Day 16 – The Temple Courts: Jesus Makes a Ruckus

“He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of money changers and overturned their tables” (John 2:15)

There is a time when the only thing you can do is clean house.

That is exactly what Jesus decided to do. He decided to clean His Father’s house.

Passover in Jerusalem was a buzzy time for the Jewish pilgrims who came to town for their feast. Supported by the High Priests, the local merchants decided it was time to put profit before worship. So, they set up stalls near the temple where they changed exorbitant rates for the animals that were being offered for sacrifice.

The money changers inflated the exchange rate for temple currency in order to gouge the poor pilgrims who had no other option if they wanted to worship at the temple. Jesus cleansed the temple because its leaders were both corrupt and greedy. The priests made money off the backs of the poor people who had no other option. The house of prayer had been turned into a loud money-grubbing side show.

Jesus hated that.

He hated the businessmen who took advantage of the poor. He hated the priests who were in on the shake down. He hated those who acted justly while claiming to worship the God of justice. Jesus despised what these profiteers were doing. Injustice is always wrong, but injustice in the Name of Jesus is doubly evil. Jesus would not stand for it.

Dr. Martin L. King said, “without justice, there can be no peace. He who passively accepts evil is as much involved as he who helps to perpetrate it.” Great words to ponder as we journey with Jesus toward the cross.

Are we (you) a bystander as life passes by?

Or will we care enough in Jesus’ Name to get involved?

Thank you, Lord for forgiving us for being more concerned about ourselves and so neglectful of the hurting and the poor. Please open our eyes to see, our voices to speak, and our hearts to act. Amen.