Lok-Kei Law: Lent Reflection Mark 11:8-18


Throughout his 3 years of ministry on earth, Jesus has performed many miracles, healed, fed preached to many people. Thus Jesus receives a glorious reception when he entered the ancient city of Jerusalem. Yet as Jesus has told his disciples many times, he knows he comes back to this city to be crucified. Imagine the city gate into Jerusalem, the busy crowd going to the Holy city to observe Passover, the horses and donkeys, the noises … and people chanting “Hosanna” when Jesus riding on his colt enters the city. Imagine the scene, and how Jesus may feel knowing in his heart the most painful death awaits him in this city.

How deep is Jesus’s love for us. In response, how is our love for Jesus?

Jesus’ love for us is too deep beyond my understanding.  I am deep in my sin and my rebellion in how I live my life.  God’s deep love also extends to brothers and sisters who place their trust in Christ.  In response, our love for Jesus falls way short of Jesus’s deep love for me.

Gospel of Mark records upon entering the busy city of Jerusalem, the first thing Jesus did was to enter God’s temple, and Jesus was absolutely angered by the all the buying and selling in the temple. Jesus called them ‘robbers’. Today in our lives have we maintained ‘worshiping God’ as the corner stone of our lives? Or have we allowed all the buying and selling, all the money and finance matters to take priority in our lives?

I read on the news church leaders who use the name of Christ for personal financial gain.  Jesus would be angered by wicked people who use Christ’s name to stumble people from enter God’s kingdom.  I reflect on our church PGC.  Is our church conducted in a manner that is a house of worship?  Is the way we use our finance facilitate the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel, growing in the love for Christ, and connecting with brothers and sisters in Christ?

Personally, have I give more thoughts to money and financial matters than to the worship of Jesus Christ?  I need to repent from the times when I have more concern over personal financial success over glory of God through disciples of Christ growing in love for Christ.  I feel that at times I am more drawn to how the basketball team is doing than how God’s churches are doing?  There are times I care more about what’s on Facebook than my devotion towards Christ.

I can imagine I was a guy who cheered Hosanna with my mouth.  But in my heart, I am still hanging on my ideal way of live that is totally within my control.  I see Jesus Christ coming in and I cheer with the others hoping that he will bless me with success and health.  When I saw that he was captured and condemned, I fled away and do not want to have anything to do with him.

Christ is worthy of my worship because He is God who is able to overcome death.  Christ knows my heart and still loves me and draws me close to him.

 


Lokkei Law