Jesus, unleashed.

Jesus, unleashed. Matthew 21.12-17 

We have seen 
Jesus baptized by John in the Jordan River, 
Touching and healing more people than we can count, 
Sitting as he taught in the Temple 
Teaching from the fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee, 
Walking on the tops of waves in the wee hours of the night 
Extending his arm to Peter to get back in the boat, when his faith waned 
Gathering little children into his arms to love them 
so this scene seems totally out of character: 

“Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” Verses 12 and 13 

Jesus had just entered the city, and like the pilgrims who were in town for the Passover, made his way to the temple courts. When he got there, he was sickened by what he saw. It was not the fact that there were animals for sale for the faithful to present as sacrifice, as it was preferable to purchase them on site rather than traveling a great distance with them. It was not even the fact that money had to be exchanged—as temple money, minted in Jerusalem had to be used—but two other reasons. 

First, those conducting temple business were putting such an up charge on their goods that they were trying to profit from the worshippers at the house of God! Jesus, by himself, turns over the tables, and throws their money on the ground. What a scene! 

And here’s the thing—this is not the first time Jesus did such a thing. At the start of his ministry, recorded in John 2, Jesus cleansed the temple1. John describes Jesus braiding a whip of cords. 

The second reason for Jesus’ action was that the people had missed it. Jesus was saddened and sickened because, as he said, “My house will be called a house of prayer”! There should have been ardent prayer being offered to God in the temple, as that is the work of the Father. God told us this in Isaiah 56-- For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.2 

Hmmm. How then shall we live? 

You know, every once in a while, I am in a discussion with someone, and an important topic is raised, and bam~!!~ I realize that something very important is about to be said, and I had better be quiet and listen. This is one of those moments … time to hush, time to ask, ‘What is Jesus so angry about? What is he saying to us now, for today?’ 

The same thing. Pray. Make it your priority to pray. 
When you pray, God comes. 
When you pray, God hears. 
When you pray, you are doing the most important thing you can do. 
How many things have you missed/are you missing/have not happened because you have not taken time to pray? 

You do not have because you do not ask God, Jesus’ brother said.3 

I am amazed by how many Christians forget to pray. They are heartbroken over their child, worried over this or that, and yet, they forget to pray. So may I remind you—may I remind myself—we ought to be people of prayer! God does not command us to pray as a show of force in our lives, he tells us to pray because he has great gifts to put in our hands if we but ask him. God does not command us to pray because he is a general in an army, he tells us to pray because he longs to talk with us. Prayer is a gift from the Father … but it is also the requirement of the Father if we are to know him and see his power in our lives. 

Matthew finishes the thought, 
“The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. 

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. 
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, 
“‘From the lips of children and infants 
you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” 

And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.”4 

And I bet Jesus prayed that night. I would stake my life on that. How many things have you and I not realized because we have not prayed? May it not be so. 

Lord, teach us to pray. 
As Jesus became unleashed in the Temple, we want to see prayer unleash your power in our lives. Amen. 

Christine

PastorWoman.com

1 – John 2.13-17 
2 – Isaiah 56.7 
3 – James 4.2 
4 - Matthew 21.14-17