March 15

In the Temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the  money changers seated at their tables.  Making a whip of cords, he drove  all of them out of the temple . . . (and) poured out the coins of the money  changers and overturned their tables. ~ John 2:13-22  

Jesus was angry, very angry.  Those who controlled worship in  the temple were using the requirement of that worship for their own  ‘self-aggrandizement’ --- they were making money for themselves off the people’s worship; lots of money.  

The Temple consisted of a series of courts leading into the center of the Temple itself.  The outer court was the Court of the Gentiles, the only place where any Gentile whose heart had been touched by God might come and pray.  It was here that the money changers and purveyors of animal sacrifices set up shop to gouge Jewish worshippers.  So noisy, so rancorous, so inhospitable to any attempt at worship.  Jesus was angry, very angry, that the Lord’s house would be so  desecrated, that God’s children, Jew and Gentile alike, would be so  exploited by their religious leaders.   Thus, his harsh response. So, once again enters accountability, that essential element in all relationships.  Jesus that day brought accountability into the Temple precincts . . . and the leaders of the Temple did not like it.  A quite understandable reaction, for none of us ever like the hard embrace of accountability.  We much prefer expediency, excuse, and self- justification. 

“No,” says Jesus, “you are accountable for how you treat one another, and you will be held accountable for what you do with your relationships.” 

“Not my fault!” said Adam.  “It’s that woman; and remember, God, you and I were doin’ just fine here until you brought her on board!”   

“Not my fault!” said Eve.  “It was that snake, and remember, God, you made the snake!”    

“Not my fault!” said Dives.  “I never even saw Lazarus sittin’ in the dirt by my gate!”  

“Not my fault!” said Pilate.  “I was just doin’ my duty and tryin’ to keep the peace!”  

“Not my fault!” said Abel’s brother, Cain.  “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Oh, Cain, you have forgotten.  Yes, you really are your brother’s  keeper . . . and so are we.