John 2: 13-25 - Rage and Discipline
John 2: 13-25 - Rage and Discipline
So, Jesus just completed his first public miracle by turning water into wine at a wedding, the scriptures tell us his disciples believed in him...and then he retreated down to Capernaum with his mother, brothers, and disciples for a few days.
A few little observations quickly before we dive into Jesus going into beast mode. We read Jesus went up to Jerusalem, or down to Capernaum. Check out this map.
In our opening scripture today;
“When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. - John 2:13 NIV
This journey “up” that was actually south is 126km, or 78miles. Jesus was not in a Tesla or GWagon. We are talking 4-5 days of a journey walking. Again, it’s easy to read these verses and just move right along, but I am doing my best to slow down and remove some layers and just see what happens.
We could also imagine that since it was Jewish Passover, this would not look like Disney during COVID. The environment would have been bustling and crowded. Maybe the best visual for this would be a regular day in the Disney part. We are talking a lot of people in the temple courts on this scene.
A little background on this money changing and selling of animals.
“When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts, he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.” - John 2:13-14 NIV
The easiest way to think about this was an opportunistic business. Jews would have to pay a temple tax in the proper currency, so in this court, you would have money changers that would mark up the currency conversion making a ton of money, basically robbing the people coming in. The cattle and animals were in the court, making it convenient for the people to just purchase their sacrificial animals on the spot...again, an opportunistic business venture that was taking advantage of the temple and the situation. Massive deception, abuse, and illegal activities would happen lending this to be called a “den of robbers” (Isa, Jer, Mark). So, this is was Jesus walk into after a long journey to Jerusalem.
Next, we see Jesus going into beast mode. I love this visual and am totally fascinated by it.
“So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, 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! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”” - John 2:15-17 NIV
Wow! Meek, loving, peaceful, kind Jesus is in a sea of people and small business ventures and is totally destroying these people's scammy business ventures. Do you think they liked this? NO!?! Do you think Jesus was outmanned? YES! But look, Jesus is turning over tables, scattering the coins off tables and driving them all out of the temple courts...with a whip! Holy smokes...
For the longest time, I imagined this as an instant reaction, Jesus just losing his mind (that obviously wouldn't happen since He is God), but I read this an emotional response. But, today, I see something a bit different. So he made a whip out of cords. This action from Jesus took time. This means that Jesus didn’t just react, Jesus put a plan together. Jesus had time to process, to think, and create this whip of cords.
There is so much in the following verses we could dive into, but my takeaway is this new discovery. Emotional self-control. Jesus was enraged when we saw what was happening in the temple courts, but he did not react emotionally without pause and processing. We also know that Jesus did not sin, so this reaction, this great beast mode explosion was not sinning. Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market! Jesus stood up for the temple, the place of worship, his father's house, and defended it. But he did it was precision and planning. This was not an emotional outrage moment; this was planned and navigated with precision as he was making this whip.
I see things regularly that really irritate and enrage me. I am encouraged by Jesus' actions that there are some things that are worthing to lose it, and express that righteous anger. But, a lack of emotional self-control is not acceptable.
“Passion for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” - Psalms 69:9 NLT
Things of God, a passion for His house is something worthy and honorable. But in all ways, we must bring the fruits of the Spirit with us, and we must have self-control, be disciplined with our emotions at all times.
Not was I was expecting out of my time in John this morning. Thank you, Jesus!