Holy Monday is Not the Average Monday

Yesterday, the streets rang with hosannas. Palm branches waved. A donkey carried a King. And yet, just one day later, the mood had already shifted. Holy Monday — the day after the triumphal entry — wasn’t about a parade. It was about purpose.

Jesus knew what was coming. The betrayal. The brutality. The crown of thorns. He could’ve walked away. He could’ve called legions of angels. But He didn’t. He chose to stay — not because He had to, but because He loved us too much not to.

That’s what makes this Monday holy.

On His way to Jerusalem that morning, Jesus stopped at a fig tree. It looked healthy from a distance — full of leaves — but it had no fruit. None. He cursed it. Not out of anger, but as a lesson. He was showing His disciples, and us, that appearances can deceive. Religious routines without spiritual fruit are empty. Life without faith doesn’t bear fruit either.

And then He walked into the temple — His Father’s house — only to find it cluttered with greed and noise. He flipped tables, drove out merchants, and declared, “My house will be called a house of prayer!” (Matthew 21:13).

Holy Monday was not quiet or cozy. It was confrontational. It was bold. It was Jesus, fully God and fully man, calling out corruption and revealing truth. The religious leaders didn’t miss the message — and they wanted Him gone.

It’s sobering to realize: what started with cheers on Sunday was met with challenge on Monday.

But oh, how the Son still shines.

This Holy Monday, let’s not dread another start to the workweek. Let’s see it for what it is — a moment to remember that Jesus stepped into conflict so we could step into grace. He flipped tables, not to condemn, but to cleanse. He cursed the fig tree, not to destroy, but to teach. He entered the temple, not to make war, but to make way for our salvation.

This was no ordinary Monday. And because of the cross, neither is ours. Soon we’ll be singing “Oh Happy Day” — well, we already are singing it. After all — we know the end of the story — AND, oh how awesome it is!