Mark 11:15-17
On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
The temple was busy, it was a festival week in Jerusalem, and many Jewish people went to the temple to offer their sacrifices. It was hot and busy. It smelled of animals and human sweat. Voices echoed through the temple courts as organized chaos took over every inkling of holy worship.
Upon entering the temple, people found tables of men that exchanged money for “temple coins,” and they did so at an outrageous cost. People then went to purchase the sacrificial doves with the temple money and again, they were charged a ridiculous amount.
Merchants brought the wares for sale in the courtyard, paying no mind to the fact that people had gathered to pray and offer their sacrifices. A holy place meant for worship had become a market where thieves preyed upon worshippers. Jesus was incensed.
Furthermore, the temple courts were meant to be a place where many people, even non-jewish people, came to pray. Jesus turned over the temples and ran out the thieves. He shouting scripture, “My house will be a called a house of prayer for ALL nations.”
This episode in the last week of Jesus’ life has always intrigued me. As a little girl, I thought Jesus was throwing a temper tantrum. My mom and dad told me I was not allowed to throw one, so why could Jesus?
As a young adult, I began to understand this passage a bit more. I figured he was protesting an injustice. The scripture continues to evolve as I grow older. Now when I read this, I cannot help but recall the words Paul wrote in his epistle to the church in Corinth:
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
If my body is a temple, what does Jesus need to cleanse from me? What in me is dishonest or unjust? Furthermore, God’s house is to be a house of prayer. How is my prayer life? Is it interrupted by distractions which are competing for my time of prayer?
I need to be cleaned out! Psalm 51 is a prayer of confession:
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
I need to be clean, and Jesus is the one who can upturn the tables and chase away the sin inside of me. As I reflect on the last days of Jesus' life on the journey to his death, I become more and more aware of my need for a savior.
Pray: Clean me up. I need to be renewed, reconfigured, reset so that I am just as you intended for me to be. Forgive me, Lord. Thank you for saving me in spite of myself. Amen.
