The Good News

Dedicated to the good news of Jesus Christ

Vol. 1 Issue 30

The Final Conflict:

It’s a Heart Thing

Jerusalem – We have arrived at Jerusalem now. As the crowd of pilgrims traveling from Jericho reached the top of the Mount of Olives, they could see Jerusalem and the temple across the Kidron Valley, and they all started singing and shouting "Hosanna!"

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, "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.'"

The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

When evening came, they went out of the city.

The next morning they arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?"

Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John's baptism-- was it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!"

They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' But if we say, 'From men'...." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

So they answered Jesus, "We don't know."

Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." (Mark 11:15-19, 27-33, 12:28-33 NIV)

Jesus has been telling his disciples that he will be killed in Jerusalem. It seems very likely he could be right. He wants all nations to come into the temple, but the leaders are interested in protecting their piece of the rock. Not all of the leaders though. While many are bent on conflict, others hear a message of God centered love and praise. I guess it really is a heart thing.

Page Two

Cleaning House by Tim Woodroof and Glen Gray

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