03/31/2026
Good Monday evening my awesome family, I challenged everyone at church yesterday to follow Jesus’s journey to the cross starting with Monday. Here’s a little thought for everyone to ponder on:
Monday – Temple Cleansed
Mark 11
Jesus:
Drives out money changers
Curses the fig tree
Judgment on Fruitless Religion
On the Monday before the cross, Jesus publicly exposed fruitless religion through two powerful actions recorded in (Mark Chapter 11). First, He cursed a fig tree that had leaves but no fruit.
What a great example of people who looked spiritually alive on the outside but lacked real faith and obedience to Jesus on the inside.
Then He entered the temple and drove out those buying and selling, aggressively confronting a system that had turned true worship into empty rituals and personal gain. Together, these 2 acts showed that God is not impressed with outward appearances or religious performances. What He desires are genuine, fruitful hearts that are actively seeking Him.
Isaiah 1:12-20 KJVS
When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? [13] Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. [14] Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. [15] And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. [16] Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; [17] Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. [18] Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. [19] If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: [20] But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Because of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, every man, woman and child has the opportunity to have their scarlet sins to be forgiven and be made white as snow. They just have to be willing to accept the gift of salvation and be obedient in the following of the Words of Jesus.
I love you guys so very much.
Pastor John
