A Johaninne Study (John 2:13-17)

13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

When we get angry, it is often very ugly. Anger causes us to do and say things that we normally wouldn’t. In fact, some of our harshest words materialize only in the midst of it. Anger trashes social etiquette in favour of our personal offence. Even the closest loved one is not outside the scope of our anger. They may even be the most regular subject of our wrath. The problem with anger is that it controls us so thoroughly. Before we even realize it, anger disarms our conscious restraints and replaces it with a maelstrom of hate and ill-intent. If there is such a thing as righteous anger, it is few and far between.

Though there is no mention of Jesus being angry, he acts in a way that seems like he is. First, he fashions a whip. Perhaps, if you are a passivist or get offended by the term corporal punishment, then this might be shocking to you. How could Jesus condone physical harm, or even the threat of it? But we read here that he made a whip to essentially spank the merchants out of the temple! Then he takes takes money and pours it out. How rude would it be if some stranger came up to you, took your wallet or purse, and proceeded to throw all your credit cards, cash and other precious items on the ground? Apparently, Jesus did just that!

Now, as improbable as it might be, it is possible for someone to be very calm and violent at the same time. That, however, doesn’t seem to be the case here. When Jesus acted as violently as he did, the disciples were reminded of Psalm 69:9, “For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.” Zeal does not make one disinterested and aloof. Here, Jesus is vehemently passionate about his Father’s house. He would rather die or, as it says in John, be consumed than have anyone offend his Father.

Ultimately, Jesus does get consumed. He goes to the cross to die. But instead of condemning those that offend his Father, he saves them. It is the most amazing act of grace.

Jesus was zealous for God. And now, because of grace, we can be zealous too! We have every reason to be enthusiastic about receiving mercy instead of condemnation.The temple has been opened to us. We are free to live with him who saved us. The question is, Christian, who are you zealous for?