The Cleansing of the Temple
Spiderman perches atop a skyscraper, surveying the city of Manhattan. He views neon lights, majestic skyscrapers, and the statue of liberty. Amazing. He leaps from the building, spins a web, swinging to another building. He lands on its side and begins climbing downward. In the paneling, he can see a crimson sunset that’s breathtaking. He looks down far below and sees what look like matchbox cars speeding. He leaps again, swinging to a lower building. From there, he leaps onto a street-lamp. He looks to his right and left. He leaps onto a speeding car heading toward a bridge. He leaps over the bridge onto another speeding car. He leaps from the car onto another street-lamp. He looks to his right and left. He sees an old man being accosted. The old man cries for help. “Spiderman! Spiderman! Help me!” Spiderman responds. “How much money do you have?”
Now wait a second! Spiderman wouldn’t do that, would he? He’s a hero. He performs an act of love because it’s the right thing to do.
When Jesus cleanses the temple, something of the same nature is taking place. The temple is a sacred place, a place to encounter God, who is Love. Instead, it’s become a market place. The moneychangers are making money a “god” for the people. The temple is desecrated. Jesus has just anger. They say, “Money is the root of all evil.” Is money evil? No. Money can be used for good or bad, but we shouldn’t make money a “god.” There will come a time, on our death beds, when money won’t be able to save us. All we will have is God. We must have that perspective even now.
Spiderman perches atop a skyscraper, surveying the city of Manhattan. He views neon lights, majestic skyscrapers, and the statue of liberty. Amazing. He leaps from the building, spins a web, swinging to another building. He lands on its side and begins climbing downward. In the paneling, he can see a crimson sunset that’s breathtaking. He looks down far below and sees what look like matchbox cars speeding. He leaps again, swinging to a lower building. From there, he leaps onto a street-lamp. He looks to his right and left. He leaps onto a speeding car heading toward a bridge. He leaps over the bridge onto another speeding car. He leaps from the car onto another street-lamp. He looks to his right and left. He sees an old man being accosted. The old man cries for help. “Spiderman! Spiderman! Help me!” Spiderman responds. “How much money do you have?”
Now wait a second! Spiderman wouldn’t do that, would he? He’s a hero. He performs an act of love because it’s the right thing to do.
When Jesus cleanses the temple, something of the same nature is taking place. The temple is a sacred place, a place to encounter God, who is Love. Instead, it’s become a market place. The moneychangers are making money a “god” for the people. The temple is desecrated. Jesus has just anger. They say, “Money is the root of all evil.” Is money evil? No. Money can be used for good or bad, but we shouldn’t make money a “god.” There will come a time, on our death beds, when money won’t be able to save us. All we will have is God. We must have that perspective even now.