At the beginning of Holy Week Jesus went into the temple and cleansed it (Mk.11:15-17).
He drove out those who were exchanging funds and doing business there.
And even overturned some tables and chairs.
This definitely messes with our picture of Jesus as mild-mannered!
But it reveals His anger over the misuse of good gifts…
And how serious He is about restoring His Father’s order.
The temple was meant to be a place for people to meet with God.
“A house of prayer for all nations.”
But the Jewish leaders and moneychangers turned the temple into a house of merchandise and a robber’s den.
Jesus intended to change this.
And He ultimately did by becoming the cornerstone of a new, eternal temple (Eph. 2:20-22).
The action Jesus took in the temple forces us to ponder where we are misusing our own good gifts.
And it leads us to consider where we need cleansing.
This involves turning to Him in repentance and faith… as we change our minds about how we spend our days.
And it also involves bearing fruit… as we use all He’s entrusted to us — in time, talents and treasure — for His kingdom.
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Cor.3:16).