The Savior For All The Nations

"Today's Devotion" For April 11, 2006

Read: Mark 11:15-19; Isaiah 56:1-8

THE SAVIOR FOR ALL THE NATIONS

"Is it not written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer for all nations?'" (Mark 11:17)

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the cries of "Hosanna ("hosha' na" - "Save us") Son of David!" rang out loudly and clearly. The ancient cry of God's people, the descendants of Abraham, was raised as the Savior of the world entered Jerusalem on His way to the Cross - an inevitability known or understood by few. On the surface it appeared to have been nothing more than another aggravation to the scribes and Pharisees caused by the "radical Rabbi," Jesus of Nazareth. But that isn't the end of the story.

It seems that Jesus also went to the Temple after entering Jerusalem and "cleaned house." It's a story every child that has ever attended Sunday School has learned - at least in my day. Imagine that! Jesus, the gentle Shepherd of our early childhood pictures, wreaking havoc in the temple area (the "Court of the Gentiles" which was the only part of the Temple in which Gentiles could worship God and gather for prayer). There He was overturning the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those selling doves, and preventing anyone from carrying merchandise through the temple court which, it seems, many were using as a shortcut between the city and the Mount of Olives. And, for as long as I can remember, we've talked about how Jesus was upset with the "commercialization" of the Temple - a seemingly reasonable explanation of this event, and not altogether incorrect.

But this event is much more than Jesus' anger at the "commercialization" of the Temple. No doubt it was a stinking, smelly, noisy place to be. Pilgrims to Jerusalem, coming to the Temple to offer their sacrifices and prayers to Yahweh, certainly needed these "services." From earliest childhood I can remember being taught that all these activities occurred because the religious leaders saw it as a convenience for the pilgrims as well as a source of income for the Temple. I can remember being taught that the church was not a place for conducting "sales" - although, to be sure, bake sales, Girl Scout cookie sales, Boy Scout popcorn sales, and other "money changing" activities still have always seemed to take place in the areas surrounding where we worship. Yet, to understand Jesus' anger and actions in only this way is to miss His full purpose.

Jesus' entry into Jerusalem with "Hosannas" ringing in His ears was the first day of the week in which He would make the ultimate sacrifice for the Sin of the world. And it was for the Sin of the world that He was going to suffer and die - for everyone, of every time, every nation, every people, every place. That His sacrifice for Sin was for all people, Jews and Gentiles is reflected for us in His assault on the "commercialization" of the one place in the Temple the Gentiles were allowed to worship - a gross denial of their rightful place of worship and praise of Him who was also their God, Creator, and Savior. Mark even notes that Jesus was teaching while engaged in these actions, noting (v.17) that part of His teaching was from Isaiah 56:7 - "Is it not written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?' But you have made it a den of robbers."

What an awesome Savior we have. All people are precious to Him - He died for all so that all might receive God's forgiveness and the hope and promise of eternal life through faith in Him. Even while facing the impending suffering and hatred He was soon to experience, the full onslaught of Satan to prevent Him from His work of salvation, Jesus love and concern were for the "lowest" of the "low," for while the Messiah was understood by the people to be the Savior of Israel, He was not supposed to be the Savior of the Gentiles as well. You and I are the recipients of God's grace in Christ for all people. We are made His own, chosen ones through faith in Jesus. As we walk to "Via Dolorosa" - the "Way of Sorrow" - with Jesus this week, we do so with the absolute certainty that He went through all the suffering and the dying for us, so that we might be forgiven of all our sins and have eternal life with Him. He is, praise God, the Savior for all the nations."

Prayer: Father, from the Fall into Sin in Eden, to the events in Jerusalem during "Holy Week," You have constantly made Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness available to everyone. You have consistently called for the repentance of Your people and their faithful sharing of Your love with others so they, too, might become Your people by faith in Jesus. I thank and praise You that I, too, am counted among Your redeemed children. Help me to take Your gift of salvation to heart so that I may never take it for granted, nor fail to share it with others. Guide me in my life and living as Your redeemed and forgiven child so that I may see the value of every human being in Your eyes and make it a point to share love them in Your name and share Your forgiveness in Christ so they, too, might praise Your holy name and enter into Your eternal presence, forgiven and restored in Jesus; in whose precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.