Monday After Palm Sunday: From Cheers to Confrontation
Monday After Palm Sunday: From Cheers to Confrontation
The shouts of “Hosanna!” had barely faded when Monday arrived. For many, Palm Sunday was a celebration. Jesus had entered Jerusalem on a donkey, hailed as a King by the crowds. Cloaks and palm branches lined His path, echoing royal welcome and Messianic expectation. But Jesus knew the truth: the road ahead would not lead to a throne—it would lead to a cross.
What Did Jesus Do on Monday?
The Gospels tell us that Jesus returned to Jerusalem the next day and walked straight into the temple courts. What He saw there stirred righteous anger. Merchants were buying and selling, money changers were profiting. The place meant for worship had become a marketplace.
“My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
—Matthew 21:13
Jesus cleansed the temple—flipping tables and driving out those exploiting the system. It was bold. It was disruptive. And it was dangerous. This act didn’t just upset the economy of the temple—it enraged the religious leaders, accelerating the plot to kill Him.
What Was Jesus Thinking?
Jesus wasn’t surprised by any of this. Everything He did was purposeful. He knew His time was short. The day before, He had wept over Jerusalem, mourning its spiritual blindness. On Monday, His actions were a clear declaration: worship should be pure, prayer should be central, and justice should matter in God’s house.
This wasn’t about performance or ritual—it was about the heart.
How Did the Disciples Feel?
We can only imagine the emotional rollercoaster they were riding.
Excitement: Just yesterday, they walked beside Jesus as He was praised like a king.
Confusion: Why was He confronting the very leaders they thought He would partner with?
Fear: The tension in Jerusalem was thick. Jesus was making enemies—and fast.
Conviction: Watching their Rabbi act with such boldness must have stirred something deeper. This wasn’t a political campaign. It was a holy mission.
What Does It Mean for Us?
The Monday after Palm Sunday challenges us to reflect:
Are there “tables” in our hearts that Jesus might want to flip?
Have we turned sacred spaces—or even our spiritual routines—into something self-serving?
Are we ready to follow Jesus when He confronts, not just when He comforts?
Final Thought
Palm Sunday was the beginning of the final week. But Monday? That’s when the tone changed. From cheers to confrontation. From admiration to opposition. From celebration to sacrifice.
And yet, Jesus walked forward—faithfully, courageously, purposefully.
May we do the same.