Overturned. Jesus enters Jerusalem nearing the conclusion of his earthly ministry. People had had adequate opportunity to respond to his teaching, preaching, miracles and call to discipleship. Sadly, the vast majority of people only superficially believed; there was no genuine faith. Though the crowds had outward signs of religion, there was little genuine faith. Jesus enters the city as the most popular figure since King David with a public parade of praise. Yet within days, most of those same people will be calling for his crucifixion. On the way into town, they pass a fig tree in leaf but find no fruit. Jesus cursed the tree with permanent fruitlessness – he expected fruit but found none. Once in Jerusalem, they approach the Temple – again expecting to find fruit but instead found none: “Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those selling doves…he taught them, ‘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’” (Mark 11:15-17). There should have been God-directed prayer and worship (spiritual fruitfulness) in the Temple; instead there was man-focused greed and selfishness (fruitlessness). Maybe Mark presents these experiences to help us understand what is important to God? God seeks spiritual fruitfulness of faith and obedience in our lives. When there is none, a ‘house cleaning’ is needed to remove from our lives whatever interferes with our spiritual growth. On occasion God has to powerfully ‘overturn’ issues in my heart that have become impediments to my spiritual fruitfulness. This type of house cleaning is painful, messy and effective – overturning fixtures of fear, moral compromise, greed and bitterness. But his cleansing reveals his goodness and love toward me, that I might be free to follow him. What has God ‘overturned’ in your life?

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