Lent 3b. March 15, 2009.
John 2:13-22; Ex. 20:1-17; I Cor. 1:18-31.
ZEAL.
Most pictures people have of Jesus show a passive, mild, gentle, almost
effeminate man. But what Jesus did that day in the Temple was NOT out of
character. God is very serious about sin and holiness. In this Lenten season,
it is easy to become involved in activities and forget WHY we do things.
Christ came to “clean house”, to clean us, and make us acceptable by His
Sacrifice.
Some money-changing was needed. Pious Jews thought Roman coins were
mini-idols: Romans worshiped Caesar as a god and the coins had Caesar’s
likeness. (See Exodus 20:4). There were laws to keep them far away from the
Temple. But we all know the Old Adam in us. We like to make things easier.
And, like most political systems, kick-backs tend to show up after a while.
People were bringing oxen, sheep, and doves for sacrifices. (Leviticus
1:3-9, 4:2-21, 8:2, 22:21) The animals had to be without blemish, no broken
bones, and generally perfect. If you can imagine bringing one from Galilee
(100 miles walk), getting them there without a scratch, and bringing them to
the Temple?! Well, it would be easier to buy one locally. Coins are easier to
carry and don’t require food and water. J But all the coins outside of
Jerusalem were Roman idols. Get the picture?
Temple guards did not allow Roman coins, so to buy a sacrifice often meant
having a ‘money changer’ or ‘currency converter’. As time moved on,
moneychangers and animal sellers moved on closer, then into, the Temple - for
handiness. Temple guards, who also approved the animals, may have worked our a
deal with the animal sellers. For a bribe, the guards would accept local
animals (even defective ones) over those people brought (from home). It made
Temple traders - traitors. They made money where they should not (Exodus
22:25, Leviticus 25:36-37, Deuteronomy 23:19-20, etc.) and approved of
second-rate sacrifices to God. (Amos 8:6)
When Christ entered the outer court of the Gentiles it was a bazaar place!
Not an area of worship! More than once Jesus became very angry. (Mark 11:14
for example). He used the ropes that tied animals to fashion a whip and force
this evil away. Secular or non-spiritual things are NOT to be in the Temple!
“Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom”, but all of them missed
Christ’s claim. He does not say “our Father” but MY Father’s House. He is
claiming equality with God. This worldly activity offends Jesus, the only Son
of God!
Like the first century folk, we 21st century people tend to think of
Church only as a building. Destroy it?!? Herod’s Temple was under
construction from 19BC (until AD64) and now after 46 years labor (making it
AD27), how could it be rebuilt in three days? The church named Saint Peter
maintains a building, but it is the people that are the church. That was their
confusion then (and ours now).
Believers can become so involved in secular turf wars over who is in
charge, who is responsible, why aren’t we doing this-or-that, and tearing down
other people that we fail to see the genuine destruction going on. Yes, a
building is fine. But what of the REAL temple, the people of God, the church?
Christ’s Church isn’t bake-sales, youth groups, visitation committees,
mission-trips, fundraisers for people who need a hand, teaching a moral code of
the Ten C’s, flood relief, having the Bloodmobile or 4H Club use the building,
and other good causes.
The heart and soul of Christ’s Church is about how our Passover Lamb was
slain for us so we could follow Him in the Great Exodus to the Promised Land of
heaven. It is telling the world of the foolish-ness of the cross which is
wiser than any other wisdom. Those other activities MAY serve Christ’s Church
- but they are NOT Gospel: any more than money changers and animal sellers
were the purpose of the Temple.
But yes, the Old Adam still wonders, ‘what gives you the right to do these
things, Jesus, since this is MY life?’
I have been told that ‘the purpose of preaching is to afflict the
comfortable and comfort the afflicted.’ Jesus was preaching with a whip.
God’s Law must get us to face our failures to do as He commands: love Him with
all our heart, soul, mind, and strength - and love our neighbor as ourselves.
But it would be a horrible misreading of God’s Word to say God’s Law can
whip us into shape and pay for our evils. God doesn’t want “better” so we feel
we can boast (I Cor. 1:29). God demands “perfect.” There is only one way we
can be “perfect”. God’s grace.
The Greater Temple, Jesus Christ, was never spoiled or ruined with sin.
As the One and Only Sacrifice for all sin, Christ offered up His uncorrupted
life for the world. As Almighty God: “in three days He raised (His Temple)
up”. He was wounded for our apathy and lack of zeal, our denials of Christ in
our lips and lifestyles, and ‘He was lifted up’ on a cross to die for all our
sins and save us by His grace. (For our readers: this is the sentence that
ties in last and next Wednesday’s theme; and the next Sunday’s readings).
We do not have a people-centered worship service to feed our emotions. We
have a Christ-centered service, preaching Christ crucified for sins for feed
the soul.
If a starving man would refuse good food, you would wonder about him. If
a starving soul refuses spiritual food from Christ, you should be even more
concerned. Here in God’s House, where His new temple or Church gathers, our
Lord feeds us (Divine Serve-us) with His grace so we will also have zeal.
Here, in God’s House, is where He fills us with forgiveness, life, and
salvation with the tools of His Word and Sacraments. The zeal of the Lord of
Hosts (Isaiah 9:7) meets us in the Person of Christ to change us body and soul.
God shatters our stony hearts with the Law to give us living hearts of flesh
with the Gospel.
He gives us His Holy Spirit so we believe His Word and are filled with
zeal . We need to hear again and again that God cares for us; Jesus is with us
always – even to the end of the earth; God tenderly invites us to believe we
are His children and He is our true Father; grace alone saves us and not our
actions; there is a time and a purpose for all things under heaven – and God is
working all things out for our eternal good. These Words have the power to
bring life, hope, and yes: ZEAL.
Zeal for our own souls: to grow in God’s Word, grow in faith, grow in
actions of love to reach out physically and spiritually to the world around us.
Passion, eagerness, and zeal for His righteousness.
Zeal for others: so they can know about Christ, be turned from sins, be
forgiven, and have zeal and life in Him. There is a whole world around you
that needs to hear of God’s power and wisdom, and be brought to faith by the
work of the Holy Spirit. That is the zeal God is working in you!
We have been declared acceptable to God thru Jesus Christ. May God fill
all of us with zeal for Him: in faith and love for all in Christ’s Name. Amen.
In His Service,
Pastor Michael Harman
St. Peter – Newell, Iowa
and vacancies at
First – Fonda
Immanuel – Pomeroy
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