Monday arrived bright and fair and Jesus with his 12
disciples headed back to Jerusalem. Each of them were lost in their own
thoughts remembering the day before and curious at what today would hold.
Yesterday was glorious. Their Master Jesus – having secured a donkey had ridden
quietly into Jerusalem… well at Jesus was quiet – the crowds were not. As the
numbers in the city had begun to swell in preparation for the Passover, so had
the crowdedness as they had made their way to the city gates – and suddenly a
group had appeared, palm branches held high, cloaks thrown on the floor, and a
passageway fit for a King stood before them. Joyful cries of Hosanna to the Son
of David, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! had rung out…
finally the world was seeing who Jesus truly was. The celebration had lasted
almost the whole day as they slowly made their way towards to Temple. Simon was
wondering if this was the start of a rebellion they were to lead, surely there
were now enough people behind them to overturn the Roman filth.
Thomas was wondering if the same would happen today – would
they be greeted the same?
Peter was nervous. His Master kept speaking of dying… was he
really going to be arrested and killed? Surely not.
Each was remembering and chatting, ahead of them Jesus simply
lets them know that he is hungry. “That shouldn’t be a problem” thought Andrew
remembering the loaves and fishes incident of a few weeks back!
But spotting a fig tree en-route up ahead, they scrambled
towards it. It was a magnificent tree – promising so so much. And yet as Jesus
searched through the branches - he found nothing edible. No fruit, just leaves.
He stepped back and addressed the tree with a solemnity that caught the
disciples by surprise, “May no one ever
eat fruit from you again.” he said. And without a backward glance –
continued his journey into the city.
When they arrived this time, the crowds spotted Jesus and
began to follow the twelve… The excitement was tangible. There were some who
had held their branches the day before, some who had just arrived but news
about this Jesus had spread far and wide and who were thrilled to finally catch
a glimpse of the man, some who still eyed him with scepticism and distrust.
“What will he do today? Will he teach us some more? Will we see a miracle? I
heard that there was a blind man healed just two days ago. I heard that he fed
everyone who followed him. I heard him teach – you have never heard the kinds
of things that this man says…” And so the conversations swirl around them as
they made their way to the Temple.
As they enter through the first gate of the Temple, they
notice a hive of activity. It’s the busiest time of year for Temple business
and people have come from far far afield to worship and honour their God, to
bring their sacrifices to him, and to worship. Through this first gate they are
standing in the court of the Gentiles – the one place where those not of Jewish
standing but who know and love the Lord are permitted to meet with Him… not
that they had much opportunity – A market-place hub of activity had taken over
what was to be a church. There were people selling lambs and doves and goats
for sacrifices… convenient for sure – as it meant you could bring money with
you on your journey – and simply purchase the animal at the Temple rather than
lugging it along on a journey of many miles and many days. It also meant that
those from other countries could exchange their money for the correct currency
right there in the courtyard. .. and then purchase their sacrifice.
Sure the market here wasn’t particularly honest but it was a
convenience – it was only really the poor that struggled with that… and sure,
it got in the way of those Gentile guys worshipping – but they were only
Gentiles…
As they entered through these gates – Jesus froze. His eyes
welled up with unshed tears and his hands balled into fists. Suddenly in a
flash of rage that simply burst from within him – he rushed at the first money
changing table, caught it from underneath and flipped it up, the sound of coins
exploding into the air echoed off the Temple walls – he then spun around and
caught the next table doing the same – sending coins rolling in all directions
– everyone too shocked to even think of chasing after them. Without even taking
another breath he moved onto the next table sending the cage of doves onto the
lap of the seller, and as the doors burst open so a flurry of wings added to
the chaos as they flew to their freedom. Jesus moved to the stalls and flung
open gate after gate creating a stampede of braying, bleating livestock. The
authority behind every move he made was so overwhelming that none dared oppose
him.
And so for the next five minutes the disciples stood and
watched in horrified wonder as the Man they knew to gently cradle the sick and
play with young children – harshly cleared a massive courtyard with tables
tipping, doves flying, animals running amuck as they are freed and merchants
diving for cover. In their stunned silence they also notice the appearance of
the Pharisees and teachers of the Law on the Temple steps – watching with
folded arms and menacing eyes.
Finally he stopped. And with the kind of anger that is both
rage and intense sorrow Jesus says deliberately and steadily… “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”
We are on the second week of our series as we journey
alongside Jesus and his disciples in the book of Mark. And we are making our
way day by day to Friday where we will see this man be beaten, mocked and
crucified. Last week we began this journey on the Sunday with the triumphant
entry and today is Monday – and here we are in the Temple courts witnessing the
anger of righteousness.
And so our reading comes from the book of Mark, chapter 11,
and we’ll be starting in verse 12
Mark 11:12-19
“The next
day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing a fig tree in leaf,
he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing
but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree,
“May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
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 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 chief
priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to
kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his
teaching.
When
evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.”
There are a couple of things to notice in this passage.
Firstly, as we have said throughout – if you had only one week left on earth –
the way you spent it would be deliberate. There would be no wasted time or
empty space. And so with Jesus, nothing just happened. It was thought through
and planned. And so this day begins with a fig tree. A beautiful lush green
fig tree – but with no fruit. And while this may seem random – it is a visible
parable, and it is linked to what will happen in the Temple a short while
later.
The tree while appearing to look good was internally dead.
And as Jesus himself had taught – a tree shall be known by its fruit. Not by
its beauty or its green leaves – but by the fruit.
And here we see a picture of exactly what was happening to
the Jewish nation, especially among the leadership. That while there was an
outward observance of finicky and specific law, while there was show in having
a temple and a great number of sacrifices, while they dressed right and could
quote the law as easily as we would quote our phone number – their hearts were
dead. They knew the letter but had lost the Spirit of the law. They searched
the Scriptures to know the Messiah and yet didn’t recognise him as he stood
before them and exclaimed – I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
So they had the Green leaves to show for it – but there was
no fruit.
And at the Temple we see the same thing. The great show of
convenience created by the money changers and the selling of merchandise, had
taken over the sacred spaces that God had ordained for worship. The place where
Jesus cleared out was known as the court of the Gentiles. It was the only place
that those outside of the Jewish faith could come near to God. The money
changers would have hiked the interest on exchanging the Roman coin for the
Jewish currency – for no Roman coin would be allowed there – and the sale of
animals was for the sacrifices. This was all overseen by the priests. Thus
while these priests looked Holy, thought themselves holy, prided themselves in
having knowledge of the Holy Scriptures – they had completely missed the point
– and had no fruit.
Another thing to note was that this was no small space. This
is not a few tables here and there. I’ve heard one preacher liken the area to
the size of two football fields. It was a massive market place, filled with men
and animals and money and business and noise. If you think about it for a
minute – Jesus was one man. How is it that one man stood up to hundreds of
merchants and their customers and had them running for cover. How is it that
they didn’t simply band together and say no – and cast him outside?
In many ways this is actually a super-natural occurrence and
gives us a picture of the kind of authority which moved with Jesus. There must
have been so much power pulsating out of his every move that the people there
took one look at what was happening and fled. It’s something like what happened
in the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus asks this group of soldiers who it is
that they are looking for, and when they say Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus
affirms that it’s Him – the power in the statement makes them fall to the
ground in front of him.
That’s real power.
And it just reminds us that when Jesus laid down his life for
us. When he is arrested and beaten and mocked and crucified – that he allows it
all to happen. There is no doubt at all that he could have spoken a word with
this kind of power and the soldiers would have fallen to their knees. He chose
the cross. And he chose it for you and for me.
So where does this leave us today?
Well the sacred space
for worship that is created - is within our hearts today. The Spirit of God has
taken up residence within us. The Scripture plainly says “Do you not know that
your bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells inside you?”
The place of worship – the place of sacrifice is here – it’s
within me.
And so we need to check ourselves for two things.
Firstly – how much of our faith is simply show, but there
isn’t really any fruit. That perhaps from the outside you look like you have it
all together – you would be able to answer all the Sunday school questions, and
you attend church each Sunday – maybe you tithe regularly and say grace before
each meal. But inside the Temple, inside your heart – there really is no fruit.
You don’t really spend time with the Master personally in worship. You don’t
really know him. You don’t find yourself loving him or loving people more… in
fact traits of cynicism, mistrust and negativity have grown up inside you. And
so the works on the outside don’t match the heart on the inside.
Perhaps you do it because you always have, perhaps you used
to have a heart after Jesus but just got too busy, perhaps you got hurt by
church or another Christian and while you keep up the appearances – you’re
actually angry with God and are holding him at arms-length. If this is you this
morning can I encourage you to make right. Come to God at this table today,
come to him in prayer and ask him to start bringing the fruit, ask him for
forgiveness and to create a new heart in you. Ask him that during this Lent and
this Easter that he’ll become so real to you – that you’ll learn to truly truly
love him.
Secondly – if our hearts are his Temple – are there tables
that he needs to overturn within us. Are there compromises and fears that have
started to set up shop within your sacred space of worship? Is there a smidgen
of dishonesty or a hint of impurity that is slowly growing or some arrogance
and superiority? Know that our Lord is jealous for our worship – and for our
hearts. Just as he cried out that this was meant to be a space for prayer – so
too our hearts are created to be a space for sacrifice and love.
And so I pray that as we step into Monday with
Jesus that you will see him in a new way – that you will see his power and his
righteous rage in the face of injustice and corruption and misuse of his
Father’s house.
I pray that we will have the courage to ask the hard question
of – "have I slipped into doing things purely for show – or is there fruit in my
life and in my heart to back it up?"
And I pray that each of us will ask the Lord to search our
hearts and to reveal any tables that need turning over, so that we might become
sanctuaries for His spirit and for prayer and worship.
As you allow Jesus in, open the doors of your Temple and allow him to
drive out anything that is keeping you from loving him and serving him with
passion and energy and purpose.
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