Holy Monday 2012- From The Mouths Of Babes

I don't know how I have missed it. I have lost count how many times I have read the Gospels but I honestly felt like I have never seen this passage tucked just after Jesus clears the temple;

The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise'?” Matthew 21:14-16

Maybe it is the excitement of the Temple cleansing but somehow this quiet passage of Jesus spending time with those needing healing and children has always missed my attention. Seeing them side by side now I must say I initially found them odd.

At first glance there seemed to be such a distance between the two events. During the Temple cleansing Jesus was angry. He was tossing tables, scattering coins, herding livestock, and shouting scripture passage in a prophetic fervor. 

I may not be the only person how has missed this story
I could not find any pictures of Jesus with children at the temple

In this second picture we see Jesus doing what he often does. He is healing the sick, and he is spending time with children. Here Jesus is being warm, caring and compassionate. Again these two images side by side seemed initially at odds to me.

Then it hit me. Both of these stories get to the very heart of Jesus' mission. Both of these stories about about drawing outcasts closer to God. 

Jesus cleared the Temple because the presence of the merchants meant Gentiles seeking God couldn't draw near, they were blocked out. Likewise it was thought that God had little for the lame, the blind or for children. But here (and many times before) Jesus is performing an act as defying to the current religious system as clearing the Temple.

Jesus is stating God does love imperfect people. God wants imperfect people to draw near to him. 

This is a very good thing for us, since we are all imperfect people. Today during Holy Monday take some extra time to draw near to God. After all he has gone to great lengths to draw near to you.

***Please note dividing events into individual days during Holy Week is up for interpretation. I am using a time line providing by Bible Gateway.***

--- Not getting enough Holy Week blogs, you can check out last years Holy Monday's too.