"Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. He was teaching and saying, ‘Is it not written,
“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations”?
But you have made it a den of robbers.’
And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching."
“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations”?
But you have made it a den of robbers.’
And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching."
The turning over of the tables of the money lenders was only the first of a week of conflicts in the temple. That was Monday. On each of the next few days Jesus returned to the temple to teach and conflict followed. The headings in the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible list one conflict after the another: "Jesus' Authority Is Questioned" by the chief priests. He tells them "The Parable of the Wicked Tenants." The Pharisees and the Herodians ask "The Question about Paying Taxes." The Sadducees ask "The Question about Resurrection." One of the scribes asks him about "The First Commandment." Jesus answers "The Question about (the Messiah being) David's Son." "Jesus Denounces the Scribes" for exploiting the poor. Jesus praises "The Widow's Offering." Finally, "The Destruction of the Temple is Foretold" and the plot to arrest Jesus by stealth becomes the primary goal of his detractors.
This is no "gentle Jesus meek and mild" of the saccharin paintings and poems. This Jesus is a physically imposing, working class man taking the part of the poor and oppressed with lighting wit and rabbinic wisdom. And yet, he already must know that this is a contest he cannot win by strength or wit or sheer rightness of his cause. The deck is stacked against him by the respected, the wealthy and the powerful. The courage it takes to continue the fight, on his own terms, returning good for evil, love for hate, healing for violence, is beyond human understanding. It is only possible with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the constant voice which tells him, "You are my beloved in whom I am well pleased. Love my people as I have loved you."
The time will come, just as it does for all of us, when he can no longer hear that voice. The test of character will come, just as it does for all of us, when he has to continue through the valley of shadow of death where sight fails and faith alone can guide. Pray that we might remain as faithful to him as he was to us.
The time will come, just as it does for all of us, when he can no longer hear that voice. The test of character will come, just as it does for all of us, when he has to continue through the valley of shadow of death where sight fails and faith alone can guide. Pray that we might remain as faithful to him as he was to us.
