Road to Easter | Road to the Temple | Pastor Jamie Kemp

Read:  Luke 19:45-48

The Road to Easter is not just something Jesus walked, it’s a road He invites us to walk.  

As Jesus enters Jerusalem… crowds are cheering… expectations are high… they are ready to crown Him king!  But instead of going to the palace… He goes to the Temple.  The center of worship.  The place where people are supposed to meet with God.

And what does He find?  Compromise and corruption.

On the Road to Easter, Jesus makes a stop at the Temple to remind us of a vital truth:  Before resurrection, there’s repentance.

1. Repentance is an invitation
Just as Jesus cleared the Temple of merchants and money exchangers, He seeks to clear the clutter of sin and distraction in our lives.  Repentance is not a punishment but a gracious invitation to make room for God’s presence.

2.  A Call to Refocus

Jesus corrected the Temple from being a place of profit back to a “house of prayer.”  The challenge is to move from just attendance (being present) to attention (being intentionally focused on God).

3.  A Faithful Return

Despite the tension and mess, Jesus returned to the Temple daily to teach.  This serves as a remind that Jesus does not give up on us when we’re broken and a mess.  He continues to pursue us and invites us to return to Him.

First Corinthians 6:19 tells us that our bodies are now the Temple of the Holy Spirit, the very presence of God now lives inside of us.  With that in mind, the cleansing Jesus started in Jerusalem continues in our hearts today.

5 Discussion Questions for Young Adults

1. Can you identify a time in your life when you realized you had “drifted” spiritually  What were the “distractions” that led you off course?
2. The Temple system began as a convenience for travelers but turned into a compromise.  How do we sometimes choose “comfortable worship” over “sacrificial worship” in our busy schedules?
3. We often view repentance as a “punishment,” but it’s an “ invitation.”  How does changing your perspective of repentance from “getting in trouble” to “making room for God” change your desire to do it?
4. It’s easy to be physically present at church or small group while being mentally (or even spiritually) absent.  What is one practical way you can shift your focus from just “showing up” to giving God your full “attention” this week?
5. Since our bodies are now the Temple of the Holy Spirit, we carry the Lord’s presence wherever we go.  How does this reality change the way you view your work, your relationships, or the way you treat yourself?