March 3

Psalm 45;

We can imagine the scene in the temple:  shouting, running sheep and oxen, protests from vendors, the crashing of tables overturned, the jingling of coins scattered across the stone floor, dust and pigeon feathers drifting in the air.  And right in the middle of the chaos is Jesus, whirling a whip of cords over his head, driving animals and people before him.  It is a scene of disruption, interruption, and great commotion as Jesus “cleanses the temple.” 

This image of Jesus is very different from the picture of Jesus that used to hang on the wall in my 1st grade Sunday school class.  In that picture, Jesus sat calmly on green and flowery grass with a gentle smile on his face.  Gathered around Jesus were children upon whom he lovingly gazed. 

So which is the real Jesus?  The one filled with righteousness waving a whip of cords, or the peace-filled Jesus gathering children in his arms? 

It seems to me that Jesus comes to us in the way we most need Him to come.  (Not necessarily the way we think we want Jesus to come to us!)  Jesus is the incarnation of our God “to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid.”  Sometimes we need Jesus to come to us and bring us that gentle peace that passes all understanding during the stormy periods of our life.  At other times we need Jesus to come and disrupt us, interrupt us, and stir us up when we have become complacent, or indifferent, or are just stuck in a rut in our relationship with God. 

How do you need Jesus to come to you during this season of Lent?  Jesus knows what we need.  Whether it is peace, or turning over our tables, Jesus only desires what is absolutely best for us.