January 29, 2022
What does it say?
Jesus, the promised Son of David, entered Jerusalem in triumph. He removed corruption from the temple and answered the Pharisees’ questions with parables.
What does it mean?
In Jesus’ final week, confrontation with the religious establishment intensified because He condemned their hypocrisy while showing His authority as God. Because the religious leaders rejected Jesus as the Christ, they also rejected His right to be worshiped as the Son of David and to cleanse the temple – His Father’s house. Their rejection of God’s message wasn’t new; they had violently opposed His messengers, God’s prophets, and now they rejected His Son. But opposition to the gospel will not prevail because Jesus is God’s triumphant Son, the Savior.
How should I respond?
When your life is centered on Jesus and built on the foundation of God’s Word, your thoughts, words, and activities reflect God’s truth. Unbelievers have a predisposition to reject God’s truth, and so those who reject Christ will likely reject you. They may dismiss you as gullible or ignorant and relate to you with an attitude of condescension. How do you respond when loved ones reject you and choose to remove themselves from your life because you are a Christian? How can you reflect God’s unconditional love toward them? Take heart – some may reject Him, but Jesus, the triumphant Savior, will prevail.