Tuesday, April 03, 2012
The last week is
Jesus’ life is filled with many events. From his triumphal entry into Jerusalem
to his triumph over death, this last week in the life of our Lord is
instructive and inspiring. This week, I
hope you will take a few minutes and meditate on each day and what it means to
you.
From Matthew 21:
12-17:
12 Jesus entered the
temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned
the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be
called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’” 14
The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15
But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things
he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of
David,” they were indignant. 16 “Do you hear what these children are
saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of
children and infants
you have ordained praise’?” 17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night
you have ordained praise’?” 17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night
This
was the second time Jesus had cleansed the Temple. He did it at the beginning
of his ministry (John 2:14-16) and now three years later he’s doing it again. I
suppose some people never learn. Jesus
regarded both the buyer and the seller guilty of desecrating the Temple. They
turned the court of the Gentiles into a place where foreign Jews could exchange money and
purchase sacrifices.
It began as a service and convenience for visitors. But it turned into a lucrative business. What
began as an opportunity for foreigners to enter the Temple and learn from
Israel about the true God, ended up turning many away because of the
extravagant cost
involved in coming to God. I’ve met some people who have been “turned off” by
what they feel is the church’s continual focus on money. Jesus was irate because what should have been
a house of prayer had been turned into a “den of robbers.” A den is where robbers would hide. Jesus found robbers hiding out in the Temple
(that’s a sermon).
What
should the house of God be?
1) A
place for prayer – Besides Jesus calling God’s house a place of prayer, Paul
writes this: “I urge you then, first of all, that requests, prayers,
intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in
authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet live in all godliness and
holiness” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).
2) A
place where people are helped – “the blind and lame came to him at the Temple,
and he healed them.”
3) A
place where praise is heard – children were shouting and praising God in the
Temple.
Would
Jesus turn any tables over in our church?
For
personal reflection: Since our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1
Corinthians 6:19), would Jesus be turning over
in tables in our life today?
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