Mark 11:15-19 15 Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; 16 and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 He was teaching and saying, "Is it not written,
'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers."
18 And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching. 19 And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.
All 4 gospel writers describe Jesus walking into the temple and getting not just angry, but table-flipping furious when he sees people using its courts as a marketplace. These passages depict our savior, who is usually so composed and compassionate, as being in need of some serious anger management counseling. Think about it. He walks into what is functioning as a market and goes on a rampage flipping over display tables and driving everyone out even as their coins were probably still rolling across the floor! In John's version, Jesus even take the time to make a whip to drive them out!
I'm sure the disciples were absolutely mortified. It can also be a bit embarrassing for us. I mean, isn't this the same Jesus who seems to effortlessly absorb interruptions by children and the untouchable? What could have possibly made him lose his cool?
It appears the culprit is the commercialization of religion. People were selling animals for sacrifice in the temple, essentially selling forgiveness! Martin Luther called out the church for a similar crime against God in the selling of indulgences 1500 years later. The "Christian entertainment" market is now valued at over $5 billion annually...
How do we see the commercialization of religion around us? Where do we draw the line?
PRAYER:
Lord God, enlighten the sometimes dark recesses of our minds. Fill us with faith, root us in hope, and enable us to work in humble service to you in all that we do. May your will be done, and may we do our part in illuminating your kingdom on earth. In Jesus name, AMEN.
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TODAY:
+ discuss faith in SUB I Patriot's Lounge at 4:30pm with Pastor Lisa Hufford.
+ worship with us at 7:47pm in SUB I room B (3rd floor).
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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University . Feel free to share them with your friends! For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran
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