Jesus gets Steam Up

Significantly placed at the beginning of John's gospel we find the story of Jesus "cleansing the temple." First, we read of John baptising in the Jordan river. Then we hear John declare of Jesus, "There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." Next we read about the calling of the disciples. The water into wine episode follows at the Wedding in Cana. Following this Jesus visits the temple and chases out the money changers with a corded whip. He really got steamed up over the way they treated such a holy place. The following stories include the Nicodemus visit and then the Samaritan Woman at the Well.

All these stories are placed together at the beginning of John's gospel. It is generally agreed that John wrote his gospel to show who Jesus was rather than chronicle what he did as with Matthews, Mark and Luke. Because the latter tell much the same story they are called "the Synoptic Gospels." John's version is very different. Some stories told by John do not appear in the other three gospels.

Here, at the very start we see a collection of episodes in which Jesus is presenting his credentials. Considering the very limited time he had in which to make a difference to humanity, Jesus had to demonstrate to the people who he actually was. So he presents his calling card. If it were today you could just see his calling card - God's son, entitled to speak and acton his behalf all over the world.

To say he got steamed up in the temple is putting it mildly. I would not have liked to be one of those money changers! There was absolutely no doubt about his approach. He was offended and outraged at their treatment of the Temple in Jerusalem. It was a very holy place for all Jews. Local Jews were forever coming to the temple but those from far off countries would probably get there only once in their life. Now when the pilgrims came they offered sacrifices which were either doves or lambs. Now it was technically possible to bring your own bird or lamb. But the priests would almost certainly reject them as less than perfect and advise you to buy one from the temple. In order to do this you had to change your money into temple currency to buy a bird or lamb fit to be sacrificed. This arrangement allowed some of the traders to work a big scam by giving a poor rate of exchange and charge the earth for their livestock.

This is what Jesus found so offensive. These were simply unacceptable practices to God and so Jesus waded in and set about the traders with a whip. However, it gained him more enemies than friends. But it had to be done to show the authority of Jesus and establish his position as more than a prophet.

Now, I am not advocating any form of violence by referring to this episode in the life of Jesus. I am not saying, either, that because Jesus resorted to violence it excuses anyone else. Set in the context of Jerusalem 2,000 years ago you can see why it happened. As Christians we are exhorted to turn the other cheek, go the second mile etc. We are called to fulfill a more passive role yet we need to be very firm about certain activities. Being passive does not mean accepting all sorts of odd behaviour from people. It's just that the passive approach is so effective. It reminds me of a cartoon ghost slipping between the door and its frame to gain access to the room.

I am a great believer in the moral of the following tale:

The Sun and the Wind were in conversation and the Wind wanted to have a contest to see who was the strongest and could get a certain man to take off his coat. The Wind had first go. He blew and blew but all the man did was to wrap his coat tighter round himself to keep warm. Then it was the Sun's turn. He just beamed and soon the man took off his coat as he was too hot in it. It is Mr Niceguy who is more powerful than Mr Angry. This is the strength of the Christian Faith.

Yet on the occasion of visiting the temple Jesus got up a head of steam and set about the stall holders. It was to demonstrate respect and sensitivity about God's holy places. In the news we hear, from time to time, of mosques and Hindu Temples being attacked and destroyed. This is a plan to keep Muslims and Hindus hating each other. Attack a mosque and it is likely to be thought that a non muslim carried it out. Attack a temple and Muslims are suspected immediately. Holy places are respected, even venerated by the faithful. Therefore it was essential that the firct action was to cleanse the Temple of this activity.

Part of the message here is that we must approach God in a respectful manner and not defile his Holy Temple. Nor must we bring his name into disrepute. Our actions and our words are recorded by many. It would be a bad thing if we were to be found acting in a casual, uncaring way in our preaching of the gospel.