Jesus Cleanses the Temple of Injustices
Taken from a Red Rock News Article (March 1, 2024)
Rev. Dona Johnson | March 3, 2024
For many people, including many Christians, their image and perception of Jesus is one of meekness, gentleness and passive humility. And that is a true picture of him. Jesus’ heart was filled with mercy and compassion for people. But many people forget to recognize the assertive side of Jesus. For like any leader, it was his assertiveness that allowed him to live his life in total agreement—congruence with his faith. Jesus spoke with a serious truthfulness— people’s salvation was at stake. His obedience was unmatched and assertively flawless. And he desired in the worst way that people live with a zeal and a zest for God.
Being assertive means sometimes having to admonish people but also being clear and kind with one’s message. Many of us who are risk avoidant when it comes to confronting others in church, business and family, see assertiveness as aggressive behavior. We often fear our admonishment won’t be received well, it might escalate the situation and or we might be disliked. Many of us due to our own shame and guilt feel unworthy because of our own sins to confront others of theirs. Some people confuse accountability with judging others but the two are worlds apart. The downside of our reluctance to address issues not only perpetuates unhealthy behavior but fractures our Christian witness and leads people away from Jesus rather than bring them closer. Truthfully addressing inappropriate behavior should not be done to provoke discord but
instead is meant to cleanse, restore and nurture a zeal and a zest for God. No family and its members or a faith community is perfect and all of us at one time or another needs to be counseled and shown correctives.
Jesus knew that the early church (the temple) in his day had turned corrupt. Its leaders weren’t above bribing witnesses, plotting murders or charging exorbitant prices on the sale of animals for sacrifice. The spiritual welfare of God’s people was at stake and being sadly ignored. He saw the people whom he dearly loved being exploited and led astray. Some leaders turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to these infractions. Thus, leading people away from God and toward an empty institution of rules, regulations and self-serving agendas.
In John 2:13-22, Jesus walks into the temple and flies into a righteous rage: throwing furniture, wielding a whip, driving out the moneychangers and merchants. A fire in his belly and a jealous gleam in his eyes. Have you ever stopped to wonder why Jesus was so angry? His spiritual heart immediately quickened and he admonished the sin of the money changers. A deep injustice was being executed. Jesus’ assertive words and actions towards the Pharisees was meant to penetrate their hardened hearts and spoke volumes to the religious powers that be. Maybe the Temple was starting to look like just any old Jerusalem flea market. Maybe the worldly influence and the ever-expanding emporium of the moneychangers was casting a dark shadow on worship and God’s house. Maybe Jesus was trying to shake things up so the church could remember its radical mission to be in the world but not of its values and practices.
Each of us must ask God to cleanse our witness, our worship, and our relationships— again and again—in the same way Jesus cleansed the temple. Oh that we would ask him to turn over the tables in our hearts, churches, and organizations, sanctifying our motives so that our deepest longing would be to worship him. What tables would Jesus turn over in today’s churches? Amen.