Stories that Stick: Jesus Clears the Temple

John 2:13-22

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 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, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a market-place!’ His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’ The Jews then said to him, ‘What sign can you show us for doing this?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Note: This message includes Bethlehem member Steph Smith sharing reflections about her favorite story from the bible.

Tonight Steph Smith is going to share some reflections on this challenging story from John’s gospel with you. Steph has been a member of our staff nearly six years, but has been a part of the Bethlehem community for even longer. She delights in making connections. She notices people and celebrates the goodness they bring into this world. She has a big heart and loves people hard. A long time ago she was the chair of my internship committee, so you have her to blame for me still being here.

Steph has a passion for justice and equity which you’ll pick up on real fast. Her faith matters deeply for her life in the world. Have a listen, as she helps me unpack this story.

There is no doubt about it, Jesus is disruptive. He flips over tables. He brandishes a whip. He was sabotaging an economic enterprise. He wasn’t cleansing the temple, he was bringing the economic and religious structure of the temple to its knees.

Why?

To say: I am the temple. I am the presence of God in your midst. I am here, among you, in the flesh, walking around in the same humanity you are. I am God in flesh. You don’t need a building. Or a sacrifice. Or a priest or a pastor or any of the trappings that get draped around my presence. I am here.

Jesus untethers God’s presence to a physical location. Jesus reveals God to be loose in the world. In unexpected places and in unexpected ways.

That’s good news.

In this season of so much uncertainty, to know that somehow, someway God is loose in the world, gives me hope. When so many of the systems and structures that once seemed solid are crumbling, to know that Jesus can build something new, and better, and more faithful gives me courage.

And I could use a little bit of courage right now. I could use a little strength. I need a God who will meet me out there, amid the suffering and the unknown.

I need Jesus.

And in his brash and bold and unapologetic way, he says to you and to me and to all of his children: I am here.

Thanks be to God. Amen.