EXODUS 20:1-20 | 1 CORINTHIANS 1:12-35 | JOHN 2:13-25
The Pastor’s Reflections
On the first Sunday of Lent we read the account of Jesus’ time of testing in the desert. It was an important time for Jesus to focus his mind and spirit before he began his ministry. When the forty days of testing were over he announced his mission. “The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.”
The second Sunday of Lent witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus when the Father anointed and strengthened him for the conclusion of his mission. His acceptance of the cross was the fulfillment of the messianic prophecies of future redemption, and sealed a new covenant with humankind – in his blood. The passage concluded with Jesus referring to his resurrection – a concept the disciples didn’t understand.
The third week of Lent we read the account of Jesus’ cleansing of the temple. This prophetic act is most important. We need a bit of explanation to understand what’s going on here.
The temple was vast with several segregated ‘courts’ or places for prayer within it. At the entrance was the court of the gentiles. The court of the women was next, and the court of the Israelites (men) followed. The last area was the court of the priests. The cleansing of the temple took place in the court of the gentiles.
The court of the gentiles was the only place in the temple where non-Jews were allowed entrance. However, this court had evolved into a marketplace where animals needed for the sacrifices could be bought. These animals had to be approved by the priests who would inspect them. They had to be without blemish to be offered to God.
Two lambs had to be sacrificed every day, but on feast days, festivals and various occasions, many more were sacrificed. Mary and Joseph, for example, offered two turtle doves on the occasion of Jesus’ circumcision. This part of the temple was filled with animals, people haggling over the prices, money changers exchanging Roman coins for temple currency. Simply put, the place was loud, dirty and crowded.
What Jesus did that day in the temple was a prophetic act that pointed to Isaiah’s prophecy. “My house shall be called a house of prayer for the nations (gentiles).” The Jews saw themselves as separated from “the nations.” They were God’s chosen people. When the messiah came, “the nations” would submit to him and the Jewish people would rule over them and a golden age for Israel would begin.
Jesus was not the messiah they expected. By this prophetic act he was knocking down the walls that separated the Jews from the world. He was inviting the world into the kingdom of God. This kingdom would not house God in a temple built of stone. In this kingdom God would dwell in the human heart and its citizens would be bound by love, not race.
This Sunday we would do well to think about Jesus’ prophetic act. What is it saying to us, today. What do we understand by the prophecy: “My house shall be a house of prayer for the nations (everybody.”) What part can I play in continuing Jesus’ mission to announce that “The kingdom of God is at hand?”
