May 15, 2012 Jesus Cleans His House

Jesus Loves His House Mark 11:15-17 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area 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, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 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.’” JESUS is angry. This is the judge, the Son of Man come to pass judgment on his people who do evil in his house. Imagine if you go to your home and you find people selling goods in your driveway, cattle in your entryway and people lending money in your kitchen. You’d be enraged wouldn’t you? Your home was meant for family life, not business! That’s what is happening here. God, the Father, had caused this temple to be built as a holy place where his Word was taught and where people could go to find the safety and protection of the Father’s mercy. God had built the temple in his image to display his pure love and care to his people. But there are cattle and sheep in the outer courts. There is no room now to teach God’s Word. Moneychangers replace the priests who should be offering sacrifices. God’s law is ignored, neither taught nor obeyed. It’s time for restoration of God’s house. As Jesus begins the cleansing removing animals and moneychangers, Jesus is as a housekeeper sweeping the dirt out. He’s removing the sin from the temple, so God’s people would clearly see the Father. Pause and consider how Jesus now cleans the dirt from you, his new temple.