Unshakeable Presence in an Unsteady World
Holy Week | Day 3
It was Tuesday morning. The city still pulsed with energy from the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Jewish pilgrims filled the temple courts, voices echoing off stone walls, some still buzzing about the miracles they’d seen yesterday. Yet, throughout the city center, tension rose.
Jesus returned to the temple, fully aware of the rising hostility. The room swarmed with allies and enemies. The religious leaders—the ones in robes and fancy titles with seats of honor—were already plotting. But still, he went. He didn’t shrink back.
As Jesus taught, the chief priests and elders pushed their way forward.
“By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” (Matthew 21:23)
It wasn’t a real question. It was a trap.
Jesus knew what they were trying to do, and in true rabbi fashion, he answered with his own question. When they couldn’t respond, he didn’t back down. Instead, he began telling parables that cut straight through their religious facade—stories layered with truth, exposing their pride and blindness.
Then, with a whole crowd listening, Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “Beware of the scribes…” (Luke 20:45–47). He didn’t whisper. He didn’t water it down. He publicly called out their hypocrisy: their hunger for praise, their exploitation of the vulnerable, and their long-winded prayers designed to impress. His words weren’t just brave; they were blazing. The final fuse had been lit.
Imagine the stir. Some people froze, wide-eyed. Others whispered to their neighbors. Some rejoiced. Some conspired. And there stood Jesus—calm, resolved, still teaching in his Father’s house.
Later that day, Jesus quietly left the temple, crossed the valley with his disciples, and sat with them on the Mount of Olives. His voice lowered, his tone more somber. He gave them a glimpse of the days to come—wars, betrayals, persecutions. And then, he told them the unthinkable: in just two days, he would be crucified.
And still—he didn’t run. He didn’t withdraw. He remained unshakeable.
When everything was coming undone, Jesus stood firm. Not out of stubbornness, but out of love. Out of obedience. Out of knowing precisely who he was and what he came to do.
Maybe today, you feel like everything around you is pressing in. Like you're walking into rooms filled with tension, conversations laced with hidden motives, and circumstances far beyond your control. Maybe you're asking, “How do I stay grounded when everything around me feels shaky?”
Take heart: Jesus knows this pressure. He walked into the room—and he didn’t withdraw. He never wavered from his Father’s plan.
And here’s the comfort: Jesus didn’t endure the weight of the world so you could carry it too—he did it so you could fall into the arms of the One who holds it all.
He made a way for you to be with him. And he’s given you his Spirit—God’s own presence—to steady your steps and anchor your heart.
That same Spirit lives in you.
You don’t have to fake peace.
You don’t have to hold it all together.
You just have to stay close to the One who already carried it all.
Pray: Jesus, when everything around me feels like it’s falling apart, remind me that you are the One who never changes. You stood firm when the world turned against you—not out of force, but out of love. Teach me to stay close to you when I feel unsteady. Quiet the noise around me so I can hear your voice. Steady my heart. Anchor my thoughts. Thank you for going before me. Thank you for being with me. I commit to walk with you, step by step, even when the way ahead feels uncertain. Lend me your strength when I feel weak. Allow my life to bring you glory. Amen.