[This series of Devotions are in the format of Historical Fiction. The main facts are accurate, but the Diary is fictional.]
Text: Mark 11:12-15 (CSB) – “The next day when they went out from Bethany, he was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, he went to find out if there was anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And his disciples heard it…. They came to Jerusalem, and he went into the temple and began to throw out those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves….”
Dear Diary: After a troubled night’s sleep, I woke up this morning where we had been staying and discovered that the Rabbi had gone back towards the city of Jerusalem again. I hurriedly caught up with them, and could see that the Rabbi was hungry. He paused in his trip and went to a Fig tree, and looked all through it for something to eat. Having found no figs, he pronounced a curse upon the tree. Strange, this did not seem like something he would do. We talked for hours around the campfires that night about what he done, many speculations on why he may have done this. It seemed to be more than just hunger talking.
He entered into Jerusalem again today without the fanfare and parade of yesterday. We followed him as he went toward the Temple. He often had been found teaching and healing people around the Temple area. We thought that he was going to possibly proclaim himself the Messiah today. We have been hanging on every word he shares, and have built great expectations about what he is about to do – deliver us.
Diary, boy were we surprised when the Rabbi went to the Temple and proceeded to upset everyone. He turned over the merchants' tables, he ousted the moneychangers, he set free the livestock being sold for sacrifices, and he stopped everyone trying to come into the Temple to buy or sell merchandise. I was told that this was the second time he had done this.
My friends who have been travelling with him and myself were utterly amazed that he could do this and no one was able to stop him. What power he displayed. The crowd was astonished at his teaching, and the Scribes, Pharisees, and Chief Priests were all afraid of him. We have heard the rumors again that they are all seeking to murder him. Why? Isn’t it possible that our deliverance is right around the corner? Can’t they see that the Rabbi is the promised Messiah to free us from the shackles of Roman domination?
We have been up much of this night debating and discussing the events of today. The tension is getting thick – even in his camp. May have trouble sleeping again tonight. Wonder what tomorrow may hold?
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