The Thing That Got Jesus' Goat
In the vivid narrative of John 2:13-22, we encounter a Jesus far removed from the serene figure often depicted in art and lore. Here, amidst the hustle of the High Holy Days, Jesus strides into Jerusalem with a different kind of accessory. Sweet Jesus is bringing a heart that is angry at the power-brokers and he turns this anger into a whip, that challenges the wickedness of the temple, which ironically is the epicenter of worship and commerce of his day. Let's just say, Jesus was out to protest Wall Street.
This Jesus disrupts the physical space of the temple AND the complacency with which society accepted economic exploitation as a norm. Classically, Jesus is pissed at the disadvantage of the disenfranchised. The temple, meant to be a place of healing and hope, had become a den of inequality, where the poor were burdened by exorbitant rates and the cost of religious observance. The money changers, thriving on the necessities of the faithful, had turned devotion into profit, exploiting the very people they were meant to serve. It got Jesus' goat! You can say that Jesus was the original President of the Poor People's Campaign. Lord.... have mercy!
His actions in the temple are a direct confrontation to
an unjust system. He overturns tables and scatters coins, as a deliberate act of prophetic justice. Make no mistake: This is not a momentary outburst. Quoting
Jeremiah, Jesus reminds us that the temple had lost its way, gone and done the dirty, shaking fleas all over the community by prioritizing profit over people, and exploitation over empathy. Jesus did not come out to play! Lord.... have mercy!
Honestly, this is one of my favorite Biblical scenes because it is a stark reminder that the Divine is deeply concerned with the lived conditions of humanity. In other words, Jesus cares about our lives here and now, and not just about our 'going to heaven when we die.' Jesus' cleansing of the temple is a clarion call to accountability, justice, and inclusivity. It challenges us to reflect on our own practices and beliefs. Are we perpetuating systems of inequality under the guise of tradition? (I say "Yes, we are.") Are we ignoring the plight of the marginalized for the sake of convenience and profit? (Again and sadly... "Yes.")
The aftermath of Jesus' actions in the temple sets the stage
for deeper reflection. The religious leaders' swift move to plot against Jesus
highlights the threat he posed not just to their economic interests but to the
very foundations of their power. For, in challenging the temple practices, Jesus was advocating for a radical inclusivity and a justice that transcended the
letter of religious law to embody its spirit. Consequently, he is heading to the cross at a breakneck speed. In the words of my Granny, "Day Bam!"
But this is not a weird historical story that rests quietly between the dusty pages of the ancient text. This is a living, present challenge, calling us to examine the ways in which our own
institutions—religious or otherwise— have strayed from their foundational
principles of love, justice, and community. It invites us to consider how we,
too, are called to overturn tables in our pursuit of a more equitable and
compassionate world.
Don't forget that the message of the cross, seen as foolishness by some, is seriously political in its implications. It is a message of love that refuses
to accept the world as it is, daring instead to imagine it as it could be. In
this Lenten season, as we remember Jesus' journey from the temple to the cross, I call us also to remember his radical call to transform the world from the inside
out. And as his heart did (and does), our hearts also should beat to the drums of God's peace which is the rhythm of
righteousness. Lord.... help us!
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