March 02 - Marketing

John 2:12-25

12 After this (turning water into wine) 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. 14 In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and other sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle, he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me." 18 Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?" 19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." 20 The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. 23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25 He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

There is so much truth and glory within this passage. This is a passage that stands out well in my mind about Christ. We all see and think of Jesus as a kind, tender hearted man who never gets upset. He has a lamb with him and maybe a small child on the other side. He's always sporting a smile and his shoes are always clean. This is the picture of Jesus that we paint in our minds. This is not completely true...

Is it true that Christ is loving and caring? Yes. Was Jesus happy and cheerful all the time? No.

The temple was created as a place to worship the Lord and what Jesus saw was a misuse of a gift of God. People were selling livestock and merchandise within these temple walls. That makes me automatically think...

Where there is livestock...there is feces.

These people were allowing their animals to poop, urinate, and track dirt throughout the temple. Money was changing hands like the stock market. Corruption had found it's way into the gates that the Father had allowed them to enter. The purpose of the temple is not to function as an Ebay or opportunity to make a buck. Church/the Temple was created as a gathering place in which believers can worship a deserving, supreme, and loving God.

This misuse caused Jesus to deliver discipline when it was desperately needed. Christ was furious with these people. He flipped tables and took a whip to the room. Talk about messing with the wrong dude...this 'precious moments figurine Jesus' had turned into a whirlwind of discipline. Doves were flying loosely seeking safety, cattle were doing more than lowing, and money was trampled under foot. To put it simply, Christ was cleaning house (His Father's house).

Our churches are the same way. Money changes hands within the church walls. People sell girl scout cookies, handbags, chocolates, candles, etc. Church is NOT a place to barter or push merchandise on other believers. I cringe when I see the marketing of "goods" in the church. I cringe because I know that Christ is displeased with these actions. Any money changing hands should be done to glorify the Lord...

Moving on...the Jews wanted (demanded) a sign. Everyone wants physical proof of the existence of God and the authority of Christ. Luckily for them, Jesus was alive in the flesh and could deliver the miracle they were wanting. When Christ said that he could raise a destroyed temple, the Jews had an earthly mindset. A temple that took forty-six years to build could be raised in three days?? Christ was speaking of his body that would be sacrificed, beaten, destroyed, ravaged, degraded, and bled out. His promise was true. He knew his future. The temple of God in the flesh was raised in three days...

Many people at this time did not believe Christ. During Passover, they saw miraculous signs and they began to believe. It's strange how society never changes. Everyone wants physical proof and for many, the bible is not enough. Our lives are sometimes the only evidence that some people will see.

Thankfully, we have the freedom to worship in church. We are also blessed to know that heaven awaits us as the Father's eternal house. He will be waiting with open arms for His children.

Treat God's house as you would treat God. God does not want your scented candles. The Lord does not need your custom stitched handbags. Christ is worth so much more than Girl Scout Cookies. Give God glory...not a dirty, corrupt house.

In the same sense, treat your body as a temple of God. Check what you put in your body. If it isn't for good, just remember your body is God's. This is directed towards myself as much as anyone else...

Living by the word leads to a better life...