The Prominent Role of Rocks in Jesus' Mind
- Christine DiGiacomo
- 4 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Today marks the beginning of the most important week in history; the Church popularly calls it Holy Week. The fact is, history irrevocably turned from the moment Jesus himself turned to walk down the Mt. of Olives path, across the Kidron Valley and into Jerusalem. (pictured) Walking the same path today into the Old City only takes about 25 minutes. hmmm...
Wouldn't you have liked to witness that Palm Sunday parade of Jesus on the donkey, the disciples, the people and palm branches with 'Hosannas' ringing out? Oh, and then there are the Pharisees chiding Jesus to shush his disciples, though Jesus replies, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”1
Jesus' further Sunday afternoon activity includes a walk through the temple, observing the unrighteous goings-on in his Father's house. In the evening, Jesus goes back to Bethany to spend the night at the home of Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus.2 Something about this grabs my attention - how at home he must have felt with the family!
On Monday, Jesus returns to Jerusalem and to the Temple, where he spends hours the next couple days, teaching and debating. But first ... he does something very un-Jesus, something that seems absolutely contrary to the peaceful, loving Jesus the gospels present. "Jesus enters the temple courts and drives out all who are buying and selling there. He overturns the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 'It is written,' he says to them, 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it 'a den of robbers.' 3 Why such a violent display by the Lamb of God? Clearly, Jesus is making a very loud statement.
Jesus demonstrates the heart of his Father, who said through the prophet Isaiah, "My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples."4 In our houses of worship today, is prayer such a prominent value that our churches could be called 'houses of prayer'? hmmm...
You know, in this --one of the last messages of Jesus-- what is he saying to you and me personally? Prayer is a gift, intended to be a priority in our lives; not just at church, but in our individual, daily lives.
As many of us have observed some sort of Lenten exercise, I believe we have a challenge to come out of this Monday of Holy Week that ought radicalize our lives:
Let us become people who ardently pray and seek God.
Best message I have heard on this passage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U79YOKje2zU&t=16s
"My house shall be called a house of prayer" by Jim Cymbala. Will you listen/watch? Be challenged. encouraged, and changed.
In light of Jesus' radical behavior just a few days before the cross, I once again ask myself. 'How then shall I live?' I consider what God declared, "Be still and know that I am God."5 You and I are to quiet ourselves, and enter into God's presence, and pray, (not just shoot up prayers on the fly throughout our day).
These words of the poet Shepherd turned King inspire and motivate me:
"In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."6
Ah, yes, mornings. As we have noted, our Lord liked to get to himself and pray in the quiet of the morning as well. In all things, Jesus is our role model. It takes discipline and intention to carve out time for prayer in the morning, but it is worth it. When I start my day in prayer ~ talking to God, listening for his voice, asking for wisdom, thanking him for his gifts ~ I am a better woman.
Just thinking ....At the start of the week, Jesus said if the people stayed quiet, the rocks would cry out; a few days later, as Jesus was dying on the cross, the earth shook and the rocks split open. And that night, a rock would be rolled in front of the tomb to keep our Savior in ... hmmm, I don't think that did it.
How can I say "Thanks, God, for the things you have done for me?" - the great old song!
Christine
1 - Luke 19.40
2 - Lazarus, who Jesus had recently raised from the dead
3 - Matthew 21.12-13
4 - Isaiah 56.7
5 - Psalm 46.10
6 - Psalm 5.3
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