To today's North American males, men in the Bible are a riddle: tough as nails yet capable of deep feelings. Jonathan's raid on the Philistines' cliff-top outpost (1 Samuel 14:1-23) would fit a Mel Gibson film script. But he related to David, another warrior, tenderly (1 Samuel 18:1-4; 20:41-42). Nehemiah was in-your-face confrontational (Nehemiah 13:7-28). But he was catapulted into his rebuilding campaign by a cry-fest (Nehemiah 1:1-4). We see this same combination in Jesus in these paragraphs.

1. Luke's description of Jesus' temple rampage (v. 45) is bare bones. Describe the scene as you imagine it. (Or check John's fuller account [2:13-17] of an earlier similar incident).



2. What does this single-handed exploit tell you about Jesus' forceful personality and masculine strength?



3. In verse 41, what has Jesus, still riding a donkey, just experienced (vv. 36-40)?



4. Why do you think this emotional high point was followed so quickly by a low point?



5. Do you think most modern men are as emotionally well-rounded as Christ was when on earth?

Ask God to make you a whole man, unrestricted by cultural hang-ups.

⁴¹But as they came closer to Jerusalem and Jesus saw the city ahead, he began to cry. ⁴²"I wish that even today you would find the way of peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from you.

⁴³Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you. ⁴⁴They will crush you to the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you have rejected the opportunity God offered you."

⁴⁵Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the merchants from their stalls. ⁴⁶He told them, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be a place of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves."

Prayer for the Week

Thank You, Lord, for making me a complete person. Help me to embrace every part of my makeup that You created.

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