My children are running back and forth in the living room, laughing loudly and full of joy. But suddenly the little coffee table tips over and the coloured pencils scatter everywhere. When I saw the chaos, a story from the Bible suddenly came to mind.

On the second day of the Holy Week, Jesus continues his journey with the disciples through Jerusalem. He enters the temple, the place where the Israelites worship God and make sacrifices to him. But instead of people standing in awe of God, he encounters many who want to sell their goods and make a profit.

When Jesus sees that the temple has become a marketplace, he begins to overturn the tables and drive the merchants out of the temple.

My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.

Mark 11:17

Jesus’ mission was to cleanse people’s hearts and thus make a relationship with God possible.

Is your heart a place where God can dwell?

Applicable Bible text:  Mark 11:15-19