Reflect
This story often stirs, inspires, and disturbs the converted. Jesus was and is capable of decisive and controversial action. Put simply, the very normal and legitimate practice of currency exchange and selling animals to enable people to make lawful sacrifices had been corrupted until the letter of the law was largely being fulfilled while the heart of the law and intention for the temple was overlooked. The place of encounter between God and His people (specifically the Gentile outsiders who were to pray in that part of the temple) had been scandalously commercialized and ritualized. So Jesus, God Himself on a mission to seek and save the lost, started kicking over tables and chasing animals (and maybe people) with a whip. This story begs us to consider where tradition and “normal cultural practices” are actually getting in the way of what God wants to do in our midst. It begs us to set aside any ideas about Jesus as just another nice guy and invites us to come to terms with the violent passion of the cosmic God who hates sin in all its forms (including sin dressed in religious clothing), and who desperately wants us to walk with Him. Let us remember the irony that the religious were the ones most opposed to Jesus. May God give us humility and sensitivity to His Spirit that we might walk faithfully with Him and be a community renewed according to His heart and kingdom vision.
Tim Pippus
Pray
- Pray for Aaron Cranton – Old Scona Street Outreach ministry. The mandate of Old Scona Street Outreach is to journey alongside homeless and marginalized neighbours in Old Strathcona, and in the Spirit of Christ, provide: physical, spiritual, mental and relational support through partnerships with community organizations.