Holy Week - Journey to the Ultimate Overcomer: Holy Monday

By Shelsea Becker

Holy Monday. Purple. Royalty. Reverence. Realignment

Jesus had just entered Jerusalem and was received like a King, and honestly, it makes sense. People from all over had already heard about Him. His reputation had spread, and not just any story, the miracle of Lazarus being raised from the dead. That kind of news travels fast. This man can defeat death. So when He rode in, they responded. They welcomed Him. They celebrated Him.

But then something shifts.

Jesus enters the temple complex, and we see an emotion rise in Him that feels different. Many call it anger, and yes, there is a righteous fire there, but I believe it runs deeper. It’s grief. It’s sorrow. The kind of sorrow a parent feels when they watch their children hurt each other. Because that’s what was happening. The people had traveled far, some up to 100 miles, walking for days, to be there for Passover. Coming from all directions, they needed sacrifices, so they purchased animals from local vendors. And the vendors knew it. They knew the people had no other option, so they raised the prices. They took advantage. Jew to Jew. Believer to believer.

And if we’re honest, this isn’t just a Bible story. I’ve seen it in my own town. A believer raising prices, taking advantage of customers because they know they have no other choice. Sitting in church on Sunday but living differently the rest of the week. It breaks my heart. So I can only imagine how it grieves the heart of God. Taking advantage of others is not what brings Him glory.

And we can’t miss this…this wasn’t happening outside. This was happening inside the temple. Inside the very place meant to be holy. Jesus said, “It is written, My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of thieves.” So not only are we seeing deception and manipulation among God’s people, we are also seeing the misuse of sacred space.

And that makes me pause. Because what about us? What about the spaces we’ve set apart as holy today? The sanctuaries, the prayer rooms, the churches. Are we truly treating them as houses of prayer? Or are we walking in casually, treating His presence like it’s common, like just another stop in our day? Where is the reverence?

The color often associated with this day is purple, which means royalty, authority. And when you are in the presence of royalty, there is a posture. You don’t just walk up any kind of way. There is preparation, awareness, honor. You understand who they are and who you are. And if that’s how we approach earthly royalty, how much more should we approach the King of Kings?

Now hear me, God is personal. He is near. He is accessible. But that does not remove reverence. If anything, it should deepen it. Because He is not just close, He is holy. He is the highest authority, the ultimate King.

So today, Holy Monday, let it be a reset. A realignment. A moment to check our hearts, our actions, and even how we enter His presence. Do we honor Him? Do we honor each other? Do we treat what is sacred as sacred?

Because He is still the King… and His house is still meant to be a house of prayer.

Scriptures:

Matthew 21:13

Acts 2: 5-11 (regions from where the people have traveled from)

John 12:9-11

John 11