Clearing The House

The people who went to the Temple to purchase and offer their sacrifices were probably so used to what they experienced that they probably didn’t even blink at being robbed by those exchanging their money or selling sacrificial animals with too high of a mark up. Like parents who simply shell out big bucks for Disneyland trips, the people in Jesus’ day just accepted the fact that “that’s the way it is.”

The sellers of money and goods probably saw their earnings as a gift from God – a blessing from helping people worship. Like vendors at airports, they likely justified their ridiculously high prices as the cost for providing service in such a confined market. They had a right to make whatever amount of money the market would give them – capitalism in the Temple Court.

The priests who oversaw the whole show were obviously okay with the status quo as well. Centuries had passed since the Temple was in operation – they were simply grateful to have their cultural center back. Besides, people were coming, sacrifices were being made – what’s the problem?

Jesus immediately recognized the problems that others couldn’t see or didn’t want to see. The Temple was to be the place that epitomized communion with God. Instead, it became a den of thieves, where helping people experience God took a back seat to the bottom line. God’s passion to have relationship with humanity overwhelmed Jesus to the breaking point. He hit the reset button that day when he overturned the tables. Nobody could figure out their profit margins. The bottom line got smudged, and for that brief moment, amidst the chaos, correction took place at the Temple.

After last week’s teaching on following the Way of Christ especially if it seems contrary to our immediate way of thinking (remember “Opposite George”), one of our longer-term members who has served in many forms of leadership over the years emailed me, and posed a question for our church to ask: What if Jesus was our pastor? How would our church be different? How would our individual lives be different if we could no longer write off the teaching as simply one man’s opinion?

Another way to think about this is this: if Jesus strolled into your life, what things would he immediately tear down because he could see how they were getting in your way of experience a life of communion with God, which is the life you’ve always wanted? As CrossWalk, what would Jesus see in our attitudes and practices that would cause him to bring out a whip? As the global Church, what would Jesus do that needs to be done that we simply can’t see because the barriers to communion have become so normalized?

As Paul did for the church in Rome, I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then, you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Clearing The House Questions…

What things in your physical life would Jesus wipe out immediately?

What things in your relational life would Jesus correct immediately?

What things in your emotional life would Jesus force you to look at?

What things in your work life would Jesus question you about?

What things in your spiritual practices would Jesus drill you on?

In general, what known attitudes or behaviors would Jesus flip over that would help you have better communion with God and thus a life that much more reflects your highest hopes and dreams?

Tip: At a minimum, actually read and think about the above before throwing this in your recycling bin. I recommend that you journal through each question, devoting as much time and space as needed. Because we are usually blind to certain aspects of our own junk, I urge you to also process these in loving community for peer support.