Zeal for Your House Consumes Me

David wrote a song of confession and petition to God. It turns out it was inspired prophecy regarding Christ. Psalm 69:7-9 “For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face. I am a stranger to my brothers, and alien to my own mother’s sons; for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.” There is much more in that Psalm regarding Christ. But as I read John 2:12-25, this quote from Psalm stands out.

Almost everything Jesus did was healing, loving, soft and tender. Yet, here he made a whip and turned over tables and chased them out. Why would he do such a thing? Who specifically did he go after? Those who brought in cattle, sheep, and doves to sell for sacrifices and those who were ‘money changers’. Mark quotes Jesus as saying, “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. But you have made it a den of robbers.” Mark 11:17

What was Jesus so upset about that he overturned tables and told people to get out?

I think it was way bigger than cleaning out the temple courts in that city on that day. Jesus knew he was soon to become the sacrifice. When the religious authorities questioned Jesus’ authority, he responded with, ”Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” John 2: 19 He obviously was thinking about his death on the cross and resurrection. There had to be a lot of emotion tied up in that. Those questioning Jesus totally missed it. But his disciples remembered these things and saw their significance after the fact.

Jesus knew the purpose of the sacrifices was to give people the opportunity to confess, rid themselves of their guilt and shame, and to draw close to the Father. But all of that was lost in the current day rituals and instead of the religious leaders leading the people through confession to freedom and peace with God, they had found an opportunity to make money – to extort from the people in the name of God! No wonder Jesus was so angry! They were abusing their authority and in the name of God robbing people – not only of money, but of their rightful relationship with God.

I wonder what God is wanting us to learn from this regarding the current day church. We don’t do animal sacrifice, but what do we do that keeps people from experiencing true forgiveness and freedom from guilt and shame. Maybe we judge little things (her dress is too short, too much makeup, he isn’t sitting up straight, he doesn’t believe like we do) and totally miss the opportunities to tell them what Jesus did for them.

Whenever we see Jesus expressing anger or dissatisfaction, it seems to be aimed at the religious authorities – the gatekeepers to heaven. When Jesus is among sinners, he is lovingly explaining how they can experience God’s grace. He is healing. He is reconciling. Shouldn’t we be doing likewise?