Chapter 17
John 2:13-16,
“13 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. 15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, ‘Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace,’” (NLT)!
DANIEL ALWAYS THOUGHT THIS PASSAGE of Scripture was a strong one. However, when he witnessed it, he learned it was far more powerful than He ever could have possible realized. He was transformed when he experienced this passage firsthand. Granted, this was a familiar scenario given the fact he’s said the same about every passage he’s experienced in the times of John.
The passage of John 2:13-16 took place in the temple courts in the place called the Court of the Gentiles, in particular. The Court of the Gentiles was in the walls of the temple, but was on the outside of the holy of holies (as Christians would call it, the sanctuary). It was where there was to be prayer from all the nations. Gentiles of any nationality or gender were not allowed into the Holy of Holies.
Daniel knew there were two types of people at this time: the Jews and the Gentiles. The Gentiles were anyone not of the Jewish descent. Christians were Gentiles. Romans were Gentiles. Deists were Gentiles.
John 2:13-16 reminded Daniel to take worship more seriously than what he did. God was someone to take seriously. God shouldn’t be forgotten about, ignored, denied, pushed to the side, taken for granted, or anything else negative. Also, Daniel acknowledged he should try not to sin, focus on God, read the Word for as long as he could every single day (preferably hours not minutes), pray a lot (preferably without ceasing and all day long), and journal his journey with God. God was serious stuff and deserved his 100% attention and affection. Failure to do so resulted in a less than adequate life in Christ.
Daniel still found it weird how he would first hear John read aloud what he wrote for his book and then how Daniel would see the scene lived out in real-time. It was something he never thought was possible, yet he hoped it would be in theory. It was real and he was one who actually accomplished the feat personally. Consequently, on a personal and professional level, it was a marvel and was a dream come true.
He thought about how the passage of John 2:13-16 was told in all four gospels: Matthew 21:12-21:13; Mark 11:15-11:17; and Luke 19:45-19:46. Therefore, it was an important chapter and Daniel knew he needed to give it extra attention. He tried to take in every detail and make sure he didn’t miss anything. He wanted to remember it for himself and so he could log it later for the project. There had to be a reason why he was there a second time and he planned on taking advantage of the time.
John 2:13-16 in a different Bible version reads:
“13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
14 And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables.
15 And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables;
16 and to those who were selling the doves He said, ‘Take these things away; stop making My Father's house a place of business,’” (NASB).
ERIN KNEW THE REASON WHY there were oxen (cattle), sheep, and doves in the Court of the Gentiles. All three types of animals were used for sacrifices and would be pierced, cut, and burned by the Jews for worship and in atonement for their sins. Hence, the animals in the Court of the Gentiles made it easier for the people to get the animals for sacrifice.
However, the term ‘easier’ caused her to have a moment’s pause. Was worship supposed to be easy? Was it acceptable to take a shortcut for the worship, obeying, and atonement with God? Nothing in life was made better through taking the easy way. Most of life requires sacrifice. So, why would we not sacrifice more for God?
But, isn’t that precisely what we do?
We shortchange God by going to church when we feel like it. We go to the service at the time we prefer because it’s easier. We allow our minister’s or pastor’s to get into the Bible for us because we don’t want to make the time. We are just as guilty today for this practice of taking the easy approach. We don’t do the hard stuff for God because it’s well—hard.
We don’t ask God what He wants for worship. We tell Him what He wants. We tell Him what feels good to us. We have to have it our way—not His way.
His way isn’t very convenient.
Plus, who said worship was supposed to really be about Him? What about us and what we feel comfortable with? We wonder, whether we vocalize or not.
So, we limit ourselves and our worship of Him. Nice. We prove time and time again we just don’t get it and the type of thinking Erin just thought about only proved how wrong we have it in our faith today.
Then, there were the moneychangers. They exchanged Roman money for the Jewish money needed to pay their temple dues (see Matthew 17:24). Again, it was a matter of convenience. Why would they want to actually take the time to get their money exchanged elsewhere and take a few extra minutes? It took too long and was too much of a hassle. Or, that’s what they said when they supported these businesses (animals or money).
And, then they and we wonder why Jesus was furious…
Hmm. Let’s think on this for a few minutes.
Erin was on a tirade in her mind, writing her log in her mind.
Jesus saw what faith was to the people at the temple and He knew how much disrespect and lack of love or obedience that showed His Father. Hence, there was righteous anger. (But, He didn’t sin while angry.)
Erin knew that she made some of the same mistakes, and some different mistakes, herself. Actually, they were sins—not mistakes. She wanted to give God the full credit He was due and she wanted to make sure to leave place in her live for proper daily worship of the Most High God.
DANIEL WAS STUNNED WHEN HE WATCHED Jesus reach over to where the animals were and He grabbed the cords or ropes used to tie up the animals and he used them to make the whips or the scourge of cords from John 2:15. Then, Jesus used them to drive out of the temple the animal owners and then he poured out the money and overturned the tables of the moneychangers.
He told those selling doves to take them away and to, “Stop making my Father’s house a place of business,” (NASB and John 2:16).
Daniel cringed when he heard Christ use tht phrase. Oh, boy. Did they have a clue that it wasn’t just a man speaking, but it was God Himself?
Daniel also didn’t know if they thought of the temple as God’s house.
But, the one thing He was pretty sure of was the people were horrified that He had the audacity to claim He was God’s Son. That was a heresy and people died for stuff like that. In other words, Daniel could see how easily, once this blew over, the people would turn their sins on Christ and make it His fault—not theirs. They wouldn’t get comprehend the situation at all or how misinformed they were in reality.
The other thing He doubted the people realized as he witnessed the scene himself was that Jesus was the temple and had full authority to clean it up and cast away the garbage that didn’t belong. He focused on the renewal of the temple, the elimination or purging of corruption, and started the process (Author’s Note: Also see Genesis 35:2; Psalm 69:9; Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11; Zechariah 14:21; Malachi 3:1; 1 Timothy 6:5; and 1 Timothy 6:10.).
Daniel couldn’t help but think about the concept of the temple. The temple was not a place of business. It was not about profit or capitalism. It was a place of worship.
By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy
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