As we hurry about our days on to the next thing and the next thing, we can feel an inner turmoil that never seems to rest. We have an unfinished project, a full schedule, another meeting, unanswered messages, but even if we were to catch up, there is still something that aches within us. Peace. Not just the absence of strife and conflict but wholeness. Shalom. Jesus has come, and because of this, peace is possible because God is with us.

In a season that is marked and marketed for joy, our present circumstances may not always leave us in a joyful state. So how can we count it all joy, even in our brokenness, even when this time of year re of minds us of what is missing? True joy is impossible apart from Jesus, but joy unshakeable is possible because God is with us.

The temple was meant to be a place of worship and prayer. In Jesus day, many had turned visiting the temple into something like walking through the souvenir stands at an amusement park. In this moment we see Jesus angry with those who are making it hard for others to worship, and turning their relationship with God into a consumer religion.

There are moments in all of our lives that we look back on and wish we had handled differently, said nothing, said something, or wished we could do it over again. Jesus weeps as He looks at Jerusalem and wishes people had paid attention. As we unpack this passage, we will pay attention to the opportunity before us.

Jesus enters Jerusalem and is greeted as a King. Only a short time later, He will be crucified as a criminal. His triumphal entry reminds us to pay attention to our fickle hearts and to be unhindered in our praise.

Money is something we all deal with and reveals a lot about what we value. Jesus tells a story that reminds us to lean into what we have been entrusted with and to use all we have for the glory of God and the good of others. He has given us good gifts to enjoy and use, not hoard and hide.

So often, we allow small obstacles to become our excuse for not pursuing Jesus. Changing our vantage point can change our perspective and our lives. In this passage, we learn the importance of climbing the tree, and we see Jesus' love for the lost on full display.

There are certain things in our lives that we can grow blind to. It is amazing how accustomed we can become to our wrong actions, excusing them or even denying them. In this passage, we see a man acknowledging his deep need for Jesus, and what we see is God’s mercy on display.