The Heart of Jesus
Week Thirteen
March 23, 2025
And Jesus entered the temple grounds and began to drive out those who were selling, saying to them, “It is written: ‘AND MY HOUSE WILL BE A HOUSE OF PRAYER,’ but you have made it a DEN OF ROBBERS.”
— Luke 19:45-46 (NASB)
We see the heart of Jesus in the Gospels. We see the inviting, tender, people-loving, gentle and lowly, compassionate heart of Immanuel. We also see the fiery, passionate warrior, defender of the helpless and misled; the whip-wielding, establishment offending, come to the rescue Jesus. He is the perfect hero in the ultimate story.
In this week’s scripture we find these two sides of Jesus — the confrontational warrior and the compassionate savior. The compassionate side may not be so obvious at first glance here, but it sits as the very motivation for Jesus’ clash with the money changers. Jesus is quoting a scripture from the prophet Isaiah, revealing the true purpose of the temple.
It’s important to note here that our identity is tightly swaddled in God’s purpose for us, not in our position or status or any advantage we gain from these. In fact, we must often abdicate our rights and self-assigned positions of power to be able to relish the beauty and stability of our God-appointed identity.
God’s desire is that joy would be found in his house of prayer. That’s one reason Jesus was so zealous in his anger towards the sellers. Have you ever felt the violation of having something stolen from you? There is no joy in that and there was no joy in the temple court from the ungodly transactions that were being carried out every day. The very temple that was to reveal the gracious heart of God was being used, not to facilitate joy or prayer, but to take advantage of the temple goers. This violation was in direct opposition to the Father’s desire to gather from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue true worshippers of the living God.
Jesus’ fiery heart was fueled by his deep compassion and care for those who were being prevented from knowing the joy and fellowship that was supposed to be enjoyed in his presence. His fury was against those who satisfied their selfish desires through their positions of power - those who slammed shut the door to the kingdom of heaven.
Know this, Christian: his heart is for you, to defend and rescue you from those who would come to steal, kill, and destroy. He has come that you may have life abundantly. He offers rest to all who come to him; and those who come he will not cast out in any way. So, will you come? And will you invite others? The Spirit and the bride say come. Let those who hear say, come.
As a side note, Jesus’ invitation goes out even to the money changer (consider Matthew) and the religious leaders (remember Nicodemus). The Father’s will is that all, regardless of position, high or low, would humbly come to the only hope of rescue, Jesus the Christ.
Monday
March 24, 2025
“these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”
— Isaiah 56:7 (ESV)
Jesus loosed the Sabbath for it’s true purpose: liberty to serve God and one another without burden. The Lamb of God has fulfilled the law and become for us rest, enabling us to find in God’s presence fullness of joy. The one true God who has sent Jesus to free us is the very one who gives us joy. We have come full circle here, from garden to glory; we have found the Sabbath rest.
Compare joy to happiness. What are the differences between the two and which would you rather have? Where does your joy come from?
How does it make you feel to know that God’s desire is to make you joyful? How do prayer and joy relate to one another in the context of being in God’s presence?
Tuesday
March 25, 2025
Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”
— Luke 13:14 (NIV)
One helpful way to define what something is, is to define it by what it is not. This scripture gives us plenty of help in understanding what the heart of Christ is not. It is not fearful of losing position or control — it rejoices with those who rejoice. It does not limit the meeting of a person’s needs — it is generous. It does not put protocol above people — it is considerate of others. It does not consider serving to be dreadful labor — it is joyful in giving of oneself.
Considering this model of what Jesus’ heart is not, can you identify any areas in your own heart where you could grow? Are you willing to let the Lord change those areas?
What surprises you in this scripture? How do you think Jesus responded to the synagogue leader?
Wednesday
March 26, 2025
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you."
— Mark 10:42-43a
“Not so with you.” Again, we see the antithesis of how our Lord moves and relates. And he calls us up higher in our way of living by following him. The patterns and practices of this world dictate that we use our position and power to benefit us. Jesus says, use your power and position as a diving board to jump into depths inversely proportional to your heights. That’s what he did. The King set aside his crown and abdicated his throne for a cross. Compassion, not control. Servanthood, not lordship.
What “over them” attitudes do you see in yourself? Do you ever feel superior to others? Why?
What is one way you could use your advantage or station in life to help someone else? Who could you pray for?
Thursday
March 27, 2025
And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock.
— 1 Peter 5:3 (NET)
A plaque with the title, “Pastor”, may not don your office door, but that does not exempt you from deeply loving those God has assigned to your care. Lording it over or living by example — the two of these cannot walk together in the Christian life. You’ll either lift self and demand your own way from others or humbly follow Christ and lead others by example. We are all called, in some form or manner, to share the heart of the Chief Shepherd.
Who has God given in your life for you to care for? In what ways could you love them more deeply?
Do you see the heart of Christ in this scripture? Explain. How can you live this heart out in your life?
Friday
March 28, 2025
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
— Matthew 11:28, 30 (NIV)
Jesus is saying, leave the burdens assigned to you by man and religion and learn from me and carry the burden I teach you to carry. There are two types of burdens mentioned in this scripture. The first (in the Greek) is φορτίζω (phortizo), meaning to load up with ceremony and religious ritual. The fruit? Spiritual anxiety. Its call? To perform. The second, φορτίον (phortion), is a personal, individual burden, non-transferrable and God-assigned. It’s fruit? Joy. It’s call? To love. His commands are not burdensome. Once loved, show love.
Can you explain how it is possible for a burden to be a non-burden when it comes from Jesus? How does grace relate to the second type of burden, phortion?
Have you ever experienced the first type of burden, the phortizo burden? How did it make you feel and how did you get free from it?