Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words. (NIV) Luke 19:47-48
The first three days of Passion Week (Sunday – Tuesday) were very active for Jesus. He primarily ministered to the multitudes who gathered around the temple of Jerusalem. During this time Jesus declared His authority in His last confrontations with the religious leaders of His day.
SUNDAY
Jesus had triumphantly entered Jerusalem on a donkey with the crowds shouting praises acknowledging that He was the promised Messiah. The crowds clearly believed that God had sent their king. Matthew records that “When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?'” (Matthew 21:10). And the “crowds answered, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.'” (Matthew 21:11). That evening Jesus and His disciples leave Jerusalem and spend the night in Bethany.
MONDAY
After a 2 mile walk from Bethany to Jerusalem, Jesus enters the Temple. Some 3 years prior He had cleansed the Temple (John 2:13-16), but the corruption had returned. He drives out the merchants and moneychangers who are seeking to make a profit off the religious activities of the Temple. In doing so, Jesus demonstrates His authority to not only cleanse the Temple, but to safeguard His Father’s house. He continues to teach the people in the Temple. All the while, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people object and earnestly try to find a way to destroy Him. And yet, they could not do it, because all the people hung on Jesus’ words.
