AT THE TEMPLE

”And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.“
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭14‬-‭17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

”And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.“
‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭47‬-‭48‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Jesus made a way for the people to come and worship. After cleansing the Temple of commercialism the worshipers came. They came to be taught by Jesus. They came to be healed by Jesus, and Jesus did not disappoint. He knew what was transpiring in the religious leaders minds. Jesus knew the hearts of men and He knew they were conspiring His murder. But that did not stop His compassion for the people. That is who He is. No matter what He would lead His sheep because He is their Good Shepherd. His mercy and compassion never fails. These people who came to Him at the Temple that last week had no other Shepherd. The religious leaders who were jealous and standing in the back of the crowds were like false shepherds. They had such disdain for Jesus. Hatred was rising and bringing them to a frenzy. Yet everyday Jesus entered the Temple courts and taught from mercy and compassion all the while knowing His death was imminent. But so too His rising.

”looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.“
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

And then He left the Temple to go and stay with friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Jesus needed His friends as He faced His execution.

Jesus calls us friends.

”No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.“
‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭15‬ ‭ESV‬‬