Chuck Foreman – Teaching Pastor

When Jesus entered Jerusalem for the final time, this time as king, unmistakably fulfilling Zechariah’s prophecy about Israel’s King coming to her, gentle and riding on a donkey’s colt (Zech. 9:9), he wept over his people and his city. His sorrow was that he knew Israel could not understand what would, on that day, bring her peace. He knew that the leaders of Israel had rejected their Messiah, the Son of Man, in favor of maintaining their position and power given them over their own people by the Romans. They did not recognize the time of God’s coming to them. (Luke 19:44)

Immediately after that, Jesus did something only God as King could do… 

He returned to his temple just as Malachi had foretold (Malachi 3:1) and purged it of its merchandizers, restoring it to its intended purpose, a house of prayer.  The King had returned to his people and his temple and found them wanting. They had missed the point of their religion and now, they were missing their own visitation by God himself. They hadn’t done well in their Master’s absence.

How are we doing?  I mean, how are we doing with our religion—with what God is expecting of us as subjects of his kingdom on earth? How well are we doing in our Master’s absence? Would we recognize him if he showed up? Or would we also miss the time of his coming to us? When he returns, will he find us faithfully serving him, furthering his kingdom and doing his will on earth as it is being done in heaven?