"In The Temple"

In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” John 2:14-17 ESV

photo  ©2009  FatPassport Inc., Flickr

This scene is one of my favorites from the Gospels. The context of the scene really gives the reader the full story of what Jesus ministry was teaching God’s people. God had come  to live amongst His people and teach them in person who He is and what He wants from His people. As Jesus enters the Temple He sees just how far astray the peoples “religion” had gone and He reacts to it.

Every time I read this passage I wonder how Jesus would react if He walked into one of our congregations today. I think this is a question we have to ask ourselves on a regular basis. One thing you’ll notice about the times that Jesus is confrontational is when He is dealing with the religious leadership. The reasons they are confronted is that they have missed the intent of God’s word and have twisted it to their own purposes.

Those that teach God’s word today and lead others must be very careful not to follow in the footsteps of leaders like the ones Jesus confronts. Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. James 3:1 ESV

Not many years after this interaction, the temple was destroyed and the priesthood was dissolved. Leadership of God’s people was taken away and given over to others, with Jesus as their head. This lesson shows us that we must be careful in how we serve our God. It is important that we know Jesus teachings and apply them as they were intended.

So today, let’s remember who is in charge. Let’s follow Jesus teachings so that we know we are doing what is right in the sight of our heavenly Father. Let’s teach others to do the same.

© 2013 Leo J. Woodman

"The Passover"

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

John 2:13 ESV

John let’s his readers know in this verse that Jesus was truly faithful to all things Jewish. Jesus participated in all of the feast days along with the rest of faithful Israel. Passover is the most significant of those days, representing the exodus from Egypt and God’s provision for His people. Passover was celebrated as a remembrance, so that none would forget God’s deliverance from captivity and death. Participation in the first passover meal kept death from the door of those that participated.

The significance we take from this verse as we see Jesus approaching Jerusalem, is that He is THE PASSOVER LAMB that will be sacrificed once for all for the sins of the world. “He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:12 ESV As we partake of the Lord’s supper every week we remember that sacrifice that delivered us from our captivity to sin and death.

John had let it be known earlier in his Gospel who Jesus was; “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 ESV John sets up the theme of salvation early on in his Gospel to let the reader know Jesus purpose in coming. He came to save us from ourselves. While the people of Israel were looking for a Messiah to rescue them from the Romans, God sent Jesus to rescue them from the grave.

Today we can look at this verse with hindsight and see what God’s plan was for our salvation. That is because God used ordinary men to write His story down so that we can read and understand the sacrifice that was Jesus. Jesus is our sacrificial lamb, He gave His life for ours. We must never forget that He has died for our sins, so that we don’t have to.

So today, let’s remember the love that sent Jesus to the cross. Let’s remember that without His sacrifice we would be lost eternally. Let’s introduce someone to Jesus today.

© 2013 Leo J. Woodman