The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
John 2:13-17 ESV
I often talk about not only learning the words of Jesus but also imitating his ways. You see, while the word, “Christian” is used in the New Testament three times, the word (or its derivative) Disciple (follower) is used over two hundred times. Two- hundred (more depending on variations on the word and its often-rendered, follow or follower). To be a Christian is often associated with a set of beliefs. And while you’d naturally expect beliefs to shape behavior, we all know how easy it is to know something, and do precisely nothing about it.
However, whether or not someone follows another can be observed. Following, or being discipled by someone implies that that person is influencing how you behave. If I follow you around and imitate you, it will be obvious how successful or unsuccessful I am by simply watching what I do and comparing it to what the person I’m following does.
Being labeled a disciple of Jesus is far more important in this sense of the word, than being labeled a Christian. We really want to be sure that we are not only learning to believe what Jesus believed, but in terms of our actual impact on the world around us, we want most of all to grow in our ability to imitate his ways. In other words, what we say is far less important than what we do. Words and ways both matter. But it’s the fruit of our ways, not so, much our sincerely held beliefs, that will convince others that our faith is real.
Which brings me to the text from John 2.
Anytime I mention Jesus being about peace and love, someone in the crowd will inevitably mention this text as an exception. This, they often say, is evidence that sometimes you just gotta get violent to get your point across.
Interesting.
Contained in the body of a thirty-something Jewish man named Jesus, was the totality of the God of the Universe. And HIS temple was being desecrated! The court where the money changers and others were set up was the Court of the Gentiles. The space reserved especially for those outside of the Jewish faith to nevertheless have a space, a way, to approach God had been taken over by dishonest businessmen. In Isaiah 49, God shares with Israel that their ultimate mission was to be a light to the Gentiles. In other words, to bring Good News to all people. All the nations were intended to partake in God’s life by means of the people of Israel. And the one space in the temple complex where those who were not Jewish could safely gather had been overrun by profiteers and scam artists.
So yes, he probably raised his voice. He definitely flipped over some tables and created some chaos. He most likely caused some money to get lost. Profits suffered that day. And what else? That’s about it. he would have been justified in leveling the temple, the city and everyone in it. Instead, we get a raised voice (mean words) and some flipped over tables and lost profits.
There is not a shred of evidence that any person got hurt (except for the mean words and emotional distress of lost business). The way of Jesus matters. Our imitation of those ways is key to our future as a church. Our own lives will be the best advertisement for Jesus. The impact we have as we embody the way of Jesus will speak volumes to those who have not chosen to participate in church (yet). And if we decide instead to become leaners of Jesus, not merely parroting doctrine but demonstrating his ways, we will have meaning and purpose for the rest of our days.
So, let’s flip over some tables!
Pastor Mark
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