To be fully HUMAN — A Daily Reflection

 

"It is written, ‘And My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a robbers’ den."  Luke 19:46 NIV

Already in Jerusalem for Passover week, Jesus went to the temple. There he found not a place of worship, but a marketplace where vendors were selling animals for sacrifice.  Try to imagine the scene where chaos reigned in this dusty, noisy outer courtyard of the house of God.  The image was probably quite similar to those crowded street markets that exist in many areas of the world even today. Or it might be like a carnival, without the neon lights, but with the cacophony of the vendors hawking their wares and the bustling crowd… each person trying to make sure that he got the animal he needed for his Passover sacrifice.  Imagine now how our Lord felt when confronted with this bedlam.  This was supposed to be the house of God, a place of meditation and prayer, a place of worship.  After His triumphal entry into Jerusalem , this is what confronted Him right before His final Passover feast.

The situation infuriated Him.  Rather than the courtyard where people could meditate, learn and worship, as was intended, these people had turned it into a marketplace.  The bedlam caused by all the buying, selling and money changing that was going on prevented those who were there to worship from being able to focus on their worship.  These vendors were making a mockery of God’s house.

Did Jesus gently ask them all to quiet down, or to leave?  Oh, no…!  He drove them out of the Temple !  He wasn’t mildly irritated.  He was ANGRY!  Apparently, this was the second time this situation occurred, because a similar situation is described in John 2:13-16, which occurred early in His ministry.  On that occasion, Jesus made a WHIP and used it to drive the vendors out of the temple courtyard!

Does this mean that you and I have the right to use force to correct those things we see as going against God’s will?  Should we all grab a whip and start beating anyone who’s making a mockery of Jesus?

No.  Period.  No exceptions.  But, some might say, if we’re to be like Jesus, then we should emulate Him in all things – and thereby try to justify violence committed in the name of God.  Again, the answer is NO.  Period.  No exceptions.

Why?  Because you and I don’t have the authority to do what Jesus did in this instance, just as you and I don’t have the authority to forgive sins and send someone to heaven.  We don’t have the authority to be crucified and resurrected on the third day in sacrifice for the sins of others.  We are not God Incarnate.  But Jesus is.  And on this day, He was acting with the full authority of God as God Incarnate in His own house.  That’s something that you and I cannot do – now or ever.

If you find you’re filled with anger that is righteous, that’s good… because the things of God have become so important to you that when they’re demeaned or destroyed, you are angered.  But when you’re filled with this righteous anger, STOP.  Talk to the Lord and ask HIM how to use it.  Don’t let your anger cause you to be a part of the mockery of His name.  Instead, listen to His guidance, and let Him be glorified through you – even in your anger.