"Love for God"
Sermon Presented March 19, 2006
John 2:13-22
I've never preached on this text before, but when I read it, I immediately think: "Yes! Jesus does have some of the same characteristics as I! He really gets angry here and does something about it! He affirms my occasions of anger!" But last Sunday, Carol Seery challenged me. She said: "Jo Ellen, Wilanna chooses the music to fit your sermons, so next week you need to fit your sermon to Chris' anthem." Well, how do you fit a text about Jesus' angry outburst to an anthem of Everlasting Love? You may rightly accuse me of stretching my interpretation beyond rationality and that's okay! I have only a few minutes anyway, so let's go for it!
John places this story at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, while the other gospel writers put it right before his crucifixion. The time is Passover, one of the pilgrimage feasts when faithful Jews come to the temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the release of the Hebrew people from Egyptian bondage. Because thousands of people journey from great distances, they can't bring along their sacrificial animals and need to purchase them when they arrive.
Victor Eppstein argues that the selling of animals traditionally took place on the Mount of Olives - away from the temple. But when Caiphas was high priest, he became embroiled in conflict with the Sanhedrin one year and employed sellers to come into the temple itself and set up their commercial enterprises on site. It doesn't really matter why they are there, it just matters that they are selling cattle, sheep and doves and exchanging Roman coins for Jewish coins in God's house. Jesus is protesting the commercialism in the sacred space of the temple where worship of God takes place. Hear the story as written in John 2:13-22. (Read text.)
In the first chapter of John's gospel, we read that "The Word (meaning Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us." Now we read in the next chapter that an angry Jesus - very human - creates a ruckus and upsets the temple peace. What is he trying to do? Why is the "Prince of Peace" acting like someone who has never considered the concept of non-violent action? We think we know Jesus, but then suddenly something utterly surprising occurs and we aren't so sure.
What prompts Jesus to act this way? Why does he lash out at those who are just trying to earn a living, while providing a service to those who have traveled a long way to worship? Let's look at the setting once again.
Here in the temple - an area of about 15 football fields - we see merchants hawking their animals. Now, imagine the smell of the barnyard brought into the place where God is worshiped. Imagine the noise of animals held in an unnatural and unfamiliar setting - cattle mooing, sheep bleating and birds fluttering and chirping in their cages. Imagine the manure piling up, necessitating care in walking through the area. (I doubt if they had "pooper-scoopers" in those days!) Imagine tables set up to exchange Roman currency into temple coins. Imagine these sights, sounds and smells, and then imagine what should be present in the temple - beauty, music and pleasant odors.
Jesus is angry - not because this scene is an affront to him, but because of his great love for God. Here he sees the worship of God desecrated by acts that don't relate to worship. He sees no respect for God - only a marketplace - a reminder of how easy it is for religious ritual to take on a life of its own. He sees more attention paid to the processing of money and selling of animals than to the meaning of the sacrifice and love for the one who is to be worshiped. Jesus challenges the authority of the temple because his life bears testimony to the power of God in the world! He takes action because of his love for God - his father!
What we do in the temple - in the church building - should contribute to the work of the Spirit in building Christ's church and carrying his love to those in need. What we do should reflect our great love for God and our great love for others. Because God loves us with an everlasting love, our response should be to share that love with those around us - in the church and in the world. The dynamic, challenging and controversial Jesus is calling. How will you respond?
