Thoughts on a Sermon

Christ's reputation was going before them. He was already a bit famous. Christ chooses words carefully, using words like "The Lord has need of them". It is in question whether Christ was not aware of being the Christ, but we must realize He fully knew who He was. But He also pointed to the Father a good deal and shows deference to Him repeatedly. Christ is the peacemaker, coming to ride on a colt. The only way to find true peace in this chaotic world is to how the knee to the Peacemaker. He is the King of Peace. "Hosanna" is translated as "save"...they were looking for a saving from Rome, but the true saving is from sin. Christ's role is as prophet, priest, and King...this is His role as King and the first thing He does is to go to the temple, matching His kingly role with his priestly role. He used the language to name the temple "His house". And if so, it made Him the owner and as such He had full right to do as He did. To cleanse it. He entered as a King and he did a kingly work, clean out a place of corruption. There is a relation between Church and State and Christ shows it here. Not only that, but this passage shows His healing side as well. It is a kingly trait to demonstrate a healing power. The blind and lame came to Him in the temple to be healed. He cleanses out the evil and brings in a healing ministry. He then uses children to proclaim His praises, children were known to announce the King and bring about his praises, but in these days our young children are denied entrance in God's covenant by baptism or such. The fig tree stands as a picture of the Church, there is no fruit or health in the life of the Church. The owner comes to see the fruit by is disappointed when it is bare and unfruitful. This is how Christ came to see His Church. "Let no fruit be on you again" and then the fig tree withered away. The fig tree stood for Israel and if Christ came and cursed it and it withered away...Christ said it will never bear fruit again, it ought to mean something in our vision of Israel. We have been sold the idea these days that Israel can do no wrong and is still God's beloved people. They are no longer God's people. The Church is now His faithful people, His beloved. The elders then went to damage and harm Him in the eyes of the people. He answered their questions with questions to trap them directly back and they realized they had lost. Judgement and salvation to hand in hand. Those who turn and embrace Him wholeheartedly will receive merciful salvation, but those who refuse will receive a judgement. In Christ, our judgement has already been released. We see only salvation now because of His death and taking our judgement to the cross with Him.