Day 5 - Zeal for Your Father's House | February Devotional in the Gospel of John

Wednesday, February 05, 2020 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

John 2:13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has consumed me.”

Passover was one of the most important festivals in the Jewish calendar. Jews celebrated the Feast of Passover to commemorate the liberation of the Children of Israel who were led out of Egypt by Moses.

As Jesus approach Jerusalem, he was likely thinking about the significance of Passover and the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. He may have also been thinking about His purpose as a Deliverer for all of humanity as the Lamb of God.  

In that moment, He walked into a scene that contradicted and disrespected everything on His mind. He didn't see worship, prayer, or people reflecting on the significance of the occasion. He saw “money changers doing business.” What happened next defied artist's renderings of a kind-hearted, smiling man. Jesus became enraged and acted aggressively towards the money changers and people profiting off the Passover occasion. He said angrily, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”

His disciples remembered the Scripture from Psalm 69:9, “Zeal for Your house has consumed Me.”  It is an interesting study to notice Jesus' reaction and ask, “Why?”

Reflection Question: Why did Jesus react so strongly against what He encountered? Is there anything you should feel strong about and take constructive action? What is your level of care about the Father's House (His church/people)?

Action Item: