Refer with me to Mark 11: 1-19 that records the triumphal entry of Christ into the capital city of Jerusalem. It is also the beginning of the last week of the life of Christ before he was crucified and then resurrected.
Step-by-step there are those throughout the week they learned about welcoming Christ. In our text alone there were the disciples as the faithful few. Then there was a crowd that loved the excitement of being near a famous prophet. And at the conclusion are the enemies that are forced to make room for Christ whether they wanted to or not.
In the middle of the story becomes a very loving parable of the enemies. A tree gave the appearance of having fruit all for the hungry and was not, in fact, lying like the enemies and without anything for themselves or others. Look at those throughout this last week of Christ who found themselves welcoming him whether they wanted to or not and learn with me how that we might welcome him.
We must not think of ourselves in a grandiose manner as believers in Christ. Instead, we must accept the menial task whatever he asks of us. There is no room for selfish egotism that brings attention to the individual in the program of Christ. The faith that those two disciples demonstrated was asking for them to take the colt. They were instructed to tell the owner that the Lord needed him. Obviously, the disciples did not understand at that time what they were doing. They were just simply being obedient to Jesus.
If we are to welcome Christ into our lives, we must practice worship. When Jesus entered on Palm Sunday there was a mixed crowd of believers and nonbelievers. For those who choose to follow Christ there was the hanging obligation to do something. That something means to think of him, meditate on him, talk to him, and talk to others about him.
When Jesus went into the temple he overthrew the tables of the money changers. Their activity was to receive Roman coins and exchange them for temple coins for use in worship. In the same way, we must expect and even invite Jesus to overthrow our tables; that which we have established as part of our lives but is not pleasing to God. We might even be tempted to say to Jesus as they did those years ago, “Not my table!” When Jesus first entered the temple at the beginning of his ministry, he throughout the merchandise. Then at the end of his ministry before his crucifixion, he threw out the merchants. Look around in your life to see what needs to be thrown out, that which is hindering your further relationship with Christ.
We are invited to have a burden with Christ as he did. We are invited to hear a divine call as he did. This is to say that Christians should have their tables overturned, too. When facing Christ, sinners need to have their tables overturned of sinful thoughts, deeds, or the greatest sin that we commit that is not accepting him. Invite the Holy Spirit into your life to look around in the deepest corners for what needs to be addressed to please God. We cannot welcome Christ into our life if we are not willing for him to make changes.
Christian Writer 