The Purge
The following Holy Week devotion provides Scriptural texts we can meditate on as a church congregation, in concert with the sermon series each week, to gain a deeper understanding of our sin, a closer look at the beauty of Christ, and the power of the Gospel that saves and redeems.
Scripture
15On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17And as he taught them, he said, “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.’” 18The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. 19When evening came, they went out of the city.
Meditate
Take a few moments to quietly reflect on this truth.
While the Jewish people made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem every year during the Passover to make sacrifices to God; because of Christ and what he accomplished for us on the cross—all we have to do is come to Him to truly worship. Christ became the ultimate sacrifice as a penalty for our sin so that we could have the access to God that we all long for. There is nothing we can do and nothing for us to do to gain this access that has been freely given to us by the grace of Jesus.
Pray
Speak this prayer, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in your heart and mind.
Lord, we thank you for Jesus and his sufficient work of dying on the cross in our place. Will you help us to join in Christ’s suffering and death so that we would also be joined to his resurrection and confidently trust that even now, we have a high priest who intercedes on our behalf every moment of our lives.
Apply
Consider specific ways you can live out this truth today.
Stop going to God for what he can give you and go to God for God. Trust in Christ; be satisfied in who He is and what He has accomplished on your behalf.
Memorize
Carry this truth with you throughout your day.
21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
