Online Sermons
The 3rd Sunday in Lent: March 15, the Rev. Mark Eccles
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Jesus as depicted in today’s Gospel lesson is not the way I usually think of him. I think of Jesus walking on water, raising the dead, coming to the defense of the woman caught in adultery. I think of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the peacemakers.” I think of Jesus’ command to love our enemies, to turn the other cheek, to put others before ourselves. This is how I usually think of Jesus.
But our Gospel lesson this morning shows Jesus as angry, using a whip, overturning tables, throwing money on the floor, and letting the merchants have it in no uncertain terms – sort of Chuck Norris style. How do we react to this reading? One way could be to just not think about it – just let it go because it doesn’t seem to fit into our everyday image of Jesus. The other way could be to assume that this story is important and to look closely to see what it may mean to you and me today – this is what I’d ask us to try this morning.
The account of Jesus cleansing the Temple is found in all four Gospels. But, there is one big difference. Matthew, Mark and Luke include this account at the end of their Gospels, a challenge to the religious leaders in the final week of his ministry. But, John places this account at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, immediately after the wedding feast at Cana. By doing this, John is telling us something important about Jesus.
William Barclay writes, “We must always remember that John, as someone has said, is more interested in the truth than in the facts. He is not interested in writing a chronological biography of Jesus but supremely interested in showing Jesus as the son of God and the Messiah.” John’s placement of this story tells us right away who Jesus is, the Son of God and the Messiah. John sees the cleansing of the temple as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesies of the Messiah, so he shows Jesus acting as God’s Messiah must act. Here and throughout the Gospel of John we see Jesus as God among us.
Something else to think about too is the whole idea of Jesus’ anger. We believe that Jesus was both totally human and totally divine. Anger is a human emotion, so certainly Jesus experienced anger just as you and I do. It’s good to always remember that there is nothing wrong with anger; anger in itself is not sinful; but what we do with our anger can be sinful if it becomes unhealthy and hurts others or ourselves – you and I struggle with this as part of our human condition. But Jesus was not someone with an anger management problem or out to hurt anyone. His was a righteous anger motivated out of love for the people and their place of worship.
I think about God’s expression of anger in the Bible. We certainly see it, especially in the Old Testament. One commentary says the following:
In the Hebrew Scriptures in particular, the anger of God is represented more than
the anger of the people of God. This is not an habitual anger – God is not a
cosmic sorehead – but it is expressed as part of the emotional life of the Lord
God. It is shown to flow from God’s Covenant love for Israel – the way anger
would well up within anyone seeing a sick child refused at a hospital because he
or she didn’t have insurance. (Synthesis, March 15, 2009)Some of God’s Old Testament prophets physically acted out God’s message; in John’s Gospel it is as if Jesus acts out God’s message to the people. Perhaps Jesus’ love and anger here are indistinguishable. Jesus took action against what he knew was wrong, and at the same time his actions reflected love and care for God’s people.
Still, we can ask, what specifically is Jesus’ anger aimed at? Remember that Jesus is in Jerusalem to observe the Passover. It was obligatory for every adult male Jew who lived within fifteen miles of Jerusalem to attend the Passover feast. Also, it was the dream and goal of all Jews, regardless of where in the world they lived, to attend the Passover in Jerusalem at least once. Thousands could be in Jerusalem at this time.
Once a man arrived for the Passover it was necessary to pay a Temple tax, one half-shekel, which was the equivalent of about two day’s wages, and the tax had to be paid in Palestinian shekels. Money changers would exchange other currencies for the half-shekel needed to pay the tax. However, they would charge a commission and also add other charges depending on the value of the currency being exchanged. On just one transaction a money changer could make the equivalent of a whole day’s wage.
In the Temple there were also sellers of oxen, sheep and doves. Worshippers would want to offer the appropriate sacrifice, so animals were available for purchase. But Temple-appointed inspectors would examine the victims to be offered. They charged a fee for this, and if the animal came from outside the temple, the inspectors would likely reject it and the worshiper would then have to purchase another at an exorbitant price. All of this was tantamount to robbery and extortion.
Besides understanding what was going on here, it’s helpful to understand where in the Temple area all this was happening. The Temple area was divided into a series of four courts, leading eventually to the Holy Place in the Temple. All the commotion and uproar of the buying and selling took place in the outermost court, called the Court of the Gentiles, where non-Jewish believers were required to worship. This was a sad welcome to those who journeyed to the Temple to pray and worship. In Mark’s Gospel parallel to our lesson today Jesus quote’s Isaiah, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” Sadly, “the nations of the world” found the Court of the Gentiles to be a corrupt, disorderly house of prayer - a stumbling block to exercising their faith. All of this Jesus must have found outrageous and unacceptable.
With this background in mind, how might we apply the Gospel to our lives today? One possibility could be to ask, as Jesus overturned tables in temple is there anything in our lives that needs to be overturned, or changed? Is there is anything God would want us to stop; anything God would want us to begin? Is there a dusty Bible at home that needs to be opened? Any unsaid prayers that need to be spoken? Any habits needing to be broken, any resentment needing to be let go of, any forgiveness needing to be offered, or received? Is there any empty place in your heart that only Jesus can fill - have you asked him to help you with this? I assure you, he will.Another possibility: Jesus saw injustice and people being taken advantage of, and had the courage to act against this, regardless of what others might think. In the Temple he did what was right; he didn’t care about being popular or “politically correct.” This was Jesus’ pattern of life: He spoke for those who could not speak for themselves, he befriended those who were friendless, he embraced sinners, he regarded with dignity those who society despised, he brought healing to the sick, and he forgave those who did not deserve it. As his followers, you and I must do the same.
Another thought comes to mind from today’s lesson. That has to do with what Church is all about. Jesus told the Jews, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews, of course, did not get it. And they did not know at the time the Temple was only temporary – it would be destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. But Jesus knew what was eternal – the love of God which he would show the world by dying on the cross and being raised from the dead.
So the Church is not about beautiful buildings and structures. Our modern-day “Temples,” if you will. These are good and helpful and necessary, but they are not the church – you and I are the Church, all believers in Jesus Christ are the Church. St. Paul said in our second reading that we “proclaim Christ Crucified.” That is what you and I, as the Church, are to be about - proclaiming the resurrected Christ, by what we say and what we do. Telling others about Jesus and following in Jesus’ steps - that’s what the Church is about.
One final thought to share - In the Temple Jesus acted against the burdens placed on those who came to worship. Today, Jesus is still in the burden-lifting business. As Jesus said: ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30). As we leave this place today may our burdens be lifted and may we have new hope for new days ahead.
May God’s blessing and peace be with you today and always. Amen.