What Would Jesus . . . Destroy?

Luke 19:45-48

How did it happen in the first place?

As Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple, he was immediately confronted with the business aspect of Passover commemoration. Merchants were at their stalls--apparently an established practice. Why is this taking place in the Temple? Granted that we do not know everything about first century Temple law, it is hard to imagine that such arrangements were commanded. Nonetheless, they seem to be well established. And they angered Jesus.

It is not difficult to imagine that such a custom arose gradually, and probably with motives which seemed reasonable. Wouldn't it make sense to facilitate transactions required for the observance for the convenience of those who had traveled considerable distances to be in Jerusalem at all? Wouldn't it be unreasonable to deny such opportunity? And if there is a bit of a profit accruing to the Temple maintenance fund, why would anyone object? But it angered Jesus.

Any and every day and age has those practices which build over time. Sometimes they take on a life of their own; occasionally, they build to the point where they are perceived as untouchable, as sure and certain as the existence of the church itself. In the New Testament, both the church and the Christian are portrayed as the Temple of the Holy Spirit. And both would do well to use the penitential period of Lent as a time to question what there is in customary practice which compromises the character of that temple as a house of prayer. Have the things which were once simply expedient become untouchable, no longer open to question? Has the necessary business become the driving force, eclipsing first things? Has something driven prayer the ministry of the word to second or third status? Are there things which anger Jesus?

When Jesus returned to the cleansed temple, he taught daily, with people hanging on his words. It was life to the people at large, but conflicted harshly with the leaders. At times we might expect the same. That is,unless we're satisfied with less than the life that flows from His word into the lives and actions of His people. What will he overturn in us?