On My Father's Behalf | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: On My Father's Behalf | Previous Challenge Entry
By catherine dreher
01/31/05
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Dust-covered and weary, thousands of travelers descended upon the temple in Jerusalem. It was almost time for the Jewish Passover and many arrived early to exchange money and buy sacrificial animals. As they entered the outer court, brazen merchants were conducting business in the one place where Gentiles could pray. It was irreverent and disrespectful, but it had been this way for centuries so the practice had gone undisputed…until now.

One man stood fervently in the midst of chaos. His bulging eyes were blood-shot. The veins on his neck were taut and pulsing. Sweat dripped from his furrowed brow. Snapping his whip at the astonished crowd, he screamed, “Get out! Get out of my Father’s house!” Sheep and cows charged through the temple courts. Doves fluttered in wild frenzy. He snatched money from tables and flung it into the air. “How dare you!” he shouted at the moneychangers. In disgust, he threw over their tables; the crash echoed through the temple. “How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” Jesus was angry. The fury raged within him, and he unleashed it vehemently. As outraged as he was about the consumerism plaguing his Father’s house, Jesus’ fierce reaction was not rooted in hatred. No, he felt a deeper, more intense emotion. Jesus was consumed with love. It pounded in him and surged forth; crushing everything within and battering everything beyond. Love for his Father, love for his Father’s house and love for his Father’s people.

Immense love expressed as anger compelled Jesus to take action on His Father’s behalf.

The Chief Priests and Pharisees heard the din and scurried to the outer court. They watched in horror as Jesus swept through the temple. They were self-righteous, narcissistic men who were being mocked and made fools of by a carpenter from Nazareth. They converged upon Jesus, and seething with anger, demanded, “Show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority to do all this!” Jesus challenged, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days.” The Jews were shocked by the audacity of his response. They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” They turned from Jesus and allowed their anger to envelope them. He had offended them and that would not go unpunished. A murderous plot began. Hatred and fear fused and exploded; blistering within their hearts. Fear of the awe which surrounded Jesus and hatred of the One who challenged them.

Fear and loathing expressed as anger prompted the Pharisee’s and Chief Priests to take action on their own behalf.

Scripture Reference: John 2: 12-22, Mark 11: 15-19, Deuteronomy 14: 24-26.

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