JANUARY 17th After this, He went down to Capernaum with His mother and brothers and His disciples. There they stayed for a few days. When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts He found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves, He said, Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Fathers house into a market. (John 2 v. 12 - 16) (i) For Jesus, this is personal - my Fathers house - and Jesus is acutely aware of the whole industry of manipulation and injustice which had grown up in the market of the temple courts - a real barrier between people and the expression of their faith in God. (ii) Jesus knew His mission was to break down those barriers, to bring heaven to earth, to make access to Father God available for all people (iii) This is a shocking act, which John places at the start of Jesus ministry, within the context of preparation for Passover (which of course will be the time when Jesus returns to Jerusalem to become the sacrificial Lamb of God) PRAYER - Lord, we see in this story Your anger over oppression, greed, dishonesty, exploitation and Your passion for justice, fairness, right-living, clear pathways to God. Lord, where we see injustice today, may our actions prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him. And may our practices and habits as Church, be cleansed and cleared, so that we cause no obstacle for all who seek to know You, and be known by You. AMEN. ACTION - Okay, what issues cause righteous anger to rise in you? Take some time to consider your response, seek Godly wisdom, and do something about it....today.
Posted on: Sat, 17 Jan 2015 07:07:41 +0000
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