Title: Simon's Cross. (Mark 15:16-47.)
Today is Palm Sunday in the church calendar, also known as Passion Week.
If you look at Jesus' actions this week, today, the Sunday, is the day Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey. When Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem, thousands of people came out into the streets, cut down palm branches, and said, “Hosanna, the Son of David!” He welcomed Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. That's why it's called Palm Sunday. Jesus' entry into the city of Jerusalem looks like a victor's triumph, but in fact, it can be said that it was a march toward the death of the cross. Because Jesus could save all mankind only by dying on the cross, he rode a donkey and entered Jerusalem before the Passover to bear the cross.
On Monday, he was coming into Jerusalem, and he was hungry and wanted to get fruit from a fig tree standing by the roadside, but this fig tree was full of mouth and no fruit. So Jesus cursed the unfruitful tree, and the tree withered up to its roots. These words are meant to revuke our unfruitful faith.
He also cleansed the temple. It was the Passover, and many people came to the temple, so the market was filled with people who were doing business in the temple. The temple courts were full of people selling oxen and sheep used for sacrifices, people selling wine, oil, and salt, and there was no room for people to set foot in those who changed Roman currency into Jewish coins used only in the temple. So, in anger, Jesus made a whip out of cords and overturned the table, saying, “My house is a house of prayer.” and give them away