March 3, 2015
Scripture Reading:
John 2:13-22
John 2:13-22
13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[a]
18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”
19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
20 They
replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going
to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body.
22 After he was raised
from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the
scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
Message:
In this scripture we can clearly see that Jesus is upset at the money exchangers and merchants in the temple. He even drives them out, knocking over tables in the process. Jesus has seen people acting unjustly before, and at times responds calmly with proverbs. Why was this time so different?
Message:
In this scripture we can clearly see that Jesus is upset at the money exchangers and merchants in the temple. He even drives them out, knocking over tables in the process. Jesus has seen people acting unjustly before, and at times responds calmly with proverbs. Why was this time so different?
To be honest, I sometimes have a hard time picturing Jesus
as being so angry. In so much of the New Testament we see him bringing people
to an understanding through calm teaching… Once by simply saying “If any one of
you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7).
They were about to stone a women and he remains calm… why is he so upset now?
This is His Father’s holy temple. The money changers, and
merchants are not acting fairly, and charging a large amount to change money,
and greatly increasing the price that merchandize would normally be. People who
wanted to buy animals to sacrifice had to pay a great price… and they had an additional price on top of that when they went to
exchange money. These merchants were taking advantage of people who were coming
to worship and honor the Lord! In Luke’s version of the story Jesus states “My
house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers” (Luke
19:46).
When people know they have a monopoly in an area they can
drive the price of their product up. People may feel like they are being taken
advantage of. Jesus was so upset in this instance because the merchants were
taking advantage of people who were seeking out God in His temple. This
scripture reminds me of how human Jesus is. It also shows us how much he cares
about those who seek to serve and know His Father.
Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for sending Jesus us down to teach us about love, and treating each other fairly. Make our actions just, and let us seek to know and serve You all of our days. Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
Closing Hymn
424 Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh424.sht
May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.
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