in my life. I enjoy food probably more 195 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:06,350 Speaker 3: than I should, so I get irritated when somebody interrupts 196 00:14:06,380 --> 00:14:09,810 Speaker 3: me during a meal. What angers us most reveals what 197 00:14:09,830 --> 00:14:12,589 Speaker 3: we love most, or at least reveals a crucial part 198 00:14:12,610 --> 00:14:16,589 Speaker 3: of our character. So what angered Jesus the most? What 199 00:14:16,650 --> 00:14:19,750 Speaker 3: stirred him to action? This episode showed us a few 200 00:14:19,850 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 3: scenes of Jesus being moved to outrage. First, we saw 201 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:26,860 Speaker 3: him lash out at a fig tree that wasn't bearing fruit. 202 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:30,750 Speaker 3: Does that reveal Jesus' deep and passionate hatred for figs? 203 00:14:31,510 --> 00:14:33,650 Speaker 3: Of course not. In our next episode, we're going to 204 00:14:33,690 --> 00:14:36,070 Speaker 3: get into more detail about the fig tree, but here's 205 00:14:36,110 --> 00:14:38,820 Speaker 3: a teaser. The fig tree is a metaphor. It's a 206 00:14:38,870 --> 00:14:41,660 Speaker 3: metaphor for the priests, the Pharisees, and the religious system. 207 00:14:41,900 --> 00:14:44,810 Speaker 3: The tree showed vibrant leaves as if it was the 208 00:14:44,870 --> 00:14:48,170 Speaker 3: season for figs, but upon further inspection, no fruit was 209 00:14:48,250 --> 00:14:54,210 Speaker 3: found in the tree. Jesus hates spiritual false advertising. Next, 210 00:14:54,390 --> 00:14:57,690 Speaker 3: Jesus turns his face to the city and laments. He 211 00:14:57,750 --> 00:15:01,070 Speaker 3: talks about how they've missed it. They've missed this incredible 212 00:15:01,150 --> 00:15:03,630 Speaker 3: work of the Messiah that they'd been pining after for 213 00:15:03,670 --> 00:15:06,660 Speaker 3: so long. Peace with God was right in front of them, 214 00:15:06,940 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 3: but they were blind to it all. Jesus is angry 215 00:15:09,980 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 3: with their willing ignorance. He revealed himself to the Pharisees. 216 00:15:13,620 --> 00:15:17,210 Speaker 3: He revealed himself to the religious leaders. They saw all 217 00:15:17,250 --> 00:15:20,310 Speaker 3: the signs, they heard his preaching, and they beheld the 218 00:15:20,350 --> 00:15:24,190 Speaker 3: glorious work of Jesus. But still, because of their pride, 219 00:15:24,630 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 3: they ignored him. You see, pride blinds us. When he 220 00:15:28,900 --> 00:15:31,860 Speaker 3: looked back at the city draped in splendor, he couldn't 221 00:15:31,900 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 3: help but weep. For all its beauty, it was dead inside, 222 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:38,510 Speaker 3: just like the fig tree. Why was it dead? Because 223 00:15:38,530 --> 00:15:40,650 Speaker 3: they had strayed from the heart of God and were 224 00:15:40,750 --> 00:15:44,630 Speaker 3: unprepared for the struggles ahead. Jesus was emotional at the 225 00:15:44,670 --> 00:15:47,750 Speaker 3: thought of his people suffering as a parent mourns over 226 00:15:47,790 --> 00:15:51,070 Speaker 3: a child who has strayed. God is passionate about you, 227 00:15:51,490 --> 00:15:54,220 Speaker 3: and he mourns when you've strayed or when pride has 228 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:57,810 Speaker 3: blinded you. But Jesus' anger didn't stop there in this episode. 229 00:15:58,170 --> 00:16:02,010 Speaker 3: What else stirs Jesus to indignation? Well, when God's people 230 00:16:02,210 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 3: are being kept from intimacy with him. Remember how I 231 00:16:05,530 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 3: said that what angers us most reveals what we love most? 232 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 3: If we look at the story of God in the Bible, 233 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 3: it becomes very clear as to what God loves most. 234 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:16,220 Speaker 3: He loves to dwell with his people and bless them. 235 00:16:16,660 --> 00:16:19,540 Speaker 3: God loves to dwell with his people and bless them. 236 00:16:19,900 --> 00:16:22,270 Speaker 3: We first see this in the Garden of Eden. In 237 00:16:22,290 --> 00:16:25,580 Speaker 3: Genesis 1.27 it says this, So God created man in 238 00:16:25,620 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 3: his own image. In the image of God he created him. 239 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:31,180 Speaker 3: Male and female he created them. Then God blessed them. 240 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:34,900 Speaker 3: After the Garden of Eden, God chose a family to 241 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:39,580 Speaker 3: dwell with. He chose Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In Genesis 242 00:16:39,580 --> 00:16:41,620 Speaker 3: 17 he makes a promise to Abraham and he says, 243 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 3: I will establish my covenant between me and you and 244 00:16:44,860 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 3: all of your descendants and all the generations after them. 245 00:16:47,620 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 3: I'm going to make an everlasting covenant to be God 246 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 3: to you and your descendants after you. In Genesis 22, 247 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:55,990 Speaker 3: it says, in your seed, all the nations of the 248 00:16:56,090 --> 00:16:59,870 Speaker 3: earth shall be blessed. So God has this divine plan 249 00:16:59,930 --> 00:17:02,650 Speaker 3: to bring all of the nations into intimacy and unity 250 00:17:02,710 --> 00:17:06,210 Speaker 3: with him. It starts with him establishing a nation through 251 00:17:06,430 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 3: Abraham's descendants, a people group, a nation whose history would 252 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:13,360 Speaker 3: be centered around a holy God pursuing them at all costs. 253 00:17:13,980 --> 00:17:16,900 Speaker 3: A God that would send plagues, part seas, and shatter 254 00:17:16,940 --> 00:17:20,030 Speaker 3: the earth and demolish walls to get them and bless them. 255 00:17:20,590 --> 00:17:22,930 Speaker 3: As a symbol of this unity, he established the Ark 256 00:17:22,970 --> 00:17:26,330 Speaker 3: of the Covenant and the Tabernacle. God wanted to dwell 257 00:17:26,390 --> 00:17:29,669 Speaker 3: with his traveling people. Then, once the nation of Israel 258 00:17:29,730 --> 00:17:33,540 Speaker 3: was established, God dwelled in the temple, a place where 259 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:36,899 Speaker 3: people could travel thousands of miles to visit and commune 260 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:41,020 Speaker 3: with God. Here, they would pray and make sacrifices and 261 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:44,960 Speaker 3: seek intimacy with God. Sacrifices would be made and offered 262 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,859 Speaker 3: up to God, and these sacrifices, the innocent blood of 263 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:50,869 Speaker 3: animals shed, were a picture of the consequence of sin 264 00:17:51,050 --> 00:17:54,429 Speaker 3: on humanity. And ultimately, they were pointing towards a greater 265 00:17:54,490 --> 00:17:57,900 Speaker 3: sacrifice that Jesus would make just a week after this. 266 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:01,340 Speaker 3: This temple is where the people's sins would be brought 267 00:18:01,380 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 3: before God. And to implore of God to forgive them, 268 00:18:04,900 --> 00:18:07,530 Speaker 3: bless them, and embolden them. It was a place of 269 00:18:07,619 --> 00:18:11,190 Speaker 3: worship and repentance. And this was not just a practice 270 00:18:11,210 --> 00:18:13,620 Speaker 3: for the people of Israel. You know that, right? People 271 00:18:13,660 --> 00:18:16,479 Speaker 3: from all nations would flock to the temple, not just Jews, 272 00:18:16,540 --> 00:18:20,140 Speaker 3: but Gentiles too. In fact, there was an entire outer 273 00:18:20,180 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 3: section of the temple dedicated for Gentiles to come and 274 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,919 Speaker 3: commune with God. This is so crazy because that was 275 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:30,190 Speaker 3: God's desire all along. Remember the promise he made to Abraham? 276 00:18:30,609 --> 00:18:34,629 Speaker 3: He wanted all the nations to be blessed. In Genesis 22, 277 00:18:34,630 --> 00:18:37,310 Speaker 3: he made a promise that through the seed of Abraham, 278 00:18:37,530 --> 00:18:41,030 Speaker 3: every single nation would be blessed. So that's why there 279 00:18:41,050 --> 00:18:44,450 Speaker 3: was a special section of the temple dedicated to Gentiles. 280 00:18:44,950 --> 00:18:47,770 Speaker 3: But it was also dedicated to the outcasts, the poor, 281 00:18:48,270 --> 00:18:52,760 Speaker 3: those who really desperately needed God can come and commune 282 00:18:52,780 --> 00:18:56,060 Speaker 3: with him. And guess what section the priests and the 283 00:18:56,100 --> 00:19:00,459 Speaker 3: temple leaders used to start making money? That's right. The 284 00:19:00,540 --> 00:19:03,399 Speaker 3: place where the Gentiles and the outcasts were supposed to 285 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 3: be able to come and commune with God was the 286 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:10,170 Speaker 3: same place people were using to make a profit. So 287 00:19:10,230 --> 00:19:12,580 Speaker 3: not only were all the Gentiles now not able to 288 00:19:12,619 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 3: come and worship God, but the poor were unable to 289 00:19:15,100 --> 00:19:18,119 Speaker 3: worship God too, because the temple currency had a super 290 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 3: crazy exchange rate. These people were inhibiting the outcasts and 291 00:19:21,980 --> 00:19:25,969 Speaker 3: the poor from worshiping God, and that's what stirred Jesus 292 00:19:26,010 --> 00:19:28,869 Speaker 3: to anger. The temple was where God decided to make 293 00:19:28,910 --> 00:19:32,609 Speaker 3: himself present, but greed was keeping the poor and needy 294 00:19:32,650 --> 00:19:35,810 Speaker 3: from accessing him. The priests and the Pharisees were making 295 00:19:35,869 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 3: the poor and dispossessed buy their atonement. But only the 296 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:43,060 Speaker 3: blood of Christ can do that. So Jesus got mad. 297 00:19:43,420 --> 00:19:46,270 Speaker 3: He flipped the tables over because the heart of God 298 00:19:46,390 --> 00:19:48,750 Speaker 3: is to be with his children and he'll do anything 299 00:19:48,830 --> 00:19:51,300 Speaker 3: it takes to be with them. When we get angry, 300 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:54,939 Speaker 3: it's always because we are supposed to protect something. So 301 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:57,920 Speaker 3: when it comes to God displaying anger, he is protecting 302 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:02,100 Speaker 3: something too. His glory, his purpose for humanity. That is 303 00:20:02,140 --> 00:20:05,969 Speaker 3: what made Jesus angry. It was undermining his plan for 304 00:20:05,990 --> 00:20:10,260 Speaker 3: the gospel. Listen to these words from Isaiah 56 and 305 00:20:10,340 --> 00:20:13,359 Speaker 3: let me know if they sound familiar. Do not let 306 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 3: the son of the foreigner who has joined himself to 307 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:18,459 Speaker 3: the Lord speak, saying, The Lord has utterly separated me 308 00:20:18,500 --> 00:20:21,820 Speaker 3: from his people. Nor let the eunuch say, Here I am, 309 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:24,619 Speaker 3: a dry tree. For thus says the Lord to the 310 00:20:24,740 --> 00:20:27,949 Speaker 3: eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, And choose what pleases me, 311 00:20:28,230 --> 00:20:30,930 Speaker 3: and hold fast my covenant. Even to them I will 312 00:20:30,970 --> 00:20:34,010 Speaker 3: give my house, and within my walls a place and 313 00:20:34,030 --> 00:20:36,490 Speaker 3: a name better than that of the sons and daughters. 314 00:20:36,970 --> 00:20:39,230 Speaker 3: I will give them an everlasting name that shall not 315 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:41,979 Speaker 3: be cut off. Also the sons of the foreigner who 316 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 3: join themselves to the Lord to serve him and to 317 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:46,900 Speaker 3: love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, 318 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 3: everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath and holds fast 319 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:53,119 Speaker 3: my covenant, even them I will bring to my holy 320 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:56,990 Speaker 3: mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer. 321 00:20:57,530 --> 00:21:00,470 Speaker 3: Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on 322 00:21:00,530 --> 00:21:03,590 Speaker 3: my altar, for my house shall be called a house 323 00:21:03,630 --> 00:21:08,010 Speaker 3: of prayer for all the nations. The words of Isaiah 324 00:21:08,250 --> 00:21:10,949 Speaker 3: revealed the heart of God. He wanted his house to 325 00:21:10,990 --> 00:21:13,510 Speaker 3: be a house of prayer, a house where the foreigner, 326 00:21:13,710 --> 00:21:17,010 Speaker 3: the Gentile, and the poor could come and connect with God. 327 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 3: It has always been God's desire to bring all the 328 00:21:20,540 --> 00:21:23,440 Speaker 3: nations to himself, and it has always been his desire 329 00:21:23,500 --> 00:21:26,159 Speaker 3: to create avenues for people to speak with him, to 330 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:28,380 Speaker 3: worship him, and to be with him and to walk 331 00:21:28,420 --> 00:21:30,880 Speaker 3: with him. Before the veil was torn, this is where 332 00:21:30,900 --> 00:21:34,369 Speaker 3: people would go. Before the crucifixion of Jesus and the resurrection, 333 00:21:34,770 --> 00:21:37,740 Speaker 3: this was the place for worship. What we see Jesus 334 00:21:37,859 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 3: doing here in this episode is violently driving out that 335 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:46,859 Speaker 3: which is separating people from experiencing intimacy with God. It's 336 00:21:46,900 --> 00:21:49,580 Speaker 3: a picture of what Jesus would eventually do on the cross. 337 00:21:50,180 --> 00:21:53,020 Speaker 3: You see, the cross was the most violent upheaval of 338 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 3: sin and separation this world has ever seen. And just 339 00:21:56,800 --> 00:22:00,260 Speaker 3: as Jesus violently flipped the tables that were separating people 340 00:22:00,300 --> 00:22:04,550 Speaker 3: from experiencing unity with God, he violently crucified the very 341 00:22:04,619 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 3: sins keeping you from him. These Gentiles were hopeless to 342 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:11,000 Speaker 3: come before God and to ask forgiveness in the temple. 343 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:14,199 Speaker 3: So Jesus made a way. He flipped the tables. He 344 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 3: does this with us. In Ephesians chapter 2, Paul tells 345 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:20,540 Speaker 3: us that those who are far from God, the Gentiles 346 00:22:20,580 --> 00:22:24,550 Speaker 3: in the flesh, have now been brought in. We strangers 347 00:22:24,630 --> 00:22:28,130 Speaker 3: to God have now been called his children. The entire 348 00:22:28,230 --> 00:22:31,670 Speaker 3: narrative of scripture is that we have so many barriers 349 00:22:31,810 --> 00:22:34,750 Speaker 3: keeping us from a life of peace with God. and 350 00:22:34,770 --> 00:22:37,250 Speaker 3: that God will stop at nothing until all of those 351 00:22:37,310 --> 00:22:40,700 Speaker 3: barriers are flipped over and done away with. Romans 8.38 352 00:22:40,700 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 3: says this, Jesus removed all the barriers between us and 353 00:22:42,540 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 3: God on the cross. He flipped our tables, if you 354 00:22:45,060 --> 00:23:01,450 Speaker 3: want to use that metaphor. The temple was a place 355 00:23:01,490 --> 00:23:05,310 Speaker 3: for reconciling, atoning, and the healing work of God. After 356 00:23:05,369 --> 00:23:08,209 Speaker 3: Jesus flipped the tables, people flocked to him and he 357 00:23:08,310 --> 00:23:11,609 Speaker 3: ministered to them. It says in Hebrews 4.16, Let us 358 00:23:11,690 --> 00:23:14,389 Speaker 3: then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, 359 00:23:14,790 --> 00:23:17,710 Speaker 3: that we may receive mercy and find grace to help 360 00:23:17,750 --> 00:23:20,629 Speaker 3: in our time of need. I think having confidence that 361 00:23:20,650 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 3: God wants to hear from us and speak to us 362 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 3: changes our perspective on prayer, doesn't it? He bends his 363 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:28,500 Speaker 3: ear to hear us. He makes avenues for us to 364 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:31,790 Speaker 3: pray to him. The grand table-flipping work Christ did on 365 00:23:31,830 --> 00:23:34,870 Speaker 3: the cross and rising again from the grave allows for 366 00:23:34,970 --> 00:23:37,929 Speaker 3: prayer to have a full and unhindered effect in our lives. 367 00:23:38,430 --> 00:23:42,109 Speaker 3: We have access to God. Jesus said, Jeremiah says, Through Jesus, 368 00:23:42,150 --> 00:23:56,270 Speaker 3: prayer is possible. There is no actual impact we are 369 00:23:56,290 --> 00:23:59,150 Speaker 3: going to make as believers without stepping into unity with 370 00:23:59,210 --> 00:24:02,690 Speaker 3: God in prayer. And Jesus made that all available. May 371 00:24:02,730 --> 00:24:06,870 Speaker 3: we be people known for prayer. Because God has given 372 00:24:06,910 --> 00:24:09,600 Speaker 3: us access to him through prayer. It is the source 373 00:24:09,630 --> 00:24:13,220 Speaker 3: of our power and our intimacy with him. Join us 374 00:24:13,260 --> 00:24:16,540 Speaker 3: for our next episode as we continue along this journey 375 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:19,380 Speaker 3: to the cross and out from the grave. For more 376 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:23,070 Speaker 3: inspiration to last a lifetime, download the Pray.com app. See 377 00:24:23,090 --> 00:24:23,550 Speaker 3: you next time.