"It was time for the annual Passover celebration, and Jesus went to Jerusalem. In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; and he saw money changers behind their counters. Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and oxen, scattered the money changers' coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, "Get these things out of here. Don't turn my Father's house into a marketplace!"
Did you ever consider what was going on in this picture? Those who recognized Jesus, most did not have a clue who He was yet, must have wondered what the heck He was doing when He picked the 'ropes' and began to make a whip. How long did it take Him to make one? It had to be obvious that He was extremely angry, I doubt He just calmly sat and made a whip with no expression of anger or disgust on His face. In my mind I can picture such anger and outrage that the veins in His neck and face are bulging and his hands are shaking as He ties the pieces of rope together. I can see the fire in His eyes as He surveys the temple filled with men who are motivated by greed and taking advantage of the poor.
When He finished the whip He went into action and "Drove" them ALL out. Can you imagine what it must have looked like to see some guy whipping people and animals and kicking over tables chasing them out of the temple? This was no small event where this took place, this was the temple in Jerusalem at Passover where there were likely hundreds of thousands of people gathered for the High Holy Days. He had to have been yelling at them and causing more than a little commotion!
Maybe it's just me but when I think of Jesus this is the guy I see. He is the epitome "Meekness"! Meek means controlled power, not weakness. He was always in control of all the powers of heaven and earth but He never used them for His own benefit. When He did choose to exercise that power/authority He got peoples "attention" and that attention always led people to the knowledge of God. Many rejected that knowledge but none the less Jesus always pointed people toward the Father with His demonstrations of power.
We as Christians would do well to follow the example of Jesus when it comes to the corruption in our world...another early morning rant.....
Did you ever consider what was going on in this picture? Those who recognized Jesus, most did not have a clue who He was yet, must have wondered what the heck He was doing when He picked the 'ropes' and began to make a whip. How long did it take Him to make one? It had to be obvious that He was extremely angry, I doubt He just calmly sat and made a whip with no expression of anger or disgust on His face. In my mind I can picture such anger and outrage that the veins in His neck and face are bulging and his hands are shaking as He ties the pieces of rope together. I can see the fire in His eyes as He surveys the temple filled with men who are motivated by greed and taking advantage of the poor.
When He finished the whip He went into action and "Drove" them ALL out. Can you imagine what it must have looked like to see some guy whipping people and animals and kicking over tables chasing them out of the temple? This was no small event where this took place, this was the temple in Jerusalem at Passover where there were likely hundreds of thousands of people gathered for the High Holy Days. He had to have been yelling at them and causing more than a little commotion!
Maybe it's just me but when I think of Jesus this is the guy I see. He is the epitome "Meekness"! Meek means controlled power, not weakness. He was always in control of all the powers of heaven and earth but He never used them for His own benefit. When He did choose to exercise that power/authority He got peoples "attention" and that attention always led people to the knowledge of God. Many rejected that knowledge but none the less Jesus always pointed people toward the Father with His demonstrations of power.
We as Christians would do well to follow the example of Jesus when it comes to the corruption in our world...another early morning rant.....
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