John 2:13-22
"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 Father's house into a market!' His disciples remembered that it is written: 'Zeal for your house will consume me.' Then the Jews demanded of him, 'What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?' Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.' The Jews replied, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?' But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken."THOUGHTS:
Cattle, sheep and doves were used in sacrifice to the Lord at the temple. People would bring their first fruits per the law to give to the Lord. If you didn't have an animal to provide the blood needed, you would have to purchase those and bring them. Scholars believe what was happening here is price-gouging - like going to an amusement park and having to pay $5 for water while in line for a ride. You pay because it's either pay it or get out of line and lose your place in the two hour long line. It's unethical and immoral to do such a thing. These people at the temple were behaving as business folks, making money off of people's religious beliefs and practices. One could also consider Christian bookstores who put an exorbitant price on the Gospel.
What price do we put on the Gospel? Are we withholding the Gospel in order to get something? Are you price-gouging those around us? Are we banking on the faith of others to line our pockets? I don't know that there are answers to those questions - they might look different in any given situation. I know that this piece of scripture is layered with meaning and value. It wasn't about defiling the physical temple, but about the heart. This is evident in Jesus shifting to the temple being him. There's an element of the Jewish leaders once again missing who Christ is. Are we missing it? Are we tearing him down or lifting him up? And if we are tearing him down? How so? What subtle ways are happening in our lives? Are we living in the power of the resurrection or are we living in religious protocol?There are so many questions. Questions are okay. The Text should lead us to questions - questions of it, questions of the authors, questions of G-d and ultimately questions of ourselves. And maybe will never have answers, but we should always keep asking.
ACTION:
Lord, I have questions. Help me to ask them. And help me to not be afraid of the answers.
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