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13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” 20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. (John 2:13-22 NIV)
A blessed and joyous Monday to you dear ConCafe Family. And may God open doors that you, dear Friend, did not expect open! Make the most of them for God's glory! I share sad news about my cousin Xavier Jimenez. Yesterday he lost his battle against Covid. He was one of three boys for my uncle and aunt, who also had six girls. The oldest son is all who remains and so this has hit the Jimenez family very hard. I pray God's comfort be with them all. I continue to urge you to wear your masks, wash your hands, and if you have a chance to receive the vaccine, please receive it. I'm old enough to remember having to receive the smallpox, polio, and the yearly flu vaccines. Pray for one another. Pray for yourselves. A special Happy Anniversary of 18 years to our daughter, Saraí and our son-in-law, Eric Cortez! God bless you with many more!
The temple in Jerusalem, though no longer standing, still evokes many things for those who have visited it. A proud symbol of the tremendous blessing the Israelites had received from God, a reminder of who they were called to be, and a place to worship God. At the time of the events of this passage, it was a gathering place for many believers, especially those from foreign places. The most common offering was a sacrifice offering of animal life and blood, and so the temple managers had accommodated ways to make this part of worship easier, and more profitable for them. Being Passover, the crowds were tremendous; it was a cash payday for all the sellers and the money changers. The only smiles on their faces were from the profits they knew they stood to make during this important holiday of their faith. Into this walks the Son of God. It may have been that when He was twelve year old that the temple still held a more respectful and worshipful atmosphere, and for the boy making His first trip inside this sacred space as a man, He may have been oblivious to it, but I prefer to believe it was not yet what He countered during this day we are reading about; Jesus has a keen mind and details like those would not easily have escaped Him, or He knew and believed He was not yet in a position to do anything about it at age 12.
The scene is wild! The man who had just entered as a welcomed guest into the city has made a whip out of cords and begins to use it to drive out those money changers and animal vendors. He used His strength to overturn the tables and scattered the coins everywhere. The word this version shares are, "Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a market!" It prompted the disciples to remember the verse, "Zeal for your house will consume me," for indeed it had. Of course, the Jews in charge questioned His authority to do such a thing; to which He says, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days." Jesus referred to His body, but the Jews countered that the temple had taken forty-six years to build, and scoffed at the idea that Jesus could rebuild it in three days. Once the resurrection happened the disciples realized this was exactly what Jesus had spoken about. It served to strengthen their faith.
During our lifetimes we have seen our own churches undergo various transformations and changes, some of which may have even motivated us to ask where is God in all of this? When I have preached this passage I have asked if turning our sanctuaries into flea markets might not upset some and displease God. I always think of a church in South Texas who built two huge barbecue pits that in my opinion screamed, "Tithing not important here! We will sell chicken and beef plates to make ends meet!" No bueno. I think of another church who during this time of Lent use Fridays to sell fish plates to make ends meet. I am not condemning these methods, but I do question the leadership for placing more value on these methods than in speaking the truth about giving. If God is number one in the hearts of all members, He will move among them and help them give in ways that bless His work without shifting the emphasis of those ministries away from Him and onto the world's methods. And I always question myself as to what I am doing to promote God rather than other things that removes God from His proper place in our lives and hearts. From page one on, God's holy word speaks of the number one place He should have in us. May this bless us in that journey.
PRAYER: Loving Father, speak honestly to us, and especially to me as I pray, about what and how I am to more faithfully and fruitfully serve You. May all of our resources build our spirits and make our faith stronger; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Overturn the tables that have taken the place of God in your life right now!
Receive my blessings of peace and love,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
