Lent Day 4 : Cleansing the Temple (John 2:14-16)
Lent Day 4
Cleansing the Temple
(John 2:14-16)
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!"
◇ Upon arriving in Jerusalem, Jesus first sought out the temple. As he had gone to observe Passover, it was natural for him to visit the temple first. Jesus, who was to become the sacrificial lamb to save humanity, went to the temple to commemorate Passover, which celebrates the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. It seems he might have felt a mix of expectation, hope, and fear about the suffering to come. These emotions likely made Jesus' heart more sensitive, sharp, earnest, and genuine in his devotion to God.
Filled with such feelings, Jesus became angry as soon as he entered the temple. He was outraged at those selling animals for sacrifice, exchanging money for the temple tax, and selling doves, flipping their tables and driving out all the animals and people. Jesus declared, "Stop turning my Father's house into a market!" The Synoptic Gospels express this slightly differently, quoting Isaiah (56:7) and Jeremiah (7:11), saying, "My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it 'a den of robbers.'"
The temple is a place to pray to God, to pour out one's heart, to seek God's will, to listen for God's response, and to communicate with God. That's why Jesus went straight to the temple upon entering Jerusalem—to pray, to open his heart, to seek God's will, to listen for a response, and to communicate with God! Jesus wanted the temple to be a house of prayer, not a marketplace. He desired the temple to be a place where everyone could meet with God earnestly and sincerely.
Paul tells us that we are the temple. "Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?" (1 Corinthians 3:16) Paul clearly reveals to us what Jesus desires: that we should not only keep the temple (the church) clean as a house of prayer but also keep our inner selves clean as a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit.
God, please restore the church you established. Redeem us, whom you bought with your blood. Let each member of the church work together to fulfill your will. Make us, where your Spirit dwells, even more pure. Holy Spirit, lead us in truth!
Cleansing the Temple
(John 2:14-16)
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!"
◇ Upon arriving in Jerusalem, Jesus first sought out the temple. As he had gone to observe Passover, it was natural for him to visit the temple first. Jesus, who was to become the sacrificial lamb to save humanity, went to the temple to commemorate Passover, which celebrates the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. It seems he might have felt a mix of expectation, hope, and fear about the suffering to come. These emotions likely made Jesus' heart more sensitive, sharp, earnest, and genuine in his devotion to God.
Filled with such feelings, Jesus became angry as soon as he entered the temple. He was outraged at those selling animals for sacrifice, exchanging money for the temple tax, and selling doves, flipping their tables and driving out all the animals and people. Jesus declared, "Stop turning my Father's house into a market!" The Synoptic Gospels express this slightly differently, quoting Isaiah (56:7) and Jeremiah (7:11), saying, "My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it 'a den of robbers.'"
The temple is a place to pray to God, to pour out one's heart, to seek God's will, to listen for God's response, and to communicate with God. That's why Jesus went straight to the temple upon entering Jerusalem—to pray, to open his heart, to seek God's will, to listen for a response, and to communicate with God! Jesus wanted the temple to be a house of prayer, not a marketplace. He desired the temple to be a place where everyone could meet with God earnestly and sincerely.
Paul tells us that we are the temple. "Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?" (1 Corinthians 3:16) Paul clearly reveals to us what Jesus desires: that we should not only keep the temple (the church) clean as a house of prayer but also keep our inner selves clean as a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit.
God, please restore the church you established. Redeem us, whom you bought with your blood. Let each member of the church work together to fulfill your will. Make us, where your Spirit dwells, even more pure. Holy Spirit, lead us in truth!