1/15/14- Jesus in the Temple

12After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

13When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15So 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. 16To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Thoughts: John writes history, but he writes the stories of Jesus grouped by ideas more than by annual chronicle.  After the turning of water into wine Jesus went to another town in Galilee, Capernaum, which became Jesus' headquarters.  But then John begins to talk of Jesus cleansing the Temple at the Passover, which is recorded in the other Gospels is at the end of Jesus' ministry.
     In chapter 1 Jesus is portrayed as God and as the Messiah- the anointed one- king and prophet. In chapter 2 Jesus turns water into wine and cleanses the Temple.  Jesus is promoting a change to a better life- joy and pure religion go together.  Instead of plain water there is wine; instead of greed in the Temple, there is cleansing.  Jesus cares that we have joy, and cares that our religion is pure in heart, not just full of external show.  Jesus shows time and again he is not so concerned about doing the showy things, but in doing the right things from the heart. 

Prayer: Lord, let my heart be right with you that I might have the joy of your presence. 

(El Greco)