Passion Week Day #2

Day 2 Cleansing of the Temple (Mt.21; Mk.11; Lk.19).

Today Jesus returns to Jerusalem (He spends each night in Bethany). On the way He curses the fig-tree, a highly symbolic act showing that spiritual Israel was barren and unproductive. They offered the pretense of religiosity by having the leaves of true religion. But they were void of any sense of the Spirit of God because of their un-fruitfulness. He then enters the Temple and chases out the corrupt money-changers. This shows His Messianic authority (by calling the Temple “My Father's House”) and fulfills another prophecy that implies the Messiah will appear there suddenly and take possession of it. “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming.” Mal. 3:1 (NKJV). When the 12 return with Jesus to Bethany they see the withered fig-tree.